Fuel costs vary sharply by state, Bumper analysis finds

Bumper says annual gas costs for the average licensed driver swing by $1,607 between states, with Wyoming at the high end and Washington, D.C., at the low end. The analysis shows that mileage and local fuel prices can change the real cost of owning the same car far more than many buyers expect.

Why it matters: - The same vehicle can cost thousands more or less to fuel depending on where it is driven. - Bumper's analysis shows annual gas costs can differ enough to change a buyer's total cost of ownership in a meaningful way. - The gap matters most for shoppers comparing used cars across state lines or planning a move.

What happened: - Bumper analyzed annual regular-gas costs for the average licensed driver in every state, using Federal Highway Administration mileage data, licensed-driver data and AAA regular gas prices. - The average licensed driver in the United States spends $2,356 a year fueling a light vehicle with regular gas. - In Wyoming, the annual regular-gas cost for the average driver is $3,161. - In Washington, D.C., the annual regular-gas cost for the average driver is $1,554. - That creates a $1,607 annual gap between Wyoming and Washington, D.C., for the same car and same fuel economy.

The details: - Bumper said the biggest drivers of state-to-state differences are annual miles driven and local gas prices. - Across all 51 states, including Washington, D.C., 36 states land above or below the national average mainly because of how much driving the state requires. - In 15 states, gas prices are the main reason the annual fuel bill differs from the national average. - The 10 most expensive states for annual gas cost per driver are Wyoming, Alabama, Mississippi, New Mexico, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, California, Montana and Idaho. - Wyoming ranks first at $3,161. - Alabama ranks second at $2,972. - Mississippi ranks third at $2,964. - New Mexico ranks fourth at $2,931. - Missouri ranks fifth at $2,857. - Kansas ranks sixth at $2,794. - Oklahoma ranks seventh at $2,755. - California ranks eighth at $2,754. - Montana ranks ninth at $2,711. - Idaho ranks 10th at $2,636. - Bumper said buyers often price the car but not the state.

Between the lines: - The analysis suggests location can be as important as fuel efficiency when estimating ownership costs. - A high-mileage state with cheaper gas and a low-mileage state with pricier gas can both push buyers toward a more efficient vehicle, but for different reasons. - California, Hawaii, Nevada and Washington stand out as gas-price outliers, where prices run 20% to 40% above the national average.

What's next: - Bumper advises used-car shoppers to check state rankings, not just the national average, before buying. - Buyers moving from Washington, D.C., to Wyoming should expect to budget about $1,600 more a year in gas for a comparable car. - Shoppers considering an outlier state should rerun the math before relocating or buying sight unseen.

The bottom line: - Where a car is registered and driven can change annual fuel costs dramatically, even when the vehicle does not change.