FrancevsGermany
9.1% less than Germany — that is €9.10 on a 50-litre tank.
| Per litre | France | Germany | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol 95 | €2.01 | €2.19 | €0.18 · €9.10/tank |
| Diesel | €2.07 | €2.16 | €0.09 · €4.60/tank |
| LPG | €1.01 | €1.09 | €0.09 · €4.30/tank |
Where the €0.18 gap comes from
Petrol is the same product on both sides of this border, refined from the same crude. Stripping duty and VAT out of both pump prices shows how much of the difference is fuel — and how much is politics.
70% of what you save by crossing into France is tax you are not paying, not cheaper fuel. Before duty and VAT the two markets are within €0.05 a litre of each other.
Is the crossing worth it?
What you save by filling up in France, against what the detour costs you at €2.01/L and 7 L/100 km.
| Tank filled | You save | Worth a detour of |
|---|---|---|
| 40 L | €7.28 | up to 52 km round trip |
| 50 L | €9.10 | up to 65 km round trip |
| 60 L | €10.92 | up to 78 km round trip |
| 70 L | €12.74 | up to 91 km round trip |
Trends, tax breakdown, city pages and station maps for France.
Trends, tax breakdown, city pages and station maps for Germany.
Other borders from here
Frequently asked questions
Is fuel cheaper in France or Germany?
France is cheaper for petrol 95 — €2.01 per litre against €2.19 in Germany, a difference of €0.18 per litre (9.1%). On a 50-litre tank that is €9.10 saved.
How much do I save filling up in France?
€9.10 on a 50-litre tank, €12.74 on a 70-litre one. Weigh that against the detour: if crossing costs you 20 extra kilometres, roughly €2.81 of that saving goes straight back into the tank.
Why is fuel cheaper in France than Germany?
70% of the €0.18 gap is tax, not fuel. Before duty and VAT the two countries' petrol differs by only €0.05 per litre — the rest is excise duty and VAT set differently either side of the border.
How current are these prices?
Both sides are 2026-07-20 national averages including all duties and taxes — European Commission — Weekly Oil Bulletin for France. Individual stations vary around the average, and forecourts right at a border crossing routinely price above it precisely because they can.