Gas

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

The actual difference between $2.00/ gallon and $3.70 per gallon for a 1000 mile trip is only about $48.00.

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a combined tax rate of 188% for us, grrrrrrrrrrr!!!! [and i think it's gone up since]

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A couple years ago, Washington state added a new gas tax which would start at 3 cents per gallon and gradually go up to 9 cents per gallon over several years. All the proceeds are to be used on state highway projects. The naysayers screamed doom-and-gloom saying that nobody would be able to travel anywhere, etc. I calculated that a motorhome getting 10 miles per gallon, driving from Seattle to Ocean Shorse (a vacation spot on the coast) would spend about an extra $1.25. I don't recall if this was round-trip or one way. But even $2.50 per trip like that is really nothing. And the highway improvements already done are definitely worth it, imho.

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Originally Posted by Judy

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A couple years ago, Washington state added a new gas tax which would start at 3 cents per gallon and gradually go up to 9 cents per gallon over several years. All the proceeds are to be used on state highway projects. The naysayers screamed doom-and-gloom saying that nobody would be able to travel anywhere, etc. I calculated that a motorhome getting 10 miles per gallon, driving from Seattle to Ocean Shorse (a vacation spot on the coast) would spend about an extra $1.25. I don't recall if this was round-trip or one way. But even $2.50 per trip like that is really nothing. And the highway improvements already done are definitely worth it, imho.

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now i think this is our problem,we have a fairly good motorway system but other than that a lot of our roads are rough and unable to cope with the amount of traffic. i'm not sure how this works in the states but before we put fuel in our cars we pay the equivalant of aprox $360 for an average size family car and with new legislation about $850 for a 4wd or high powered carfor road tax,all of this money supposedly goes to maintaining the roads,but most of the british public wonder where this happens,the prime ministers drive perhaps?as the state of the repairs are laughable in places.
on top of this we have fuel tax,where on earth this goes is anybodys guess.
for example our 3000 mile journey in the states cost aprox $1000 @10 mpg in the r.v . here in the u.k that same journey would have cost us aprox $3000 which $1950 would be tax, making the cost of the fuel on par with your prices without it. at 9 cents per gallon i think that works out less than 3% tax on the overall price which would leave everyone in the u.k dancing from the rooftops. god bless america :)

The 9 cents fuel tax is not the only taxes on our fuel. It's simply a new tax on top of the other fuel taxes. This new 9 cents is dedicated to roads because, prior to that being added, our state wasn't getting enough taxes through other means to keep up on road maintenance and improvements.

Our total tax rate per gallon in my state is 54.4 cents on gas and 60.4 cents on diesel. Today, gas prices in my state for regular are averaging $3.88/gallon and diesel prices are about $1 more. So I guess this makes our tax bite roughly 14% on gas and roughly 12% on diesel.

This varies state-by-state. I believe our fuel taxes are amongst the highest in the nation. But the tax structure in each state is very different, some tax things that others don't tax. It gets confusing and hard to compare across the various states. For example, our state doesn't have a state income tax. Before you say "wow" and think our taxes are low because of that, we tax different things to offset that and have higher sales/property/excuse/business taxes, etc. than some other states have. But not always. Again, it's complicated.

hi judy,
your right,it's very complicated and i am not trying to make out were hard done by this side of the pond and that you have it easy over there everyone has to balance there books accordingly,and if you felt thats what i was saying i apologise,but as this thread was about motoring i guess i was trying to say in answer to the original question, was not to let a few bucks added on your fuel ruin your holiday,it could be worse. for me however it was these differences and the £ v $ that made my lifetime dream come true of getting to the u.s.a and roadtripping. :-)
i'd also add that fuel costs will not affect my "roadtrips" over here but i will have to budget elsewhere as a compromise.

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Originally Posted by SouthernGirl

In 5 years what will you remember if you do take this trip - that 'perfect' trip because the kids were just the right age, or the fact that you had to spend a little more for gas?

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This is a very good point. We're looking at our proposed route to see if we might trim off a few "edges", but we're not looking at major cuts.

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Originally Posted by Judy

A couple years ago, Washington state added a new gas tax which would start at 3 cents per gallon and gradually go up to 9 cents per gallon over several years. All the proceeds are to be used on state highway projects.

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Here's the thing with taxes: The feds add a little, the state adds a little, the county adds a little, the city adds a little, then maybe there's a bond . . . and before you know it, it's no longer just a few cents -- it's real money!

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your right,it's very complicated and i am not trying to make out were hard done by this side of the pond and that you have it easy over there everyone has to balance there books accordingly,and if you felt thats what i was saying i apologise,

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I didn't take it that way at all. Not a bit. I just didn't want you to think it was only 9 cents as that would be misinformation.

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but as this thread was about motoring i guess i was trying to say in answer to the original question, was not to let a few bucks added on your fuel ruin your holiday,it could be worse. for me however it was these differences and the £ v $ that made my lifetime dream come true of getting to the u.s.a and roadtripping. :-)

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It has been really fun to see the number of international visitors to the Roadtrip America forums increase as the exchange rate makes it easier for you to afford traveling here. We love having you all as guests. However, I do hope it flip-flops someday so we could afford to visit your side of the pond! ;)

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i'd also add that fuel costs will not affect my "roadtrips" over here but i will have to budget elsewhere as a compromise

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Isn't life all about setting priorities and doing some compromising to get what you want out of it? I have no problem with limiting my local driving more so I have more money available for gas for roadtrips this summer. But, then again, my car gets fairly good mileage. I feel bad for those stuck with more expensive cars to drive. It sure adds up faster for them.

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Originally Posted by MrsPete

Here's the thing with taxes: The feds add a little, the state adds a little, the county adds a little, the city adds a little, then maybe there's a bond . . . and before you know it, it's no longer just a few cents -- it's real money!

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But I've also never had a problem with investing in my country. It's the quid pro quo we pay as citizens to live in this wonderful place, imho.

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Originally Posted by Judy

I didn't take it that way at all. Not a bit. I just didn't want you to think it was only 9 cents as that would be misinformation.

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oh good, i thought i'd check,as great as the internet and forums are it's sometimes hard to write things down in a conversation without having the mannerisms of a "normal chat" to go with the words.

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It has been really fun to see the number of international visitors to the Roadtrip America forums increase as the exchange rate makes it easier for you to afford traveling here. We love having you all as guests. However, I do hope it flip-flops someday so we could afford to visit your side of the pond! ;)

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yes, it's been a great opportunity for us and hopefully one day it will turn in your favour. although [selfishly speaking] not just yet,as i'm hoping to get another visit in first, haa haa!

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Isn't life all about setting priorities and doing some compromising to get what you want out of it? I have no problem with limiting my local driving more so I have more money available for gas for roadtrips this summer.

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thats how i see it and believe thats how it should be done, although it seems to be more common these days for people to make no sacrifices and just keep borrowing money for "luxuries" they can't really afford and then grumble when theres a credit crunch.
oh well, i best get saving as i'm hoping to come over and do another road trip next year,fingers crossed!!

I'll give you a year to save to come back and enjoy another trip to the States. Then I'll wave my magic wand and make travel for us to Europe the cheaper trip. ;)

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Originally Posted by Judy

I'll give you a year to save to come back and enjoy another trip to the States. Then I'll wave my magic wand and make travel for us to Europe the cheaper trip. ;)

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my wife and i have been discussing our next trip which includes the finances of the situation and as keen as she is to return next year she was happy to wait untill the following year if need be, [she's the sensible and patient one] but now i have your wand to add to the equation it looks like next year it is,and thats just fine by me!! ;)