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MONEY

Where German drivers are going to find cheaper fuel prices

Rising petrol and diesel costs are leading some drivers in Germany across the country - and even into neighbouring countries - to search for lower prices.

Published: 19 October 2021 16:24 CEST
A driver fills up a car at a petrol station in Munich.
A driver fills up a car at a petrol station in Munich. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Sven Hoppe

High fuel prices in Germany are resulting in more people driving across the border to fill up their tanks, the Central Association of the Petrol Station Industry (Zentralverband des Tankstellengewerbes), ZTG, said on Tuesday. 

As of Sunday, drivers of diesel cars and vans in Germany have been asked shell out an average of €1.555 per litre to refill their vehicles. The previous record price, set on August 26th, was €1.554 per litre.

Regular petrol prices are also going up, with prices per litre hitting €1.667 per litre on Sunday – 4.2 cents short of its previous record price of €1.709. 

The ZTG said that due to the spike, so-called ‘petrol tourism’ is on the rise again as drivers are desperate to save some cash. 

READ ALSO: Could Germany cut more taxes to stem fuel prices?

The association calls this a “petrol price paradox”, because the rising price of oil, which is making filling up tanks more expensive, is noticeable on both sides of the border. However, there may be differences due to taxes and duties.

People are also travelling to different parts of Germany to try and find cheaper fuel. 

The willingness to take detours or drive for a few euros in savings has increased, said Florian Hördegen from ADAC Südbayern. Since last week, the topic has gained momentum. It means queues at petrol stations – in Germany and beyond – are becoming more common.

Where are fuel prices cheaper – and more expensive?

For those looking for reasonable fuel prices in their area in Germany, this handy search tool helps you find gas stations and view the prices. 

The app Clever Taken also has a “Magic Map” that tells you where to find the petrol station with the best price. Users can also activate push notifications in the fuel app that alert you as soon as a petrol station in your vicinity offers fuel at the low price you set.

The ADAC Spritpreise app also allows people to compare prices between petrol stations in Germany and select the cheapest providers. 

In Austria and the Czech Republic, taxes on fuel are much lower. Depending on the petrol station, region and time of day, the difference can be around 20 to 30 cents.

READ ALSO: Drivers in Germany face record fuel costs

On average, diesel costs €1.23 per litre in the Czech Republic, Super petrol costs €1.32. The savings could be 33 cents for a litre of diesel and an impressive 34 cents for a litre of Super, according to German news site Focus Online. Filling up with 60 litres could result of a price difference of around €20.

In Austria, a litre of diesel costs an average of €1.34 per litre. Super is available for €1.33 and Super Plus for €1.61. The savings are 21 cents for diesel, 34 cents for Super and an impressive 33 cents for Super Plus. If you fill up with the most expensive type of fuel, drivers could save about €15 on 45 litres.

Poland is also an option. On Tuesday, a litre of diesel cost an average of €1.32 in Poland and €1.28 for super. A full tank of 60 litres of diesel would cost an average of €73.20 in Poland and €93 in Germany. That’s a saving of about €20 per fill-up.

In contrast, petrol is more expensive in the Netherlands than in Germany. However, according to ZTG, there is currently no sign of increasing fuel tourism from there.

A trip across the border is not always worthwhile, experts say. Drivers have to think about the costs depending on the car and the distance, said ADAC fuel price expert Jürgen Albrecht.

“Driving across the border just to refuel is particularly worthwhile if the price differences are high and the distances are very short,” said Albrecht.

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For members

INHERITANCE

EXPLAINED: How to write a will in Germany

German succession law is pretty clear on what happens to your assets if you die without a will. But there are some big advantages - particularly for foreigners - of writing one.

Published: 26 April 2024 10:19 CEST
EXPLAINED: How to write a will in Germany

First and foremost, the largest advantage when it comes to writing wills as a foreigner in Germany – is the option to decide which country’s law applies when you write your will.

“Foreigners living in Germany have a huge advantage over German citizens, because you can choose the law of your own country for your will – even if you live in Germany,” says Andreas Moser, a Chemnitz-based immigration and family lawyer who runs a popular blog on German citizenship and family law. “Dual citizens who are German and have another nationality also have this advantage.”

READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about German inheritance law

Whether you want to do this of course, depends highly on the other country concerned and its law – and how much it differs from German law.

In specific detailed cases, you may want to consult a lawyer who specialises in wills and estates. One example of how German law may differ though is that many countries don’t have “forced heirship”, which requires you to leave certain shares of your estate to certain immediate family members.

By contrast, Germany has forced heirship. If, however, you would like to get around this for some reason, you can specify that your will should go under the other country’s law – if, for example, that country doesn’t have forced heirship.

This is unlikely, however, to result in people resident in Germany you leave assets to being able to get around inheritance tax, as this counts towards the receiver’s tax and not the deceased’s. However, there are other cases when using either country’s estate law might have different implications for certain assets – something a specialised lawyer can give you more information about.

If you want your other country’s rule to apply, make sure you specifically state that in your will.

EXPLAINED: The rules around inheritance tax in Germany

When should you definitely have a will?

Moser suggests that foreigners in Germany who want their native country’s law to apply write a will and specifically state that as their wish.

He also recommends wills in particular for those who have “patchwork” families, where one or both spouses have been married before or have children from previous marriages – in order to avoid complicated proceedings over who gets what.

A family sit at a lake.

Foreigners in Germany – even if they are dual German citizens – can choose the succession law they want to apply in their will. Image by Eva Mospanova from Pixabay

How should I write a will?

When it comes to composing a will, you have three main options:

The first is to write an international will that’s valid in your home country and that specifically states that you want the law of your home country to apply. 

The disadvantage of this approach is that your heirs may have to later pay to have it translated into German. You can also arrange to have an official German translation of it done.

Your second choice is to handwrite a will and sign it. This is known as a holograph will or Eigenhändiges Testament in German. It can be in any language, although again – your heirs may have to pay to have it translated later.

This option also avoids certain expensive legal fees – and you can state which country’s law you want to apply. However, for it to be valid, it must be entirely handwritten and include the date and place of signature. It cannot be typed and signed. If you’re concerned about the will going missing, you can deposit it with your responsible probate court for a fee of €75.

The final option is to write a public testament – which is prepared by a German notary. These wills are pretty ironclad but can be expensive – with fees that differ depending on the size of the estate. Once prepared, the notary will then file it with the public registry – so there is always a record of it.

READ ALSO: Do foreigners in Germany owe tax on money that is inherited from overseas?

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