Fill up now: Georgia’s gas tax suspension expires in hours

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Georgia’s suspension of its gas tax will end at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Gov. Brian Kemp’s office said Monday.

“After renewing the suspension of the state gas tax to help hardworking Georgians get through the Memorial Day weekend with further relief, and with oil prices now holding relatively steady, the gas tax suspension will expire at 11:59 pm tomorrow while the state also keeps a financial eye toward any unexpected needs in the future,“ a spokesperson for Kemp’s office said.

The suspension was giving motorists a a 33 cent a gallon tax break on gasoline and a 37.3 cent a gallon tax break on diesel. Drivers will start to notice the increase in the coming days.

Ahead of the suspension, drivers were taking their last chance to fill up before the prices went up.

“I mean it’s terrible man, it’s really hit my income, drastically,” said Lamar Fletcher as he filled up his tank on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. “It’s been terrible, just trying to figure out how to move things around for financial needs.”

Small business owners, like Tika Carter of Blendz Friendz On The Go food truck, say even with the suspension, they’re paying more than ever for gas.

“This truck takes about $78 to fill up,” Carter said. “Before the gas prices went up it took about $53.”

Now, she’s bracing to pay even more.

“It’s heartbreaking; it’s scary. But we have to pay it,” Carter said. “It’s affecting the business in a major way.”

Commuters who frequent the truck, like Rai McQueen — who drives 40 miles to and from downtown Atlanta for work — are also preparing for the squeeze.

“In the weeks to come, I’m going to have to cut back on coming so much because the money has to be allocated in different ways,” McQueen said.

Kemp’s initial suspension took effect in March and was set to last 60 days, but the outgoing governor extended it last month.

RELATED: Gov. Brian Kemp signs 60-day gas tax suspension, $1.2 billion tax rebate bills

Keisha Lance Bottoms, the one-term Atlanta mayor who is now the Democratic nominee for governor this fall, called for the gas tax suspension to be extended.

“Georgians can’t afford a hike in fuel costs this summer,” Bottoms said in a campaign news release. “Georgia leaders should continue to extend the gas tax suspension to provide working families with relief from these spiking costs.”

Bottoms will face either Lt. Gov. Burt Jones or billionaire health care executive Rick Jackson in November in a campaign to become Georgia’s 83rd governor.

On Tuesday, the American Automobile Association said Georgia’s average gasoline price was $3.808, compared to the U.S. average price of $4.290.

Kemp’s initial suspension marked the fourth time Kemp suspended the gas tax. He previously suspended it in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine, in 2023 due to high inflation and in 2024 due to Hurricane Helene.

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