Many drivers are speechless when they look at the current fuel prices in Germany. In some places, prices for a liter of gasoline exceed 1.50 euros. Last year consumers could still fill up at around 1.20 euros. The price of diesel in Germany is currently around 1.35 euros, having fallen to below 1.00 euros per liter in many places last year. Why is fuel so expensive in Germany now and how to look for lower prices?
Petrol and diesel: here’s why prices are soaring in Germany
Two main developments are responsible for the rise in fuel prices in Germany, ADAC explains. “The price of oil is gradually recovering from last year’s coronavirus-induced crash. In addition, VAT was raised to the previous 19 percent on January 1, and a CO2 levy on fuel was introduced at the turn of the year” – ADAC spokesman Andreas Hölzel said.
This resulted in higher prices for drivers at gas stations. He added that this development is realistic and not due to an extreme situation. “Since November, we have seen gasoline prices increase by about 22 cents and diesel by about 26 cents” – The expert explained.
At what times is the fuel most expensive in Germany?
The ADAC price analysis shows that mineral oil companies set particularly high prices in the morning hours. The price then declines steadily throughout the day. “Fuel price assessments show that refueling is most expensive in the morning between 6 and 9 a.m. As the day progresses, prices drop further and further. Motorists will find significantly lower fuel prices between 6 p.m. and around 10 p.m. However, there are always regional differences”. ADAC bases its calculations on the average price across the country. The expert advises to compare prices: “It’s never a bad thing to check the price differences between gas stations in a given locality before filling up with fuel”.
Here’s how to find the best fuel price in Germany
In addition to various fueling apps that display the average price and rate the regional price, interested parties can also use Google’s map app.
Google Maps shows the current price of Super, Super E10 and diesel fuel. To do so, simply enter the term “gas station” in the app’s search bar (German: “Tankstelle”) and open a list of gas stations nearby:
The list of gas stations with fuel prices looks like this:
In addition, you can use apps with which you can compare fuel prices, such as “Clever-Tanken” or “Mehr Tanken”.
Petrol and diesel: Will petrol prices in Germany fall?
A decline in fuel prices is rather unlikely. Over the past five years – with the exception of Coronavirus 2020 – prices have typically risen in the first five months of the year. Prices then collapse between June and August before rising again in September. Gasoline station prices typically soften in the fall and rise again at the end of the year.