The cheapest and most expensive places for holidaymakers to buy fuel in Europe

The cheapest places for holidaymakers to buy petrol and diesel in Europe have been revealed – and it’s Andorra that has the best value across the board.

Travelers renting a car in Andorra will pay £1.23 per liter for unleaded petrol – equivalent to £187 for 1,000 miles of driving – and £1.10 per liter for diesel (£167 per 1,000 miles).

That is according to the latter Post office Travel money Driving on the mainland report, which examined fuel prices in 17 European countries and produced two cost-based rankings: one for unleaded petrol and one for diesel. As part of the investigation, the Post Office has also revealed some traffic regulations abroad that the British may not be aware of.

Ireland is second cheapest for unleaded petrol (£1.38 per litre/£209 per 1,000 miles), followed by Austria in third place (£1.39 per litre/£210 per 1,000 miles). Moving down the rankings, Spain (£1.40 per litre/£211 per 1,000 miles) is fourth cheapest for unleaded petrol, while Luxembourg (£1.41 per litre/£213 per 1,000 miles) slips into fifth place.

Looking at diesel, it’s Spain – where diesel costs 21p less per liter than the UK at £1.25 per liter (£190 per 1,000 miles) – which is the second cheapest for drivers, followed by Luxembourg (£1.26 per litre/£191 per litre). 1,000 miles) in third place. Ireland ranks fourth in the diesel ranking (£1.28 per litre/£194 per 1,000 miles), while Portugal ranks fifth (£1.29 per litre/£196 per 1,000 miles).

The UK is 6th in the unleaded petrol table at £1.44 per liter (£217 per 1,000 miles), and it is 11th in the diesel table at £1.46 (£221 per 1,000 miles).

Where is it expensive for motorists? More than one in five (21 per cent) holidaymakers surveyed say they will drive in France, but high prices at the pump make it one of the most expensive countries for fuel – it ranks 12th for unleaded petrol at £1 .62 (£245 per 1,000 miles) and 13th for diesel at £1.47 (£223 per 1,000 miles).

The same goes for Italy, where unleaded petrol costs £1.62 per liter (£245 per 1,000 miles) and £1.49 for diesel (£223 per 1,000 miles). As a result, it ranks 13th for unleaded petrol and 14th for diesel in the tables.

Of all the countries surveyed, Switzerland is the most expensive for diesel fuel at £1.76 per liter (£266 per 1,000 miles) and similarly expensive (15th overall) for unleaded petrol at £1.66 (£251 per 1,000 miles).

Denmark, meanwhile, is the most expensive destination for unleaded petrol, priced at £1.76 a litre, or £266 for 1,000 miles. However, it is 10th in the diesel ranking, with a diesel price of £1.46 per liter (£218 per 1,000 miles).

Overall, drivers in 14 of the countries surveyed will pay significantly less to drive a diesel car than for unleaded petrol.

Ireland is the second cheapest country in Europe for unleaded petrol – the price is £1.38 per litre. Above is the Slea Head Drive route in County Kerry

While fuel costs across Europe have fallen from the record levels they reached over the past year and sterling is at its highest level against the euro in 2023, pump prices are above average in almost 90 percent of the countries surveyed. in 2019, when the Post Office Travel Money last conducted the price comparison.

Elsewhere, the report also found that more than two in five motorists on holiday are unaware of new European road rules and risk hefty fines.

Post Office research found that 43 per cent of Britons planning travel are unaware of the restrictions of the low emission zones in top destinations such as France and Spain, where they are most likely to drive.

More than half (52 percent) were unaware of the daily entry fees and permits required in many cities, and 58 percent were unaware of the requirement to display windshield stickers indicating their vehicle’s emission levels.

In France, ‘Crit Air’ emissions stickers must be displayed or fines of £58 (€68) to £116 (€135) can be imposed.

Forty-two percent of those planning to drive in Europe did not realize that speeding could result in a fine. Yet nearly one in five (19 percent) admit to having been fined for speeding or breaking other travel rules on previous trips to Europe, Post Office Travel Money reveals.

More than one in five (21 percent) holidaymakers surveyed say they will drive in France, but high prices at the pump make it one of the most expensive countries for fuel

Similar numbers (18 percent) said they had received “Ultra Low Emission Zone”-style fines for violating low-emission zone rules and 47 percent were unaware that people with a paper driver’s license issued before March 31, 2000 issued, a international driver’s license.

The report shows that a third of Britons visiting Europe this year plan to drive during their holiday – either in their own car or hire car – with France, Spain and Italy being the top choices for holiday cars.

Commenting on the report, Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at the Post Office, said: ‘With air costs reportedly skyrocketing, it is understandable that so many Britons have decided to drive to Europe this summer. Worryingly, however, many people don’t realize that driving laws have changed since their last trip and that they could risk hefty fines if they don’t learn the rules of the road. Popular destinations such as France and Spain have had spot fines for some time now, so it’s critical for motorists on holiday to carry foreign currency with them in case they’re pulled over for speeding or breaking new rules.

‘Our pump price study has found that the cost of refueling in Europe can vary by as much as £100, so we recommend planning driving routes carefully before you set off to keep costs down. Save money by diverting from the highway and main roads to local towns. Supermarket prices will be cheaper than roadside, just like here in the UK. Don’t forget to have some foreign currency with you, because not all petrol stations in rural areas accept plastic.’