Cheap fuel in Germany? Don't fall for these traps! - AutoReview.nl

When fuel prices rose sharply last year after the measures against Russia, the Dutch government intervened. We got an excise tax credit to lower fuel prices. But it disappears gradually. On July 1, petrol became 17 cents more expensive, since then you pay 12 cents more for a liter of diesel.

And so it is again attractive for many people in the border region to fill up in Germany. The prices for diesel and petrol are considerably lower. At the end of August 2023, you pay 2,249 euros for a liter of E10 in the Netherlands, a liter of diesel costs 1,993 euros (source: United Consumers). No, then Germany. A liter of E10 costs an average of 1,873 euros and diesel 1,785 euros. Still, you have to watch out for the German pump. Four tips to avoid the snags.

1. Don't fill up before 7am

In Germany, fuel prices fluctuate considerably during the day. The difference can be as much as 10 to 12 cents! If you translate that into a full tank, you are quickly talking about a price difference of 5 euros. Refueling before 7 am is a bad idea anyway; then the price for petrol and diesel is the highest in Germany.

2. Refuel in Germany between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m

When should you refuel? After the evening rush hour, when you have the pagers behind the teeth, because between 6 pm and 10 pm you pay the least at the German pump. That says the ADAC, the German big brother of the ANWB.

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3. Don't fill up on the autobahn

Cheap refueling in Germany - just like in the Netherlands - is not done on the highway. The prices for a liter of E10 petrol are on average 21.4 cents higher and for a liter of diesel even 23.8 cents. One of the reasons is that the filling stations often have to be open 24 hours and therefore have higher personnel costs.

4. Refuel at an Autohof

Are you traveling and do you find the prices at the petrol stations on the autobahn too high, but do you not want to drive far to refuel cheaply? Then the Autohof is a godsend. They are well marked on the highway signs, you drive a few kilometers at the most and you pay much less for a liter of petrol or diesel. The price may differ depending on the day of the week you fill up. But according to the ADAC, those differences are negligible.