California’s taxes were No. 1 at 89 cents per gallon. Michigan was 66 cents a year ago but increased to 87 cents to claim the No. 2 spot in the January federal survey.
Heading west out of Illinois can save 37 cents in taxes by buying in Missouri or Iowa.
Illinois’ practice of applying sales taxes to gasoline after the motor fuel tax is charged effectively creates a tax-on-tax situation for drivers. This has led some residents, particularly those near state borders, to fill up elsewhere.