The tank discount should apply on June 1st. In this way, the federal government wants to relieve employees and families. But in the end, the discount could be smaller. Thousands of petrol stations have raised prices sharply in recent weeks. FOCUS Online shows the brazen graphics.
From midnight on Wednesday, the tank discount will apply to motorists buying diesel and petrol. Ideally, you save 35 cents for a liter Super and a good 17 cents for a diesel.
But drivers will not be able to save that much.
According to an evaluation available to FOCUS Online, on May 28 alone, over 11,260 gas stations in Germany raised the prices for the Super – by up to ten cents. Almost 30 companies even went up by up to 20 cents. With diesel, 9,282 filling stations went up by ten cents and with E10 there were 10,844 filling stations. Usury at the pump!
Only 1,500 gas stations lowered the price of gas, but most of them raised the prices on May 14 and 17 – sometimes by up to ten cents.
While drivers are waiting for relief, the oil companies are secretly raising prices. The tank discount flows directly into their pockets. Taxpayers bear the cost of this. The tank discount costs around three billion euros.
On Saturday, a liter of Super sometimes cost 2.19 euros (e.g. Agip petrol station on Implerstraße in Munich), diesel was occasionally available for 2.09 euros. Fuel prices had fallen well below the 2-euro mark a few weeks ago.
In Trier, motorists paid the highest prices for petrol and diesel on Monday. Petrol stations call for prices of up to 2.14 euros (E10) per liter. Fuel is cheaper in Kaiserslautern. There is E10 for 2.11 euros and diesel for 1.97 euros.
The nationwide average price per liter for diesel on Monday is 2.03 euros and 2.13 euros for E10 (as of 12:20 p.m.).
“The prices at the German petrol pumps are too high. The euro-dollar exchange rate and the price of crude oil do not justify the current price increases,” said an ADAC spokeswoman. Both factors play an important role in determining the fuel price at the pump.
In principle, you should not run your tank dry for the next few days. If you drive a lot, fill up the tank, if you only need your vehicle occasionally until mid-June, fill up so that you don’t have to go to the gas station for the next few days.
The ADAC also advises this. “There will be more going on at the gas stations at the beginning of the tank discount,” says the press office. “That drives prices up.”
Compare fuel prices in your area. Apps that you install on your smartphone can help. Well-known providers are ADAC, Mehr Tanken, Clever Tanken or Bertha. Google Maps also lists the current fuel prices for many German cities.
Always drive in the evening between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to refuel. Especially on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday you can save a lot of money at the pump. It is most expensive at the German petrol pumps on the weekends. Gas station operators also call for high fuel prices in the morning and at night.
If you have to travel long distances, avoid motorway service stations and use exits into surrounding small towns. Ideally, this will result in savings of up to 8 cents per liter.
The federal government’s wishful thinking: Petrol and diesel will become cheaper on June 1 at midnight sharp. It should be up to 35 cents cheaper for petrol and up to 17 cents for diesel.
But associations, automobile clubs and economic experts do not count on it.
And that is for two important reasons.
First. The oil price is linked to various factors. Russia, the USA and all states belonging to OPEC can influence prices in the crude oil trading market. The organization includes countries that export crude oil. Including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and Venezuela. If countries throttle production – for example due to global uncertainty or domestic political crises – trade prices automatically rise. It then becomes more expensive overall at the pump. The fact is, the price of oil rose midweek.
It usually takes a while before this becomes noticeable at the pump.
Secondly. Fuel prices are based on demand and supply. Drivers have been refueling less fuel at the pump for a few weeks. They’re understandably waiting for the tank discount. At the same time, gas station operators order less fuel because demand is falling.
When the tank discount starts, there may be long queues and delivery bottlenecks. In the worst case, prices shoot up. This further reduces the tank discount.
Supermarket prices are skyrocketing, but furniture, clothing, shoes and other consumer goods are also becoming more expensive. As a retail expert, I know the tricks of the trade and tell you how you can save money for you and your family every month when shopping. Would you like to talk to me about your savings tips and tricks? Did you notice anything while shopping? Then send an e-mail to Konstantinos.mitsis@burda-forward.de with your name and phone number
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