Starting this Wednesday, not only will the nine-euro ticket be valid nationwide on buses and trains, drivers will also be relieved: a tank discount will apply in Germany for a period of three months. A reduction in the energy tax from 1 June up to and including the end of August could make petrol around 35 cents a liter cheaper and diesel around 17 cents a liter cheaper. The question now is: should you wait until the deadline if possible and roll to the gas station with the last drop on Wednesday? Experts from ADAC and Auto Club Europa (ACE) advise against it. Why exactly? Here are the most important answers to all questions on the subject:
Why not go and fill up on the first day?
On the one hand, the ADAC experts expect that the filling stations could be very crowded by the deadline. The result would be long queues. Some people could even go away completely empty-handed. According to media reports, the petrol station industry is also expecting high demand and is warning of possible bottlenecks. On the other hand, the rush to the petrol stations by motorists from abroad could be intensified, especially in areas close to the border, according to the ADAC. Because with the price reduction on June 1st, refueling in Germany is likely to be considerably cheaper than, for example, in Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium or Switzerland. Come in addition: “Supply and demand apply to fuel,” said ACE spokesman Sören Heinze recently on Deutschlandfunk. And that means: the higher the demand, the higher the price.
Could the fuel price in June not drop as significantly as politicians had hoped?
According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, this is quite possible. From the house of Christian Lindner (FDP) it was said on Monday that the tanks were still filled with fuel that had been delivered in May at the old tax rates. An abrupt drop in the price of petrol and diesel at filling stations is therefore not to be expected for the time being. Only gradually would the petrol stations buy fuel with the reduced tax rates from June 1st. With the subsequently purchased fuel, the lower price then gradually reaches the consumer. The federal government will waive around three billion euros in taxes in the next three months to make petrol and diesel cheaper from June to the end of August. During this period, the energy tax on fuel will be reduced to the European minimum.
The ACE is also of the opinion that it can initially take a few days before the price at the pumps drops noticeably. “When the situation has calmed down and the prices have leveled off at a lower level, you can refuel without any stress,” explains the club. Therefore, it is better not to empty the tank down to the last drop in the last days of May. According to the ADAC, shortly before the tax relief on Wednesday, fuel prices rose sharply again. Both petrol and diesel have become several cents more expensive compared to last week, the automobile club announced on Monday. For example, Super E10 cost 2.129 euros per liter on a nationwide daily average on Sunday. That is 3.9 cents more than on Tuesday last week. Diesel cost 2.026 euros – an increase of 3.2 cents per liter. However, the ADAC attributes the recent increase to higher oil prices.
Should you bunker the cheap fuel?
The experts also advise against this. According to the ADAC, it is forbidden to store large quantities of petrol privately. Due to the risk of explosion, only up to 20 liters are permitted in small garages of up to 100 square meters in size. And they must be stored in closed, non-flammable and unbreakable canisters, the ACE informs. More of the less flammable diesel may be stored: up to 200 liters are permitted in a small garage. Nevertheless, you should first keep a cool head and not hoard fuel – even if the low prices should be tempting.
What else is there to consider?
Even if the legislature allows up to 200 liters of diesel to be stored in the garage – from the point of view of the experts it is rarely reasonable. Because diesel only lasts a few months even when stored airtight, explains the ACE. The reason is the so-called diesel plague. Bacteria from the biodiesel fraction decomposed the carbon in the diesel over time. This forms a type of sludge, which in turn can clog the vehicle’s filters and fuel system. In addition, if you only live for rent, the storage of fuel is often completely forbidden. Here is a look at the rental agreement. Unless otherwise noted, according to ACE, a total of 20 liters of petrol or diesel is permitted in the basement. In the entire basement, of course – and not per basement.
Can you store fuel in the car?
Up to 240 liters are permitted for transport in the car. However, the amount must be distributed among reserve containers with a maximum capacity of 60 liters – within Germany. Different rules apply in other countries. According to the ADAC, the corresponding canister must have either the so-called reserve fuel canister approval (RKK) or UN approval. The corresponding marking is embossed on the container. Important: In Germany, according to Dekra, from a quantity of 20 liters of fuel in the canister outside the tank, the sign “Vehicles with water-polluting cargo” must be observed. To be on the safe side, experts advise in the car never to keep more than five or ten liters in reserve.
How else can fuel be saved?
A lot can be saved by adopting a forward-looking, economical driving style and avoiding short journeys. ACE man Heinze also advises removing unnecessary objects from the trunk, as well as the roof rack or the bike rack at the rear after use. According to the ADAC, the thirst of the car can be reduced by up to twenty percent. Switching to buses and trains can also make sense – especially since the use of these means of transport with the nine-euro ticket pushed by the federal government will be very cheap in the next three months. Always useful from the point of view of the experts: Compare the prices before filling up – for example with the ADAC fuel price app for the smartphone or a similar offer from ACE. ACE spokesman Heinze also advises filling up the tank “when most others aren’t filling up” – for example at the weekend or in the early evening hours when commuters are already at home.
Isn’t there anyone who checks whether the tax cut is actually getting through to consumers?
It may well be that in the coming days and weeks those responsible within the federal government will discuss this question intensively – and shift the responsibility to each other. FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai has already stated that he expects the tank discount to be consistently monitored. The Federal Ministry of Economics, led by Robert Habeck (Greens), is responsible for this. Djir-Sarai said that in order for the relief to be fully effective, the price reduction must reach the citizens in full. “The Federal Ministry of Economics must now do its duty and ensure, via the market transparency office at the Cartel Office, that the tax reduction is passed on to the end consumer and does not peter out.” FDP boss Lindner said something similar: “It is now the task of the Cartel Office and Co to ensure that the tank discount reaches people!” He wrote on Twitter.