For some, it was a "crude awakening" on Monday morning.

When it comes to gas prices, it's hard not to throw in your two cents.

Believe it or not, the pain at the pump just got worse.

West Virginia is ringing in the New Year with a 4.5 cent hike in the fuel tax.

And that extra nickel makes West Virginia's gas tax one of the most expensive in the country and much more than neighboring states. In Ohio, folks pay just a little more than a quarter a gallon and in Kentucky, it's even cheaper at just 18.5 cents a gallon.

Those lower prices have stations along the border worried their customers will fill up across state lines.

Last year's pumped up prices prompted Governor Manchin to freeze West Virginia's gas tax, but that was then and this is now!

Manchin says that's reason enough for you to pay the price, and some drivers agree.

But it's still to be seen if the tax hike will make the highways smoother and safer...or be just a bump in the road.

So why the increase? Part of West Virginia's tax is based on the wholesale price.

Currently, it's about $2.20 a gallon, but the last time it was calculated, it was only $1.30. That's 90 cents cheaper.

So you multiply that by 5%, which is set by the state code, that gives you the 4.5 cent tax increase.