Updated 2026-05-23 · 4 min read
Filling up in Ontario: worth it?
The structural tax gap is real: ~10–13 ¢/L. But the round trip often eats the saving. It all depends on where you start.
The tax differential (no surprises)
| Component | QC | ON |
|---|---|---|
| Provincial fuel tax | 19.2 ¢/L | 9.0 ¢/L |
| Montréal transit surtax (CMM) | +3.0 ¢/L | — |
| Carbon pricing system | Cap-and-trade | None (since 2025) |
| Estimated structural gap | ~10–13 ¢/L in Ontario's favor | |
Ontario made its 9 ¢/L tax cut permanent on July 1, 2025 (Ford government).
When it's worth it, when it isn't
✅ Yes, worth it
- • You live in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Hudson, Rigaud or further west on 40 — Hawkesbury is almost on your route.
- • You're driving to Toronto/Ottawa anyway — stop at the first Ontario Petro-Canada/Husky/Pioneer.
- • You live in Gatineau — crossing the bridge to Ottawa is ~5 minutes extra.
- • You haul or drive a very thirsty vehicle — a 14 L/100 km SUV gains more per fill.
⛔ No, don't do it
- • You live in downtown Montréal and think of going to Hawkesbury just for gas — it's ~75 km one way, 150 km round trip. The detour eats everything.
- • You drive an efficient vehicle (5–6 L/100 km) — absolute saving is low.
- • You'd only go on weekends — possible queues, time saving zero.
Compute your exact case
Don't guess. Our "Worth the detour?" calculator factors in extra distance, your consumption, the price of fuel burned during the detour, and the value of your time. Verdict in 5 seconds: Yes, marginal, or No.
Quick border warning
To fill up in the United States (Plattsburgh NY, Burlington VT), you cross an international border. NEXUS helps, but wait time stays unpredictable. Round trip, the saving is almost always eaten. Only do it if you're already there.