MAP: Where to find the cheapest fuel in France
Prices of petrol and diesel are falling in France - but not as fast as elsewhere in Europe. Here's how to find the cheapest fuel in the country.
Petrol and diesel prices rose dramatically following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and subsequent sanctions imposed by the West - but are now dropping to pre-war levels.
Although prices in France have fallen, they have fallen slower than elsewhere and the country now has among the most expensive petrol (gasoline) and diesel in Europe.
While we wait for the reductions in crude oil prices to affect the prices at the pumps, here are some tips on finding cheaper fuel.
Autoroutes
Unsurprisingly, the highest prices are at service stations on the autoroutes so heading into a town to fill up instead will save you money.
Make sure you know where you are going though. Many supermarkets place signposts next to highway exits, but once you have turned off the signs often trail out leaving you lost in a strange city.
If you end up driving the entire circumference of the city of Tours while having a blazing row with your partner - to quote a completely random example from no-one we know - it rather nullifies any saving you might make on fuel prices.
Supermarkets
Supermarkets usually come out top of most price comparison sites, as the chains sell fuel at very little profit, but use the filling station as a way of luring the customer into the main store to spend money.
Map
The French government hosts this helpful little interactive map that lists the current price of fuel at filling stations across the country.
If you're in a town it can provide a price comparison, or for long journeys help you plan your route via the cheapest filling points. Click HERE for the full map.
Map: prix-carburants.gouv.fr
There are also apps that do roughly the same thing, including Carbu.com, Essence&Co and Fuel Flash.
French vocab
La station service - filling station
Les carburants - fuel (petrol/gas and diesel)
L'essence - petrol/gas
Gazole - diesel
Sans plomb quatre-vingt-quinze (or SP95) - standard unleaded petrol/gas
Sans plomb quatre-vingt-dix-huit (SP98) - higher octane unleaded petrol/gas
Comments
See Also
Petrol and diesel prices rose dramatically following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and subsequent sanctions imposed by the West - but are now dropping to pre-war levels.
Although prices in France have fallen, they have fallen slower than elsewhere and the country now has among the most expensive petrol (gasoline) and diesel in Europe.
While we wait for the reductions in crude oil prices to affect the prices at the pumps, here are some tips on finding cheaper fuel.
Autoroutes
Unsurprisingly, the highest prices are at service stations on the autoroutes so heading into a town to fill up instead will save you money.
Make sure you know where you are going though. Many supermarkets place signposts next to highway exits, but once you have turned off the signs often trail out leaving you lost in a strange city.
If you end up driving the entire circumference of the city of Tours while having a blazing row with your partner - to quote a completely random example from no-one we know - it rather nullifies any saving you might make on fuel prices.
Supermarkets
Supermarkets usually come out top of most price comparison sites, as the chains sell fuel at very little profit, but use the filling station as a way of luring the customer into the main store to spend money.
Map
The French government hosts this helpful little interactive map that lists the current price of fuel at filling stations across the country.
If you're in a town it can provide a price comparison, or for long journeys help you plan your route via the cheapest filling points. Click HERE for the full map.
There are also apps that do roughly the same thing, including Carbu.com, Essence&Co and Fuel Flash.
French vocab
La station service - filling station
Les carburants - fuel (petrol/gas and diesel)
L'essence - petrol/gas
Gazole - diesel
Sans plomb quatre-vingt-quinze (or SP95) - standard unleaded petrol/gas
Sans plomb quatre-vingt-dix-huit (SP98) - higher octane unleaded petrol/gas
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.