Where to Find Off Road Diesel in California

For businesses in California that operate off road vehicles and equipment, tapping into the cost savings of road tax exempt off road diesel is more important than ever as California has the highest diesel taxes in the U.S. Off road diesel, also know as red dyed diesel, can be purchased for off road use and exempts customers from paying road taxes at the time of purchase, rather than filing for a refund later.

In this guide, we'll show you where to find off road diesel locations, the savings you can expect, and how you can purchase red dyed diesel at CA fuel stations.

Table of Contents

• How much cheaper is off road diesel in CA
• How to buy off road diesel at CA fuel stations
• How to find off road diesel locations in CA
• What businesses can qualify for purchasing off road diesel
• How to open an off road diesel fuel card account

How Much Cheaper is Off Road Diesel in CA?

In California, off road diesel is about $0.90 per gallon cheaper than regular clear diesel, but the per gallon savings vary because the sale tax rate varies by county and city. In California, some cities and counties charge an additional district sales tax rate which is added onto the state sales tax rate.

The chart below shows the taxes you pay for off road diesel compared to regular diesel in California. With red dyed diesel, you don't pay the state excise tax, federal excise tax or the full state sales tax rate. Off road diesel is still subject to the standard sales tax rate in California, which is 7.25%, but that rate is 5.75% less than the rate of 13% for diesel fuel.

The wholesale cost of each type of fuel is nearly identical, as off road diesel is essentially the same product as regular diesel -- it's simply dyed red to ensure it's only used for off road applications.

How to Buy Off Road Diesel at CA Fuel Stations

Because off road diesel is mainly used for commercial purposes, retail gas stations don't normally carry it since the general public would have no use for it. To find off road diesel, you'll need to go to commercial fuel stations, also known as cardlocks, which often carry off road diesel because they serve commercial businesses, including construction and trucking companies that need access to red dyed diesel on a regular basis for equipment and refrigerated trailers.

The largest network of commercial fuel stations that carry off road diesel in CA is the Commercial Fueling Network (CFN). To purchase off road diesel at CFN locations, you'll need to sign up for a CFN fuel card.

How To Find Off Road Diesel Locations in CA

Here is an interactive map and a list of stations that carry off road diesel in CA. P-Fleet customers also get access to a pricing map that provides off road diesel prices daily for CFN locations nationwide, so you can see prices before you fuel.

Map of Off Road Diesel Locations in CA

List of Red Dye Diesel Locations in California

Which Businesses Qualify to Purchase Off Road Diesel?

Any business is allowed to purchase off road diesel in CA as long as it's used in qualifying vehicles and equipment. There are two main categories of vehicles and equipment that qualify for off road diesel use:

• Vehicles or equipment that only operate off road: This includes construction machinery, farming equipment, generators, on-site heaters, yard trucks, terminal tractors, and refrigerators.
• Vehicles with a separate fuel tank to power equipment: This is common in reefer trucks and other specialized vehicles. If the separate fuel tank powers the additional equipment and does not run the motor that propels the vehicle while on a road or highway, then you can use off road diesel.

How to Open an Off Road Diesel Fuel Card Account

If you're ready to start purchasing off road diesel in CA, you can apply online for the CFN fuel card to get access to the largest network of dyed diesel locations in CA. After submitting your application, you'll be assigned an account representative who can answer any additional questions you have about purchasing off road diesel in CA.