ADAC Analysis: Refueling on Highways Costs an Average of 33 Cents More Per Liter

Regional Differences Between 16 and 43 Cents

The regional differences are considerable. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the gap was smallest, at 17 cents for E10 and 16 cents for diesel. At the other end of the scale is Rhineland-Palatinate, with 42 cents for E10 and 43 cents for diesel. Baden-Württemberg was also well above the national average, with 40 cents for E10 and 37 cents for diesel. In Thuringia, the gap was 24 cents for E10 and 23 cents for diesel; in Hesse, 28 cents for E10 and 29 cents for diesel.

In several federal states, price differences ranged between 31 and 37 cents per liter. For Saxony, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein, the ADAC cited E10 gaps of 33 to 36 cents and diesel gaps of 31 to 37 cents. The most expensive highway service station was even 47 cents per liter above the average for non-highway stations when it came to diesel. According to the ADAC, no comparable data was available for Berlin and Bremen.

Many Drivers Stay on the Highway

Despite the sometimes significant price differences, some drivers choose not to leave the highway to refuel. In an ADAC survey of more than 1,500 highway users, just under 24 percent said they refuel on the highway regardless of the price difference. In contrast, 63 percent of respondents said they leave the highway to refuel, most of them already when price differences are up to 20 cents.

According to the ADAC, the single cheapest highway service station was a few cents below the national average for off-highway stations. The club considers this an isolated case that does not negate the fundamental price difference. The methodological framework conditions are also worth mentioning: the analysis falls within the validity period of the so-called 12 p.m. regulation, but does not take the fuel discount into account. The ADAC also stated that the analysis period was characterized by strong fluctuations in fuel prices, but that this does not change the fundamental result.

Methodology and Framework Conditions

For the first time, the comparison provides a comprehensive data basis for a debate that previously relied on anecdotal reports and selective surveys. For commuters, frequent drivers, and travelers, the magnitude of 33 cents per liter provides a concrete incentive to consider stations near highway exits when planning their route.

The ADAC also pointed out another factor: those who exit the highway not only have the chance of a cheaper liter price, but also break up the monotony of the drive and can combine the refueling stop with a short rest. From the club's perspective, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, especially since detours to a nearby station are usually minor.