Fuel prices have risen sharply since the Iran conflict. The government intends to tackle this with a new law. From 1 April, petrol stations in Germany will only be allowed to charge more for petrol and diesel once a day, at 12 noon. They may, however, lower prices at any time.
From the end of February to 25 March 2026, fuel prices have risen sharply: by almost 28 cents per litre for E10 and by as much as 51 cents for diesel. This was announced by the Federal Cartel Office in the latest quarterly report from the Market Transparency Unit for Fuels. The new regulation is intended to prevent such price spikes in future. Austria serves as the model. There, a regulation has been in place since 2009 limiting price increases to once a day. Petrol stations in Germany that fail to comply with the new law face fines. These can be as high as 100,000 euros.
Compare prices and drive more slowly
One hope behind the new regulation is that the single daily price increase will enable consumers to plan better when to fill up. Based on experiences from Austria, motoring clubs in Germany are offering tips for petrol station customers. According to the ADAC on its website, fuel prices are estimated to be lowest in the late morning, between 10 am and just before 12 noon. Comparison apps for petrol station prices can also be helpful. And last but not least, driving style―taking your foot off the accelerator and reducing speed―can lower a vehicle’s fuel consumption.
The Federal Cartel Office has published a list of price comparison apps: https://www.bundeskartellamt.de/DE/Aufgaben/MarkttransparenzstelleFuerKraftstoffe/TankApps/tankapps_node.html
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