Fuel prices in Germany have surged to their highest level since spring 2022, with gasoline averaging approximately €2.13 per litre as of April 1, 2026. The spike has sent millions of German motorists to the popular price-comparison platform Clever Tanken in search of the cheapest fuel in their area, pushing the search term to the top of Google Trends in Germany with over 100,000 queries.
Why Prices Are Surging
The price increases are directly linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East and the disruption of oil shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Germany, which imports the vast majority of its crude oil, is particularly exposed to supply chain disruptions in the Persian Gulf region. The benchmark Brent crude price has climbed steadily over the past several weeks, and those increases are now being passed on to consumers at the pump.
Industry analysts note that Germany now has among the most expensive gasoline in Europe, a situation compounded by the country's relatively high fuel taxes and the added carbon levy that took effect earlier this year.
New "Once-a-Day" Pricing Rule
In a move designed to increase price transparency and reduce volatility, a new German government regulation has taken effect as of April 1, 2026. Under the rule, petrol stations are restricted to raising their prices for petrol and diesel only once per day, at 12:00 noon. However, stations remain free to lower their prices at any time throughout the day.
Consumer advocates have cautiously welcomed the change, noting that the previous system allowed stations to raise prices multiple times daily — often catching drivers off guard during peak commuting hours. The new regulation aims to make it easier for consumers to plan their refuelling around the most competitive prices.
How Clever Tanken Helps Drivers Save
The Clever Tanken platform (clever-tanken.de) draws its data from the German government's Market Transparency Unit for Fuels (MTS-K), which requires fuel stations to report price changes in near real-time. The platform and its mobile app allow drivers to search by location, compare prices across nearby stations, and track trends for E10, E5, and diesel fuel types. With prices at current levels, even small differences between stations can save drivers several euros per tank.