FrancevsGermany
France
Germany2.2% less than France — that is €2.50 on a 50-litre tank.
| Per litre | France | Germany | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol 95 | €2.23 | €2.18 | €0.05 · €2.50/tank |
| Diesel | €2.35 | €2.27 | €0.08 · €4.00/tank |
| LPG | €1.04 | €1.10 | €0.06 · €3.00/tank |
Where the €0.05 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.
The fuel itself is more expensive before tax in Germany. It is cheaper at the pump anyway, purely because Germany taxes it less than France does.
Is the crossing worth it?
What you save by filling up in Germany, against what the detour costs you at €2.18/L and 7 L/100 km.
| Tank filled | You save | Worth a detour of |
|---|---|---|
| 40 L | €2.00 | up to 13 km round trip |
| 50 L | €2.50 | up to 16 km round trip |
| 60 L | €3.00 | up to 20 km round trip |
| 70 L | €3.50 | up to 23 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?
Germany is cheaper for petrol 95 — €2.18 per litre against €2.23 in France, a difference of €0.05 per litre (2.2%). On a 50-litre tank that is €2.50 saved.
How much do I save filling up in Germany?
€2.50 on a 50-litre tank, €3.50 on a 70-litre one. Weigh that against the detour: if crossing costs you 20 extra kilometres, roughly €3.05 of that saving goes straight back into the tank.
Why is fuel cheaper in Germany than France?
Tax, entirely. The fuel itself is actually more expensive before duty in Germany — the pump price is lower purely because excise duty and VAT are lower there.
How current are these prices?
Both sides are 2026-10-19 national averages including all duties and taxes — European Commission, DG Energy — 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.