Georgia Gas Tax Suspended Through October 29: Road Trip Savings

Georgia has suspended its state gas tax for 30 days, from 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, through October 29, 2026, taking 33.3 cents a gallon off the state excise tax on gasoline and 37.3 cents off diesel. Governor Brian Kemp announced the move in a September 28 press release, declaring a state of emergency over global market volatility.

If you are planning a fall road trip through Georgia, the next month is the window when the state tax is off. Our guide to things to do in Atlanta is a good starting point if the city is on your route.

Georgia Gas Tax Off Through October 29

The governor’s order suspends the state’s excise tax on gasoline, 33.3 cents a gallon, and on diesel, 37.3 cents a gallon, for 30 days under a state of emergency. The release cites average prices of $4.19 a gallon for regular gasoline and $6.24 a gallon for diesel in Georgia. The same order also suspends state weight limits on commercial vehicles, which the governor’s office says is meant to reduce shipping costs on consumer goods.

“We’ve remained committed to helping them and our small businesses fight through the tough times,” Kemp said in the release. Lieutenant Governor Jones, House Speaker Burns and Agriculture Commissioner Harper also backed the move in the announcement. “This announcement means immediate relief for Georgia families struggling to afford gas and groceries,” Harper said.

Prices Before the Suspension

FOX 5 Atlanta reported, citing AAA, that Georgia’s average for regular gas was $4.19 a gallon when the suspension was announced, compared with $4.48 nationally. A month earlier, the state average was $3.79, and a year earlier it was $2.88, according to the station.

The station also reported that it is not yet known whether state leaders will extend the relief past the 30 day window. The governor’s release does not say how quickly stations will pass the tax cut through to pump prices, so compare prices before you fill up rather than assuming the full 33.3 cents is already off.

What It Means for a Georgia Road Trip

For a driver filling a 15 gallon tank, 33.3 cents a gallon works out to about $5 per fill if the full tax cut reaches the pump. On a long drive across the state, such as a trip on Interstate 75 or Interstate 95, that adds up over several stops. Drivers of diesel vehicles, including many large RVs, save more per gallon at 37.3 cents.

If your route crosses into a neighboring state, compare prices before the border. Georgia’s suspension applies only to its own excise tax, so prices on the other side of the line are set by that state’s taxes and market. Filling up before you leave Georgia may save money during the suspension window, especially on longer trips where a full tank carries you well past the state line.

When the Tax Returns

Unless it is extended, the suspension ends on October 29, 2026. Travelers with trips planned for late October or early November should expect prices to rise again when the tax comes back, and should plan fuel stops accordingly.

Gas prices can move for many reasons beyond taxes, including wholesale costs and regional supply. The AAA figures reported by FOX 5 show that prices had climbed sharply in the month before the announcement, from .79 to .19 for regular, so the suspension offsets part of that rise rather than returning prices to last year’s levels. Check the state’s announcements before a late October trip for any change to the end date.