Germany sees fuel price rise after ending tank rebate

In June 2026 German fuel prices were kept low by a temporary tank rebate that cut the energy tax by up to 17 cents per litre. The Bundeskartellamt found that about 80 % of the rebate reached motorists – 82.6 % for diesel and 77.8 % for gasoline – leaving a price gap of roughly 3 cents.

The rebate ended on 1 July, after which prices at the pump rose sharply. The ADAC reported that on 6 July both diesel and E10 gasoline traded above €2 per litre for the first time since early May. The 12‑o’clock rule, introduced in April, limits price hikes to a single increase at noon each day, making the cheapest moment to refuel shortly before 12 p.m. according to Finanztip. Autobahn service stations remain the most expensive, with prices up to 50 cents per litre higher than off‑highway sites. The earlier decline in overall inflation, driven by lower fuel costs, is expected to reverse as oil prices climb amid renewed Middle‑East tensions.