Spain has just become the cheapest country in Europe to fill up your tank
Planning a summer road trip? Point it towards Spain
If you are heading off on a driving holiday this summer, it is worth knowing where the cheap fuel is, and there has been a changing of the guard. According to figures reported by our partner Gocar.be, Spain has overtaken long-time champion Luxembourg to become the cheapest country in Europe to fill up.
A new cheapest country
For years, Luxembourg has been the go-to bargain stop for European drivers. Not this summer. On Spanish motorways, a litre of petrol now averages 1.64 euro and diesel 1.62 euro, narrowly undercutting Luxembourg's 1.65 euro for petrol and 1.61 euro for diesel. The gap widens once you leave the motorway: in Spain, prices can fall to around 1.46 euro per litre, making it a genuinely rewarding place to fill up on holiday.
Where it costs the most
At the other end of the scale, the usual suspects remain painfully pricey. The Netherlands is once again the most expensive place to buy petrol along the motorway, at a hefty 2.43 euro per litre. For diesel drivers, Switzerland is the country to avoid, with motorway prices climbing to 2.49 euro per litre. If your route runs through either, it pays to fill up before you cross the border.
What it means for Belgian drivers
For those setting off from Belgium, the picture is middling but manageable. Belgian petrol is more attractive than in neighbouring Germany or France, though still not as cheap as Luxembourg, which remains a smart quick stop on the way south. The big takeaway is simple: if Spain is your destination, you will be rewarded at the pump once you arrive, and it is worth planning your fuel stops around the cheaper countries along the way.
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It is a small thing, but on a long family road trip these differences add up fast. A price gap of nearly a euro a litre between Spain and the Netherlands means one tank can cost dramatically more or less depending purely on where you happen to stop. A little planning, filling up in Spain, Luxembourg or Belgium and avoiding the Dutch and Swiss motorways, can genuinely save you a meaningful chunk of your holiday budget.
It is also a neat reminder of just how much fuel prices still vary across Europe, even as the shift to electric gathers pace. For now, the humble petrol and diesel pump remains the reality for most holidaymakers, so knowing the cheap spots is genuinely useful. Thanks to our partner Gocar.be for the numbers, and safe travels this summer.
