Fuel prices in Germany: when refueling in Germany is worth it

Why prices in Germany are different

The price at the pump consists largely of taxes: excise duty, VAT, and in Germany also a CO₂ tax. Since each country sets these taxes itself, a price difference arises at the border. On top of that comes competition between stations and the operator's margin.

Since 1 April 2026, public filling stations in Germany may raise petrol and diesel prices only once per calendar day, at 12:00 noon German local time. Reductions are allowed at any time and as often as desired. The old advice that evenings are usually cheaper is therefore no longer a reliable rule of thumb. Compare available pump prices shortly before departure; the lowest price is not guaranteed before noon either.

Motorway or just off it

Stations directly on the Autobahn (the so-called Raststätten) are almost always more expensive in Germany than stations in a village or town near an exit. The difference can be large enough to completely eat up the benefit of refueling across the border.

A station a few kilometers from the exit is usually the better choice. Tankmapper includes the extra kilometers and travel time of such a detour, so you can see if it really turns out cheaper.

How to calculate if the detour pays off

The saving is not simply the price difference per liter. You must subtract the fuel you consume for the detour. The calculation is:

• Gross saving = number of liters you refuel × price difference per liter.
• Detour costs = extra kilometers ÷ kilometers per liter × liter price.
• Net saving = gross saving − detour costs.
• Calculation example (fictional): you refuel 40 liters with a 10 cent difference per liter, so €4 gross. If you drive 20 km for this with a car that does 1 in 15 (6.7L/100km) at €1.80 per liter, the detour costs about €2.40. Net you have about €1.60 left, plus the extra travel time.

Practical tips

• Preferably fill up a tank that is as empty as possible: the more liters, the more the price difference yields.
• Pay attention to the fuel name: in Germany, Euro 95 is called 'Super' or 'Super E10' and Euro 98 is called 'Super Plus'.
• Payment is possible almost everywhere with a debit or credit card, but not every unmanned pump accepts every card.
• Do not take jerry cans full of fuel home without researching the rules; there are restrictions on transporting fuel.

How Tankmapper helps

Enter your starting point, destination, and fuel level. Tankmapper fetches the current prices of stations along your route, in the Netherlands and Germany, and shows which station is net cheapest, including the detour. This way you don't have to calculate it yourself and you see immediately if crossing the border is worth it.