Motorists save up to 43 cents per litre by leaving autobahn to refuel

Tankers save up to 43 cents per litre by leaving the motorway, ADAC finds
Motorists who leave the autobahn to refuel at nearby stations can save as much as 43 cents per litre, according to a nationwide study by Germany’s ADAC published on Tuesday. The survey, which for the first time compared prices at all 360 autobahn service stations with those at roughly 14,000 regular outlets, found that the average gap between the two was 33 cents for both Super E10 and diesel. On a 50-litre fill-up that translates to €16.50 in potential savings.
The price differential varies sharply by region. In Rhineland-Palatinate the difference reaches 43 cents for diesel and 42 cents for Super E10, while in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg the gaps are 39–40 cents and 37–40 cents respectively. At the other end of the scale, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-West Pomerania show the smallest spreads—just 16–17 cents—making the incentive to exit the motorway far weaker for drivers in the north-east. Hessen, the Saarland and Thuringia also record below-average differences of 23–29 cents.
ADAC spokesman Andreas Hölzel said the data “clearly show” that leaving the autobahn to refuel pays off. “Even small price differences of 10 or 20 cents per litre justify a short detour,” he told the *Handelsblatt* . Yet not all drivers are convinced: in a poll of more than 1,500 motorway users, 24 % said they would not deviate from the autobahn regardless of price, while 63 % said they would exit if the saving reached 20 cents or more.
The study, which covered prices from 6 to 19 April, was conducted before the current summer holiday surge in traffic. The ADAC warned that with autobahn stations already recording average prices of €2.43 for Super E10 and €2.61 for diesel—slightly above the national average—drivers heading south or east this weekend face both higher fuel costs and heavier congestion. The A9, A10 and A13 corridors around Berlin are expected to see the worst tailbacks as school holidays begin in Brandenburg and Berlin on Thursday .
Industry analysts note that the price gaps reflect not only location but also the pricing power of motorway operators, who face little competition once drivers are on the autobahn. “The fact that the cheapest autobahn station in our sample was actually a few cents below the national average for roadside stations is an exception that proves the rule,” Hölzel said. The ADAC has repeatedly called for greater transparency and competition at motorway service areas, where margins remain far higher than at conventional filling stations.
The findings come as Germany’s auto sector braces for further cost pressures. Volkswagen’s supervisory board is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss plans that could affect up to 100,000 jobs across the group, while BMW and Mercedes are also reviewing restructuring measures amid weak demand and high energy costs .
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