Since April 1, 2026, the price at the pumps can only be increased once a day at 12 p.m., but can otherwise be reduced as often as desired. However, according to the ADAC’s observations, the so-called Austrian model, which was actually introduced to curb prices, has the opposite effect: it has essentially made fuel prices at German gas stations significantly more expensive compared to the time before the new regulation. To validate this observation, the club compared oil prices and the Euro-dollar exchange rate in March with those in April and the Austrian model now in effect. It turns out that the oil companies impose a high risk premium with the one-off increase at 12 p.m., which they only reduce slowly over the course of the day. In addition, the periods in which you can fill up below the daily average have been shortened compared to the free price model. According to the ADAC, the ability to plan has not improved.
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Shortened time window
In the evaluation, the ADAC examined more than 14,000 gas stations during the first two and a half weeks of April 2026. At twelve o’clock, Super E10 at gas stations had risen in price by an average of nine cents per liter during this period, and diesel fuel by as much as 10.5 cents. After that, prices slowly fell until early evening and remained fairly close to the daily average until the next morning. Around six o’clock the daily average was generally below the daily average, and from around ten o’clock fuel was around two cents cheaper than the daily average. It was only shortly before 12 p.m. that prices were significantly below the average, at an average of 2.7 cents. Anyone who misses this short window of time will have to wait for the following cycle or fill up with more expensive fuel.
Dissatisfied fuel customers
Before the introduction of the new regulation, despite free pricing, there were longer periods in which it was possible to fill up cheaper than average. This was usually around 8 p.m. in the evening and lasted a few hours. In addition, the price level was lower overall. This was evidently evident even without the club’s detailed investigation: 21 percent of those surveyed in the study liked the new tank rule. At 42 percent, twice as many, or almost half, expressed disappointment with the result. It can be assumed that this distribution has already shifted further towards “dissatisfied” now that the rule has been in effect for some time. 95 percent of drivers were already aware of the new price rule at the time of their survey.
More about expensive refueling
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