Overview
Driving from Ukraine into the EU? Managing fuel stops and tolls can save you hundreds of euros on a long trip. This week, 🇵🇱 Poland remains the cheapest country for diesel (€1.492/litre) and petrol (€1.382/litre), while toll costs vary widely—from free motorways in Germany to expensive vignettes in Switzerland. The golden rule: fill up in the cheapest country before crossing into a pricier one. Fuel prices update weekly, so check the live fuel prices page for the latest numbers before you go.
Where fuel is cheapest right now
Fuel prices rise as you head west and north from Ukraine. Below is the ranking of the cheapest countries for diesel, petrol (95 RON), and LPG this week. Prices are approximate and converted to EUR for comparison—see the country-specific pages for native-currency rates.
| # | Country | Diesel €/l | Petrol 95 €/l | LPG €/l |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇵🇱 Poland | €1.492 | €1.382 | €0.825 |
| 2 | 🇨🇿 Czechia | €1.576 | €1.669 | €0.94 |
| 3 | 🇪🇸 Spain | €1.614 | €1.52 | €1.02 |
| 4 | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | €1.665 | €1.53 | — |
| 5 | 🇭🇺 Hungary | €1.683 | €1.652 | €0.981 |
| 6 | 🇭🇷 Croatia | €1.707 | €1.651 | €0.79 |
| 7 | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | €1.713 | €1.673 | — |
| 8 | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | €1.72 | €1.77 | €0.79 |
| 9 | 🇬🇷 Greece | €1.745 | €2.012 | — |
| 10 | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | €1.782 | €1.719 | — |
| 11 | 🇩🇪 Germany | €1.825 | €1.921 | €1.14 |
| 12 | 🇦🇹 Austria | €1.83 | €1.725 | — |
Note: LPG prices are not available in all countries. For the most up-to-date prices in local currency, visit the live fuel prices page.
Smart fuelling strategy
To save the most money, plan your refuels around the cheapest countries on your route. Here’s how:
- Border-hopping: Fill up in the cheapest country right before crossing into a pricier one. For example, if driving from Ukraine to Germany, top off your tank in 🇵🇱 Poland (diesel €1.492/litre) before entering 🇩🇪 Germany (diesel €1.825/litre). Check the Germany fuel prices page for regional differences.
- Avoid motorway stations: Fuel at motorway service areas is typically 15–20% more expensive. Take a 5-minute detour into a nearby town for better prices.
- Supermarket stations: In Western Europe, fuel stations attached to supermarkets (e.g., Carrefour, Lidl, Aldi) are almost always the cheapest in the area. This is especially true in 🇫🇷 France and 🇧🇪 Belgium.
- Top off in Ukraine: If your route doesn’t pass through the cheapest countries (e.g., Poland or Czechia), fill up to maximum capacity before leaving Ukraine to minimize refuels in pricier EU countries.
- LPG savings: If your car runs on LPG, 🇭🇷 Croatia (€0.79/litre) and 🇸🇰 Slovakia (€0.79/litre) offer some of the lowest prices in Europe. Check the Croatia fuel prices page for updates.
Tolls and vignettes across Europe
Toll systems vary widely across Europe. Some countries require a pre-paid digital vignette, while others charge per kilometre at toll booths. Below is a breakdown of how each country charges passenger cars (≤3.5t).
Vignette countries — buy a digital pass before you cross
Vignettes are pre-paid digital passes that allow you to use motorways. Cameras scan your licence plate, so you must buy the vignette online before crossing the border. Below are the cheapest transit options for each vignette country, ranked from least to most expensive.
| Country | Cheapest transit pass | Buy online |
|---|---|---|
| 🇷🇴 Romania | €3.50 (1 day) | roviniete.ro |
| 🇲🇩 Moldova | €4.00 (7 days) | evinieta.gov.md |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | €4.09 (1 day) | bgtoll.bg |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | €8.10 (1 day) | eznamka.sk |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | €9.20 (1 day) | edalnice.cz |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | €9.60 (1 day) | shop.asfinag.at |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | €14.00 (1 day) | nemzetiutdij.hu |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | €16.00 (7 days) (no 1-day option) | evinjeta.dars.si |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 42.50 CHF (annual) (no 1-day option) | e-vignette.ch |
Important: 🇸🇮 Slovenia and 🇨🇭 Switzerland do not offer 1-day vignettes. If you’re only transiting, you’ll need to buy a 7-day or annual pass. For a full list of vignette prices and official purchase links, visit the European vignettes page.
Pay-per-kilometre (toll booths)
In these countries, you take a ticket when entering the motorway and pay at the exit booth. Prices vary by distance and can add up quickly, especially in Italy, France, and Croatia.
- 🇷🇸 Serbia: Pay at exit booths (cash or card).
- 🇮🇹 Italy: One of the most expensive toll networks in Europe. Budget accordingly.
- 🇫🇷 France: Toll booths on most autoroutes. Prices are high—plan for extra costs.
- 🇭🇷 Croatia: Higher tariffs in summer. Pay at exit booths.
- 🇵🇹 Portugal: Mix of classic toll booths and electronic-only (Via Verde) motorways. Consider renting a transponder for e-only roads.
- 🇵🇱 Poland: State motorways are free for cars, but private concessions (A1, A2, A4) charge at booths or via the Autopay app.
Toll-free for cars
These countries do not charge passenger cars (≤3.5t) for motorway use, though some tunnels or bridges may have exceptions:
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇧🇪 Belgium
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
Plan your trip
To maximize savings, plan your route with fuel and toll costs in mind:
- Refuel strategically: Use the route planner to identify the cheapest fuel stops along your journey. For example, if driving from Ukraine to Austria, fill up in 🇵🇱 Poland or 🇨🇿 Czechia before crossing into 🇦🇹 Austria, where diesel costs €1.83/litre. Check the Austria fuel prices page for regional updates.
- Pre-buy vignettes: Avoid border queues and fines by purchasing vignettes online before you cross. The vignettes page has direct links to official purchase sites.
- Estimate toll costs: Use the route planner to calculate toll expenses for your trip. This is especially useful for countries like Italy and France, where tolls can add up quickly.
Useful tools
- Live Fuel Prices Across Europe — country and city prices, updated regularly.
- European Vignettes & Tolls — e-vignette prices and official links.
- Route Planner — plan your drive with fuel and toll stops.
- Car Drivers Portal — all driving tools in one place.
Source: nakordoni.eu — Fuel Prices & Tolls | Updated: 13.06.2026