After the next motorway exit, it is usually much cheaper to fill up. A recent sample from the ADAC confirms the old driver’s wisdom. A tank of petrol can easily cost 20 euros.
According to a sample conducted by the ADAC, anyone who fills up on the motorway during the upcoming summer travel season will often pay more. When comparing the prices of motorway petrol stations with their counterparts behind the next exit, the transport association found an average price difference of 39 cents for Super E10 petrol, as it announced on Thursday. The price difference for diesel was 38 cents.
In the top of the sample of 40 pairs of petrol stations along the major motorways, the ADAC calculated price differences of 54 cents for petrol and 50 cents for diesel. This means that the difference was smaller than a year ago. Back then, the highest difference was 70 cents. The average differences, however, were very similar to those now, at 42 cents for petrol and 36 cents for diesel.
ADAC: Better to refuel in the evening
“The phenomenon of motorway petrol stations charging disproportionately high fuel prices has been around for a long time,” criticizes Stefan Gerwens, head of the traffic department at the ADAC. “From the ADAC’s point of view, such high surcharges are unjustified.” He advises drivers to get off the motorway. A short detour is practically always worth it, the traffic club said.
Recently, fuel prices have increased again after weeks of falling. The fact that this is happening at about the same time as the start of the summer travel season in the first federal states is probably more of a coincidence. This is also indicated by the fact that not only petrol but also diesel has increased, which is in much higher demand from commercial customers than the petrol that is usually used by private individuals.
In addition to leaving the motorway, the ADAC also recommends filling up in the evening. Both fuels are usually a few cents cheaper then than in the morning. And anyone driving abroad should look at the fuel prices at their destination, as data from the EU Commission shows. Fuels are generally much cheaper in the east and south-east of Germany than they are here.
Source: Stern
