Michigan drivers are paying more at the pump than motorists in some neighboring states, renewing debate over the state’s 52.4-cent-per-gallon gas tax. Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mike Rogers
Drivers across the country are feeling pain at the pump as gas prices continue to tick up, but some are feeling it worse than others.
A report released by the Mackinac Center last week found that Michigan residents are paying considerably more for gas than their neighbors, and the state’s high taxes are one of the primary culprits.
The report found that Michigan residents pay 40% more taxes in total than Ohioans, and that reducing Michigan’s gas tax to match Ohio could save drivers up to $650 million per year.
“Michigan needs to consider lowering its tax. The tax has doubled since 2021 because it goes up automatically with inflation and because a 2025 law removed the sales tax on gasoline but increased the gasoline tax,” the study suggested.
It also found that Indiana residents pay 80 cents less per gallon than Michiganders, which the study attributed to Indiana’s ability to refine gas faster than Michigan’s and to the Governor of Indiana suspending fuel taxes.
Republican US Senate nominee Mike Rogers has backed a plan that would suspend gas taxes in Michigan after the tax was effectively raised last year.
The increase came after Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to exempt fuel purchases from the gas tax, but made up for the revenue shortfall by increasing the gas tax to 52.4 cents per gallon.
Calls to suspend Michigan’s gas tax have happened alongside President Donald Trump and some members of Congress proposing a suspension of the federal gas tax, which currently sits at 18 cents per gallon.
