New rules have been in force at the pump in Germany since April 1, 2026. From now on, petrol stations will only be allowed to increase the price of petrol and diesel once a day – at 12 noon. Price reductions, on the other hand, are still permitted at any time. This is the German government’s response to the sharp rise in fuel prices as a result of the war in Iran and is based on the Austrian model.
What the new refueling rule means in concrete terms
The core regulation is simple: price increases at filling stations are only permitted once a day, at exactly 12 noon. After that, prices may only fall during the course of the day. Violations of this regulation can be punished with fines of up to 100,000 euros. Previously, an average of around 20 price changes per petrol station per day were common, and even up to 50 at peak times – this had made price comparison apps increasingly useless.
In addition to the price rule, the Federal Cartel Office has been given extended powers to take action against excessive fuel prices. Among other things, the burden of proof will be reversed: In future, oil companies will have to prove that their price increases are objectively justified.
First day: companies react with sharp increase
On the very first day of the new regulation, the oil companies took full advantage of the window of opportunity. According to the ADAC, the price of a liter of Super E10 rose by an average of 7.6 cents to 2.175 euros nationwide – in the minutes immediately after 12 noon. Diesel climbed by 7.5 cents to an average of 2.376 euros. These figures were even significantly higher than the previous day’s morning peak prices.
When is the best time to fill up?
The previous rule of thumb “fill up after work” is no longer valid with the new regulation. As prices are only allowed to fall after 12 noon, the best time to fill up is now likely to be in the late afternoon or evening – i.e. just before the next midday increase. However, experience from Austria shows that the best time to fill up is often just before 12 noon, i.e. immediately before the next increase.
The ADAC recommends keeping a close eye on the prices at your regular filling stations during the first few days in order to recognize new patterns. Price comparison apps such as ADAC Spritpreise or the market transparency center-based app “Tankerkönig” should now work more reliably again, as the price can no longer move up spontaneously over a period of hours.
Will the refueling rule really lead to lower prices?
Experts disagree on this. The head of the Federation of German Consumer Organizations, Ramona Pop, expressed her scepticism and referred to the experience in Austria, where prices initially fell after the introduction of a similar rule, but quickly returned to the old level. The ADAC also doubts that the law will lower the overall price level – it is expected that prices will mainly change over the course of the day.
Cartel Office President Andreas Mundt sees the main advantage in fewer price fluctuations and better comparability. The German Petrol Station Association (TIV) welcomes the regulation in principle, but warns that the decisive factor is whether the oil companies actually take up price competition after 12 noon. If this does not happen, the market will be dysfunctional.
Background: Why fuel prices have risen so sharply
The trigger for the new legislation is the massive rise in fuel prices since the start of the Iran war. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz in particular – through which around a fifth of the world’s oil transports flow – is causing uncertainty on the commodity markets. Diesel recently cost around 2.30 euros per liter on a daily average, while Super E10 was around 2.09 euros. By way of comparison, a month ago diesel was €1.74 and Super E10 €1.77.
Further measures by the federal government
The fuel price package goes beyond the refueling rule. Among other things, the black-red coalition is considering a temporary increase in the commuter tax allowance, a temporary reduction in energy tax, a reduction in electricity tax and the introduction of a fuel price cap. A so-called “excess profits tax” for war-related profits made by oil companies is also being discussed. Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) has also announced that she will closely monitor the implementation of the new regulation.
Conclusion: New fuel regulation brings more transparency, but not necessarily lower prices
The new refueling rule is a clear intervention in the market and at least provides more reliability and transparency at the pump. Whether it will lead to lower fuel prices in the long term remains to be seen. Drivers should adjust their refueling habits in the coming weeks and observe the best time to fill up in their region. It is now more worthwhile than ever to take a look at a price comparison app.
