The summer holidays are starting and many people will be driving. In addition to road traffic, another important piece of information for them is where they can fill up on the road most cheaply. What does a price comparison in some countries show?
An analysis of current data on gasoline and diesel prices in EU countries shows that a German tourist can make the biggest savings if he travels east in a gasoline-powered car.
If you travel south
In Austria, fuel is cheaper than in Germany: gasoline - by 22 cents and diesel - by 6 cents per liter. If you are only transiting through Austria, it depends on your final destination: in Italy, petrol is more expensive than in Austria, while in Slovenia, Croatia or Hungary it is slightly cheaper. So it may be worth filling up only half the tank in Austria. There is almost no difference in the price of petrol in Slovakia, and diesel is slightly cheaper than in Austria - and therefore significantly cheaper than in Germany.
Switzerland is not a good country to refuel, because petrol there is more expensive than in Germany, Italy or France. This is shown by data from Touring Club Switzerland, cited by the DPA news agency. If you are traveling through Switzerland to Italy, it is best to fill up your tank with diesel in advance, as it is also slightly more expensive in Italy than in Germany.
If you are traveling west
Fuel prices in France are almost on par with those in Germany. However, if you are transiting through France on your way to Spain, you will save a lot of money if you fill up there.
In Belgium, petrol is significantly cheaper - by as much as 16 cents per liter, but diesel is seven cents more expensive than in Germany. In the Netherlands, petrol is 17 and diesel is 7 cents more expensive than in Germany, and in Luxembourg both types of fuel are significantly cheaper - by 24 and 16 eurocents respectively.
If you are traveling east
Here things seem much simpler: Poland and the Czech Republic have the cheapest petrol in the immediate vicinity of Germany. The difference is as much as 35 cents per liter. Diesel is also the cheapest there, by 18 and 22 cents respectively. If you are traveling to the Baltic states, filling up there is also cheaper than in Germany, but more expensive than in Poland. If you are traveling to Hungary or Slovakia via the Czech Republic, it is also best to fill up in the transit country.
If you are traveling north
If you are going to Denmark, fill up your tank before leaving Germany, because premium gasoline in the neighboring country is 23 cents more expensive, and diesel - on average 14 cents. If you continue to Sweden, however, gasoline becomes much cheaper again - at 28 cents it is more profitable than in Germany, and diesel is 9 cents cheaper.
The differences in prices are usually due to different taxes and fees - each country sets its own excise duty and VAT on fuels. Another component of pricing is how the raw material is traded on world markets. Fluctuations in oil prices usually affect all countries, so the differences between individual countries are relatively stable.
However, prices can vary depending on the gas station, the region, the time of day and where you fill up - whether on the motorway or on a country road. In addition, the differences are often smaller at gas stations in the immediate vicinity of the border.
It's not worth taking a detour
Choosing cheaper gas stations by going off the beaten track is rarely worth it. This not only takes more time, but is also harmful to the environment. If you want to avoid filling up abroad, it's best to fill up the tank the evening before your trip, as (in Germany) petrol is usually a few cents cheaper then than in the morning.