The pricing is a state issue. The fuel companies are just playing by the state rules. It is very confusing and frustrating for someone just passing through Indiana. In my case, it was compounded by a fuel stop that couldn't add the taxes onto credit card charge, I had to pay for the tax in cash and drop another $2.50 for the ATM fee. But since I always try to avoid being bitten by the same dog twice, I now always plan ahead and transit Indiana on a full tank of out of state diesel.
It's the INDIANA SALES TAX, not the road use tax! Commercial vehs. don't pay sales tax on fuel. Calculated thusly. List price minus all road use taxes(fed & state) plus IN sales tax on the remainder plus all road use taxes = final price.
Some counties also are allowed to add a small percentage.
We have a farm in and live in IN 4 mos per yr. and try never to buy diesel in state, or camp there either, due to high priced and poorly maintained state parks. Indiana is kind of a rip-off state but still not as bad as FL. JMO
Jim
Just as bad is when the BIG sign that you can see for three miles says
2.799 (example) so you get the rig up to the pump and find the charge is
10-15cent more.That is when you look at that BIG sign again,and see in small
letters,that you need to be closer than 6 feet away to see,cash price. and you don't carry $100 bills for fuel purchases,just the old CCard.Grrrrr!
Missouri has one of the lowest motor fuel tax rates in the nation, it is always low. With major petroleum terminals on each side of the state, it also enjoys low transportation costs.
Indiana has somewhat higher motor fuel taxes and considerably higher transportation costs. But be happy you didn't have to refuel in Illinois, which is even higher than Indiana, especially in the smog formulation areas.
Difference in the pump price for commercial trucks and private vehicles is a difference in the way taxes are collected. In most states, truck pay state fuel taxes based on where the fuel is used, filing a tax return; private vehicles pay state fuel taxes at the pump. In many states, the truckers pay a higher tax rate, you just don't see it in their pump price.
The price difference at different pumps has nothing to do with Flying J. The price difference state to state is taxes and transportation costs.
The local Flyin' J here scrolls "Tax Exempt" the same size as the prices on the huge scrolling screen. I don't get diesel there, I found a local station on the east side of Indy near work that sells it for cheaper to John Q. Public. But they usually have an "Auto/RV Diesel" sign out in front of the location, too late if you're motoring down the highway though.
Dustytuu wrote: Since their fuel tax is so high, why are Indiana's roads so bad?
And Ill. roads are deplorable!
So what is Indiana and Illinois doing with their fuel tax?
I think Indiana fell into the "all going bad at the same time" syndrome. We built our interstates all about the same time, and considering the amount of traffic that pounds our roads, we did not make the periodic repairs that should have been made. Now, we are working like crazy to get these roads up to standards, but it is going to take a few years. They are getting better, but, again, it will take some time.
I don't think we will ever have "North Carolina" roads because of all the freezing and thawing that we have in the part of the country, but hopefully we can keep you good folks rolling along without too many problems.
We've also had some bad winters, and not as in terribly cold all the time. But the last few years during the winter it's been common for us to have a few days of rain, and then it dropping well below freezing over night and for a few days and that freezing/thawing over and over has torn up the roads.
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