Home › Blog › Fueling Up in Europe – Where and How to Save on Fuel During a Long Road Trip

The golden rule: motorway petrol stations are more expensive in virtually every country. Often, it's enough to exit the motorway and drive just 2–5 kilometres to a nearby town, where savings of 20–40 euro cents per litre are easily achievable.

Country-specific characteristics

• •Austria – significant surcharge on motorways, more favourable prices in towns.
• •Italy – there can be a notable difference between self-service and attended pump prices.
• •Germany – daily price fluctuations are common; evenings are often more expensive.
• •Spain – strong price competition between major chains, with significant differences within just a few kilometres.

On a long trip, these differences add up.

Automated stations are generally cheaper because they operate with lower running costs.

How they work

• 1Pay in advance (by card or cash).
• 2Select your fuel type.
• 3Fill up.
• 4A receipt can be requested using a separate button (Receipt / Beleg / Quittance).

Many people avoid them due to language uncertainty, but the system is straightforward. I use them regularly and have never had an issue. With consistent use, the savings can be substantial.

Use a fuel price monitoring app, such as the Fuelo platform. The map-based search allows you to check current prices before your rest stop – so you won't be caught off guard by high prices after you've already taken the exit. Mindful planning alone can reduce your fuel costs by 5–10%.

A common mistake is trying to add more fuel after the first automatic cut-off. In high ambient temperatures, fuel expands. Overfilling can increase pressure within the system and damage the evaporative emission control (EVAP) system. The professional recommendation: stop fuelling at the first click.

The fuel pump is located inside the tank, and the fuel itself keeps it cool. Running consistently low on fuel reduces this cooling effect, which can shorten the component's lifespan. This is especially relevant during long, high-load motorway driving.

If you're driving a hire car or can't remember which side the fuel cap is on: the small arrow next to the fuel gauge icon indicates which side the filler cap is on.

Time is money, of course. If you're rushing to an important business meeting, it may not be worth it – but on a leisurely road trip, the savings can easily add up to the price of a restaurant dinner. The decision always comes down to weighing time against cost.

All of the above is relevant when you're the one driving. There are situations, however – long business trips, important meetings, unfamiliar foreign roads – where the best decision is to let someone else take the wheel.

On a journey of several thousand kilometres, it's not just fuelling that matters. Toll systems, traffic patterns, heat load, mechanical care – all of these affect the condition of the vehicle and the overall cost.

With an engineering background and years of international driving experience, I ensure that your vehicle arrives at its destination:

If you'd rather not drive thousands of kilometres yourself, professional chauffeur service isn't a luxury – it's a rational decision.