Alabama Gas Prices and Why They Are What They Are
Prices as of August 13, 2026, per AAA · Updated August 15, 2026
As of August 13, 2026, regular gasoline in Alabama averages $3.61/gallon (the 4th-lowest in the U.S.), per AAA — 0.40 below the national average of $4.01. Diesel averages $5.11. State fuel taxes and fees add 31.0¢/gallon on top of the 18.4¢ federal excise.
Where the $3.61 goes
| Component | $/gallon | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude oil (national cost, WTI July 2026) | 1.92 | 53% | EIA |
| Federal + Alabama fuel taxes (18.4¢ + 31.0¢) | 0.49 | 14% | Tax Foundation |
| Refining, distribution, margins & embedded program costs (residual) | 1.20 | 33% | computed |
Crude oil costs every state's refiners roughly the same, so Alabama's position comes from the tax line and the residual: refining capacity and logistics, fuel-specification requirements, and any carbon or clean-fuel program costs embedded in the pump price.
State policies that show up at the pump
| Policy | Detail |
|---|---|
| Carbon program on motor fuel | No |
| State-specific fuel blend | No |
State government control
| Control today | Unified Republican (Governor + House + Senate, all R) |
| Years of unified Democratic control, 2001–2025 | 2 |
| Years of unified Republican control | 15 |
| Years of divided government | 8 |
Fuel-tax levels and fuel-specification programs are set by legislatures and governors; the national comparison shows average prices and taxes grouped by state control.
Compare: all states ranked · Alabama electricity rates · gasoline prices by country
Sources: AAA (pump prices, updated daily; the industry-standard 50-state series), Tax Foundation (2026 state fuel taxes), EIA (WTI crude). The residual is computed, not reported. See methodology.