Service Station FAQs

The National Petroleum News compiles that information every year and gave us permission to report it on our Website. The trade publication’s July 2011 issue reported there were 157,393 locations nationwide selling gasoline, including service stations, truck stops, convenience stores and marinas.

No. According to the latest information, the major integrated oil companies own about 3% of the 157,393 retail stations and operate about a third of the retail stations that they do own. When a station bears a particular API member’s brand, it does not mean that the API member owns or operates the station. The vast majority of branded stations are owned and operated by independent retailers licensed to represent that brand. According to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), more than half of the retail stations in the US are owned by an individual or family. Through various branding agreements, approximately 37% of the retail stations in the US sell fuel under API members’ brands. See U.S. Retail Service Station Outlets Table and Retail Service Station Outlets Ownership Pie Chart.

Independent owners. They may own just one station, or they could own several stations, or they could own hundreds of stations.

Yes. Independents and jobbers can sell gasoline under the brand of one major company or multiple major companies, as well as have their own brand of fuel.

Many countries assess higher tax rates and use the revenue for their general fund budget.  For example, four countries, the Netherlands, France, Italy and Belgium assess more than $3 in taxes on every gallon of gasoline.