What’s the cost of driving in Europe this summer?

cost of driving in Europe

It’s good news for holidaymakers motoring through Europe this summer – including favourite hotspots in France and Spain – especially if you’ve got a diesel car.

Price at the pumps in France has dropped to 91p for a litre of diesel, saving 18p on last summer, and 30p less than in the UK. Unleaded petrol costs 16p more than diesel at £1.07.

One in five people say they intend to take to Europe’s roads, more than half to France and 47 per cent to Spain where diesel costs just 89p a litre, down 21 per cent year-on-year, and unleaded petrol is 99p.

Almost two-thirds of 22 countries surveyed for the annual Post Office Travel Money Motoring on the Continent report offer diesel at less than £1 a litre. European fuel has fallen up to 29p a litre for unleaded petrol and 32p for diesel in a year.

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: “People planning European motoring trips can bank on the cost of a litre of unleaded petrol being up to 22 per cent lower than last summer and 26 per cent less for diesel.

“Prices are up to 31p a litre cheaper than in the UK and this rises to 46p for diesel. That’s because diesel is cheaper than unleaded in almost every country so do some homework before travel and plot a holiday route that will cost least.

“France is particularly popular with campers and with holidaymakers staying in rural gites for their summer holiday. Whichever type of fuel they use to reach their destination, they will benefit when they fill up after crossing the channel.”

Best Value for Motoring on the Continent – Unleaded 95 petrol price comparison

Country      Cost Per 1,000 miles          Cost per litre
1  Andorra                £129.87                         £0.86
2 Austria                  £136.20                          £0.90
3=Czech Republic   £141.53                           £0.93
3=Luxembourg       £141.53                           £0.93
5   Cyprus                 £146.52                           £0.97
6   Spain                    £150.18                          £0.99
7   Slovenia               £152.51                           £1.01
8   Croatia                 £157.51                          £1.04
9   Ireland                 £161.84                          £1.07
10  France                 £162.17                          £1.07
11   Germany            £167.50                           £1.11
12   Switzerland       £169.50                          £1.12
13   Sweden               £170.16                          £1.12
14   Belgium              £173.83                         £1.15
15   Portugal              £175.82                         £1.16
16   UK                       £177.12                          £1.17
17   Greece                 £178.49                         £1.18
18   Italy                    £190.14                          £1.26
19   Denmark            £192.81                          £1.27
20   Turkey               £195.14                           £1.29
21   Netherlands       £196.14                          £1.30
22  Norway              £210.46                           £1.39

Best Value for Motoring on the Continent – Diesel price comparison
1   Andorra               £114.22                             £0.75
2  Luxembourg        £121.21                             £0.80
3  Austria                £122.88                             £0.81
4  Spain                    £135.20                             £0.89
5   France                 £137.20                             £0.91
6   Slovenia             £138.86                             £0.92
7   Greece                £139.53                              £0.92
8   Germany            £140.53                             £0.93
9   Czech Republic   £141.53                             £0.93
10  Belgium              £143.86                            £0.95
11   Portugal             £144.52                            £0.95
12= Croatia              £144.86                            £0.96
12= Cyprus               £144.86                            £0.96
14   Ireland               £150.85                            £0.99
15   Netherlands      £154.51                             £1.02
16   Turkey               £159.84                            £1.05
17   Sweden              £160.17                             £1.06
18   Denmark           £161.17                             £1.06
19   Switzerland       £167.17                             £1.10
20   Italy                   £172.83                            £1.14
21   UK                      £183.03                            £1.21
22   Norway             £189.14                             £1.25