German drivers are facing steep fuel prices on the nation’s autobahns, according to a recent study by the German Automobile Club (ADAC). The analysis, conducted across 50 motorway service stations and 50 nearby alternatives, highlights a glaring discrepancy that can cost motorists over €20 per tank.
On average, drivers pay 43.7 euro cents more per liter for Super E10 and 42.5 euro cents more for diesel when refueling at motorway service stations. With a standard 50-liter tank, that translates to savings of €22 for petrol and just over €21 for diesel—simply by exiting the highway.
One of the most striking price differences was recorded at the Hochfelln-Nord station on the A8 Salzburg–Munich route, where Super E10 was priced 57 cents higher than at a station in nearby Übersee—only three kilometers away. Similarly, on the A3 between Frankfurt and Cologne, the Limburg Ost station charged nearly 54 cents more per liter of diesel than a nearby outlet just two kilometers from the motorway exit.
These are not isolated anomalies. The study found that 90% of motorway fuel stations charged at least 30 cents more per liter of Super E10, and 88% did the same for diesel. In fact, nearly a quarter of stations charged a markup of 50 cents or more.
However, there are exceptions. The Fuchsberg Nord station on the A20 in Mecklenburg had a modest 5.9-cent difference for Super E10 and an almost negligible 0.9-cent gap for diesel compared to the nearby station in Neukloster. But such cases remain rare.
What’s particularly alarming is that these price gaps have widened over time. In 2024, the average difference stood at just over 39 cents for Super E10 and 38 cents for diesel—figures that have climbed notably this year.
While the ADAC acknowledges that motorway stations face higher operational costs—due to long operating hours and expensive land concessions—the organization criticizes the excessive markups as unjustifiable.
“Such massive differences go beyond reasonable surcharges,” an ADAC spokesperson commented. “We advise drivers—whether in cars or on motorcycles—to plan ahead and refuel at stations located off the motorways. The cost savings are significant and consistent.”
With fuel prices climbing and wallets tightening, motorists would be wise to heed ADAC‘s advice. The autobahn might offer speed, but when it comes to filling up, the smarter route is often the scenic one—just off the next exit.
Source: ADAC
