Graphic debunked: Half of the tank discount for petrol is gone, and even all of it for diesel

07/06/2022

Bad air at the German gas stations. Motorists are wondering: How can it be that fuel is so expensive despite the tank discount? The answer is simple: the tank discount has fizzled out. FOCUS Online says what you need to know now.

The federal government’s tank discount has been in effect since June 1st. Drivers should save 35 cents with Super, Super Premium or E10. It should be 17 cents for diesel, and that also applies to premium grades.

But compared to the end of May, the liter of petrol or diesel has now risen so much that the tank discount largely fizzles out. The taxpayers in Germany bear the costs for this. The tank discount, which should apply until the end of August, costs three billion euros.

On average, drivers paid more than two euros for a liter of diesel in Germany on Tuesday morning. It was an average of 1.99 euros for a liter of petrol and 1.97 euros for a liter of E10.

On June 3, more than 11,500 petrol stations in Germany had increased their prices by up to ten cents. In the days that followed, prices spiraled upwards for the most part by up to ten cents. Prices stabilized again on Whit Monday. Only around 2,370 petrol stations increased and around 1,800 petrol stations reduced by up to ten cents.

Before the tank discount was introduced, the average price for a liter of petrol was EUR 2.17, for E10 it was EUR 2.12 and for diesel EUR 2.03.

With a tank discount, the prices should be significantly lower. According to the plans, diesel would be 17 cents cheaper and petrol 35 cents cheaper.

The liter of Super, minus the tank discount, should therefore be around 1.82 euros per liter, the liter of E5 at 1.77 euros and diesel at 1.86 euros. But the gas stations are far away from that. The prices are significantly higher. Half of the tank discount for petrol and the entire tank discount for diesel is gone.

“Not enough reaches the consumer,” warns the ADAC in a recent statement.

No one can predict how prices will develop.

If you don’t necessarily have to fill up, you should refrain from refueling given the high prices. Prices may be higher due to demand driven by the Pentecost holidays.

Ideally, you should compare prices from Wednesday. Travel should then have largely decreased. Basically, the prices are higher in the very early hours of the morning than in the late afternoon (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.).

The tank discount is already completely gone, especially at motorway service stations. This is where motorists pay the most expensive fuel. It’s to blame there’s little competition. If you have to fill up, you drive up and pay the high price.

FOCUS Online advises: Get off the Autobahn and into the adjacent city. In comparison, you fill up there for 20 cents cheaper.

Compare fuel prices in your area. Apps that you install on your smartphone can help. Well-known providers are ADAC, Mehr Tanken, Clever Tanken or Bertha. Google Maps also lists the current fuel prices for many German cities.

Use discount codes, coupons or customer cards – you can save with them.

HEM filling stations cooperate with the Clever-Tanken-App and offer a “low price guarantee”. If motorists find a cheaper petrol station from another provider nearby, they always pay the lowest price per liter for diesel and petrol.

In every Agip filling station, ADAC members fill up for one cent per liter cheaper. After refueling, simply show your membership card at the checkout and save.

Customers can collect points at Aral and Esso. Aral has Payback points and Esso Germany Card points. After a certain number of points, credit coupons can be issued that drivers can use when filling up.

If you have to travel long distances, avoid motorway service stations and use exits into surrounding small towns. Ideally, this results in savings of up to 8 cents per liter.