WALKER COUNTY, Ga. — Tennessee drivers may soon be crossing state lines into Georgia to fill up their tank.
That’s after Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a law temporarily suspending the state’s fuel tax amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
The state’s 33-cent-per-gallon gas tax and 37-cent diesel tax will be suspended for 60 days.
“It helps all Georgia taxpayers. That money isn’t just a number. It represents help with groceries, rent, bills, clothes for your kids, and other needs facing Georgia families,” Governor Brian Kemp says.
The move comes as gas prices surge nationwide.
AAA says the national average jumped from $2.93 a gallon on February 20 to $3.91 by Friday.
A gas station on Rossville Boulevard in Tennessee. Image: WTVC
We went to a gas station on Rossville Boulevard, just minutes from Georgia, where gas was $3.79 a gallon.
Just across the state line, gas was $3.59.
A gas station in Georgia. { }Image: WTVC
Those filling up say every little bit counts
“If you want to save some money, make sure you go to Georgia get you some gas and fill up,” Cortney Anderson says.
For drivers like Cortney Anderson, that short drive across state lines could mean real relief.
“33 cents seems to definitely make a big change for me, you know, because the way we spend money on gas now, it’s just outrageous.”
Anderson says it’s not just the cost, but how quickly prices are climbing…
“When it got to $3 I definitely was worried. This is crazy.”
That reaction comes as gas prices surge nationwide. The national average has jumped nearly a dollar ($2.93 → $3.91) in the past month, according to AAA.
“It’s kind of hurt my pockets a little bit,” Anderson says.
In response, Georgia lawmakers are temporarily suspending the state’s fuel tax for the next 60 days.
For drivers who live and work near the state line, even a few dollars in savings can add up quickly.
“It does cost ten dollars more a tank right now to fill up so it makes a difference,” Danny Smith says. “I hope it does bring it down. I’ll be all for it.”
For now, Georgia drivers will get a temporary break, but how long relief lasts may depend on how long global tensions continue.
The Trump administration is temporarily lifting sanctions on Iranian oil stranded at sea under a one-month license, a move aimed at easing pressure on rising global energy prices.
According to a new Reuters poll, 55% of Americans said the war’s effect on gas prices impacted their overall finances.