Tribal gas stations offer reprieve from higher gas prices amid Iran war

Some tribally owned stations are selling gasoline at lower prices than nearby non-tribal stations because state fuel taxes generally do not apply on tribal land, and nationwide prices have risen since the Iran war began.

Drivers in some regions are turning to tribally owned gas stations for lower prices as national fuel costs rise during the Iran war. Junelle Lewis drove from the Seattle area to the Tulalip Reservation and paid $4.84 a gallon, about 75 cents less than nearby stations. Tribes operating stations in states such as California, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma and Washington can sell fuel at lower prices because state fuel taxes generally do not apply on tribal land, while federal fuel taxes are still paid. Key facts: - Nearly 500 tribally owned convenience stores with fuel pumps operate across the U.S., with 55 located in California. - Local examples reported include Tulalip Market at $4.84 a gallon, Mescalero Apache sites around $3.79, and Chukchansi Crossing at $5.09, each noted as cheaper than nearby stations. - Nationwide gasoline prices were reported to have risen by more than $1 since the Iran war began Feb. 28, with an AAA average of about $4.15 a gallon. - A law professor specializing in Native American law noted that U.S. courts have long held states generally lack authority to collect taxes from Native Americans on tribal land. Summary: These pricing differences have led some drivers to travel to reservations for lower-cost fuel, and apps such as GasBuddy were reported as helping locate those stations. Undetermined at this time.