Why Are Gas Prices Higher in Flagler County? Clear, Simple Explanation and Guide

Why Are Gas Prices Higher in Flagler County? Here’s the Clear, Simple Explanation

If you’ve stood at a gas pump in Palm Coast and wondered why we’re paying more than our neighbors, you’re not imagining it — and you deserve a straightforward explanation.

Many people assume gas taxes are the cause, but once we look at the actual numbers, a clearer story emerges.

1. What Part of Your Gas Purchase Is Taxes?

Florida drivers pay several layers of taxes that are already built into the pump price — you’re not paying them separately.

To keep it simple, instead of talking about gallons or formulas, here’s what matters:

**If You Pay $40 for Gas in Flagler County…

About $9–10 of that total is taxes.**

That’s roughly 22–26% of your entire purchase.

This is the easiest, most relatable way to understand how taxes factor into a fill-up.

2. What Taxes Are Included in the Price You Already Pay?

Here’s the breakdown in simple terms, with the actual amounts included:

Federal Gas Tax — 18.4¢ per gallon

Helps fund U.S. highways and transportation systems.

Florida State Fuel Taxes — approx. 32.2¢ per gallon

This includes:

• State Motor Fuel Tax — 22.0¢

• SCETS Regional Tax — ≈ 8.0¢

• Inspection Fee — 0.125¢

• Pollutant Tax — 2.071¢

Subtotal: Statewide Taxes Everyone Pays

≈ 50.6¢ per gallon

Local Option Fuel Tax (varies by county)

• St. Johns County — 37.325¢

• Flagler County — 38.325¢

• Volusia County — 43.325¢

Approximate Total Gas Taxes Per Gallon

• St. Johns — ≈ 87.9¢

• Flagler — ≈ 88.9¢

• Volusia — ≈ 93.9¢

But here’s the important part:

**Even though total taxes vary by only 1–5¢ between counties:

Pump prices can vary by 20–40¢.**

This proves something critical:

Taxes are NOT the reason Flagler’s gas prices are higher.

So what is?

3. The Real Reasons Flagler County Pays More for Gas

Once taxes are off the table, the true causes become clearer — and they’re all related to how fuel gets to us.

✔ Florida has NO oil refineries.

Every gallon is imported from out of state or overseas.

✔ Flagler sits between major fuel terminals, not next to them.

More miles = higher delivery cost.

✔ Delivery distance increases wholesale price by 5–15¢ before the gas even arrives.

✔ Flagler stations buy lower fuel volume than large cities.

Lower volume = higher wholesale cost per gallon.

✔ Fewer stations mean less competition.

In Daytona or Jacksonville, stations drop prices to compete.
In Palm Coast, many don’t have a competitor nearby — so they don’t have to.

These factors combined create price differences far larger than taxes ever could.

4.The Simple Truth for Flagler Residents

**Flagler doesn’t pay more for gas because of taxes.

We pay more because of where we sit in Florida’s fuel supply chain.”**

Taxes are nearly identical across counties.
The big difference is in wholesale cost, transport cost, and local competition — the invisible parts of the process residents never see.

Disclaimer:
All tax amounts, estimates, and calculations in this article are based on fuel tax structures and publicly available information as of December 2025. Actual gas prices, tax rates, and wholesale costs may change over time due to legislative updates, market conditions, or transportation adjustments. Figures are provided for general understanding and may not reflect future pricing.