Holiday Fuel-Ups: Where to Fill 'Er Up for Max Savings
Comparing fuel prices before and after border crossings: Which is more cost-effective? - Cost comparison for fueling up: Pre-border or post-border costs?
Cruising on your Whitsun adventure? Fill up the tank smartly to save cash for vacation treats! Depending on your destination, the EU Commission advises savvy motorists to gas up at strategic spots for maximum savings. Here's a breakdown:
Southbound: Austria's the Place for Budget Fuel
Looking at current data, petrol in Austria costs 22 cents less and diesel 6 cents cheaper than Germany. If Austria is a transit country for you, it boils down to your final stop: Italy's fuel prices are higher than Austria's, but Slovenia, Croatia, and Hungary offer cheaper prices. Consider extending that drive a bit or just top off half a tank in Austria for more pennies in your pocket. The difference in petrol with Slovakia is minimal, whereas diesel is actually cheaper in Slovakia than in Austria — and significantly cheaper than in Germany.
Avoid fueling up in Switzerland, though. Despite a lack of official EU Commission numbers, the Touring Club Switzerland reports higher fuel prices there than in Germany, Italy, or France. Travelers heading to Italy should fill up before crossing the border, as Italy is also more expensive.
Westward: The Small Neighbors are Nazareth for Your Wallet
France and Germany are neck-and-neck. Travelers headed for Spain can score significant savings. Petrol in Belgium comes in at a whopping 16 cents cheaper, but diesel prices are 7 cents more expensive. The Netherlands offers 17 cents more expensive petrol and 7 cents pricier diesel than Germany. Luxembourg leads the pack in the west with potential savings of 24 cents for petrol and 16 cents for diesel.
Eastbound: Rock Bottom Prices in the Czech Republic and Poland
Heading east? The Czech Republic and Poland are your best bets for affordable fuel. Prices are 35 cents lower for petrol and 18/22 cents cheaper for diesel in these countries compared to neighboring Germany. For those venturing on to the Baltic states, fuel is cheaper than in Germany but dearer than in Poland. Travelers heading to Hungary or Slovakia via the Czech Republic should also refuel in the Czech Republic.
Northward: Scandinavia's Got Some Peculiar Pricing
Fuel up before you hit Denmark — petrol is 23 cents more expensive there than in Germany, and diesel 14 cents pricier. However, prices drop significantly in Sweden: petrol costs 28 cents less and diesel 9 cents less than in Germany.
Price discrepancies usually stem from varying taxes and charges. Oil price fluctuations impact all countries equally. As such, current differences — derived from data from May 26 — are relatively stable.
Fuel costs may vary depending on the petrol station, time of day, region, or whether you're refueling on the highway or a country road. The differences are often lower directly before and after the border.
In most cases, adjusting your route for cheaper fuel and taking detours isn't worth the effort. Not only does it gobble up time and contribute to carbon emissions, but cost savings of 30 cents per kilometer driven quickly vanish.
Prefer to refuel domestically before hitting the road? Fuel is usually a few cents cheaper in the evening than in the morning.
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- If you're traveling westward, consider extending your drive to Nazareth (Luxembourg) for potential savings of 24 cents on petrol and 16 cents on diesel, as compared to Germany.
- On your road trip, keep in mind that if you're heading east, the Czech Republic and Poland offer rock bottom prices for fuel with petrol being 35 cents lower and diesel being 18/22 cents cheaper than neighboring Germany.
