Fuel discount in Germany: start, amount and effect

When does the “tank discount” apply and how much is it?

The discount starts at midnight on the night of Wednesday to Thursday and is valid until December 31st. The discount on energy tax is actually 14.04 cents per liter - however, it does not apply to sales at the gas station, but rather to the delivery of the fuel. Because the lower price also means less VAT when selling, this results in a total tax discount of 16.7 cents.

Will I receive the full discount?

This is controversial. During the two-month "tank discount" in May and June, the Ifo Institute, the Monopolies Commission and the Federal Cartel Office, among others, found that the discount was not passed on in full. The petroleum industry denies this. During the past “tank discounts”, the prices rose again a few days after the start, as data from the ADAC shows.

However, the transfer is fundamentally difficult to measure because the price of fuel fluctuates greatly due to external influences. The Fuels and Energy trade association (en2x) expects the fuel discount to be passed on immediately and in full and criticized the fact that studies into this often do not take other cost factors into account.

Do fuel prices fall as early as midnight?

At midnight, practically no gas station will have the discounted fuel in stock. In addition, the gas stations are not obliged to pass on the discount. Nevertheless, the experience of the last two "fuel discounts" shows that prices at many gas stations fall significantly at midnight - simply because customers expect this.

Is it worth getting up early?

No. Because of the 12 o'clock rule, prices can only go down in the morning, not up. The lowest price is usually shortly before 12 p.m. - but then there can be queues at the petrol stations due to high demand. Anyone who doesn't get to the pump until shortly after 12 p.m. often has to pay around 20 cents per liter, as data from the Tankerkönig portal shows.

Is it worth comparing prices?

Yes. The price difference between cheap and expensive gas stations is often in the double-digit cent range, especially in larger cities.

Will fuel be as cheap as it was before the war?

Probably not. On the last day before the Iran war broke out at the end of February, a liter of Super E10 still cost 1.78 euros and a liter of diesel 1.75 euros (average nationwide daily according to ADAC data). The gap to the current prices is therefore much larger than the planned "tank discount": last Sunday, a liter of Super E10 cost 2.28 euros, a liter of diesel 2.43 euros.

How much do I save with the “tank discount”?

That depends on how much you drive, how much the car uses and whether the discount is passed on in full. To get an impression, here are two calculation examples:

A diesel with 15,000 kilometers per year and a consumption of 7 liters per 100 kilometers requires 262.5 liters in the three months of the "tank discount". A fully passed on discount of 16.7 cents per liter brings you just under 44 euros.

A petrol engine with 9,000 kilometers and a consumption of 8 liters per 100 kilometers needs 180 liters in three months and saves around 30 euros if the discount is fully applied.

Why is fuel so expensive right now?

The Iran war is restricting the export of oil and fuel from the Gulf region. There is also a lack of capacity at refineries. In addition, low water levels in this country can also cause logistical problems.

How much does the “fuel discount” cost and who pays it?

The federal government expects that 2.485 billion euros less taxes will flow into the state treasury. This time, however, the states should bear half of the costs; In return, the federal government gives them slightly less sales tax revenue. This is unusual - the states are often reluctant to finance decisions from the federal government.