Overview
Fuel and road tolls are the two largest variable costs on any drive from Ukraine into the European Union. In this week's ranking the cheapest diesel is in Bulgaria at €1.578 per litre, and the single most effective habit is simple: fill the tank in the cheaper country immediately before you cross into a more expensive one. These fuel prices are updated weekly and the ranking can change, so check the live page for current numbers before you set off.
Where fuel is cheapest right now
The table below lists the twelve cheapest countries in this week's data, ranked by diesel. Figures were updated on 20 July 2026 and converted to euro so that countries can be compared directly.
| # | Country | Diesel €/l | Petrol 95 €/l | LPG €/l |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | €1.578 | €1.477 | — |
| 2 | 🇭🇺 Hungary | €1.586 | €1.515 | €0.855 |
| 3 | 🇪🇸 Spain | €1.622 | €1.582 | €1.05 |
| 4 | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | €1.689 | €1.586 | — |
| 5 | 🇨🇿 Czechia | €1.707 | €1.719 | €0.91 |
| 6 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | €1.707 | €1.439 | — |
| 7 | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | €1.72 | €1.71 | €0.79 |
| 8 | 🇭🇷 Croatia | €1.721 | €1.6 | €0.72 |
| 9 | 🇵🇱 Poland | €1.723 | €1.666 | €0.745 |
| 10 | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | €1.804 | €1.725 | — |
| 11 | 🇦🇹 Austria | €1.931 | €1.832 | — |
| 12 | 🇷🇴 Romania | €1.942 | €1.783 | €0.89 |
Note: prices are approximate and EUR-converted for comparison. The live fuel prices page shows current native-currency numbers per country and city. Several countries in the list sell fuel in their own currency, for example 627 HUF per litre of diesel in Hungary, 7.33 PLN in Poland and 9.66 RON in Romania. If you want to know what those figures mean in hryvnia or euro at the pump, use the currency calculator before you pay.
Country pages give the detail behind each row. Drivers comparing fuel prices in Bulgaria will find the cheapest diesel and petrol-95 in this week's table. Drivers refuelling in Croatia should note the low LPG price of €0.72 per litre. If you are already on the road in Slovenia and need a petrol station near me, the city pages show local prices rather than a national average.
Smart fuelling strategy
The most reliable saving comes from timing, not from luck. Look at your route, find the country with the lowest price on it, and plan a full tank there. For example, diesel in Poland costs €1.723 per litre this week, so a full tank before entering Germany is worth planning. Germany is not in the cheapest list above, so arriving there with an empty tank costs you more.
If your route does not pass through one of the cheaper countries at all, top off the tank to maximum before you leave Ukraine. That single decision often covers the first day of driving.
Two more habits help on every trip. First, gas stations directly on motorways charge about 15–20% more than stations away from the road. A five-minute detour into a nearby town usually pays for itself. Second, in Western Europe supermarket-attached stations are almost always the cheapest in the area, so plan a refuel around a shopping stop.
LPG drivers have their own map. Autogas is listed at €0.72 in Croatia, €0.745 in Poland, €0.76 in Italy and €0.79 in Slovakia, but it is not available in every country in the ranking.
Tolls and vignettes across Europe
Vignette countries — buy a digital pass before you cross
A vignette is a pre-paid digital pass that gives you the right to use the motorway network for a fixed period. You buy it online before the border crossing, and roadside cameras scan your license plate to check it. There is nothing to stick on the windscreen and nothing to collect at a booth. Prices and validity periods for each country are listed on our vignettes and tolls page. Toll data below was updated on 26 July 2026.
| Country | Cheapest transit pass | Buy online |
|---|---|---|
| 🇷🇴 Romania | 3.5 EUR (1 day) | roviniete.ro |
| 🇲🇩 Moldova | 4 EUR (7 days) — no 1-day option | evinieta.gov.md |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 4.09 EUR (1 day) | bgtoll.bg |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 8.1 EUR (1 day) | eznamka.sk |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 9.2 EUR (1 day) | edalnice.cz |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 9.6 EUR (1 day) | shop.asfinag.at |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | 14 EUR (1 day) | nemzetiutdij.hu |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 16 EUR (7 days) — no 1-day option | evinjeta.dars.si |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 42.5 CHF (annual only) — no 1-day option | e-vignette.ch |
Three countries in this week's data do not sell a 1-day pass. Moldova and Slovenia start at 7 days, and Switzerland sells an annual vignette only. Budget for the full price even if you only transit for a few hours. This list changes from week to week, so confirm the shortest available option before you buy.
Pay-per-kilometre (toll booths)
In ticket-system countries you take a ticket when you enter the motorway and pay at a booth when you exit. 🇮🇹 Italy runs one of the most expensive networks in Europe. 🇫🇷 France uses a ticket and barrier system on most autoroutes and is also expensive, so budget accordingly. 🇭🇷 Croatia charges higher tariffs in the summer season. 🇷🇸 Serbia takes cash or card at the exit. 🇵🇹 Portugal mixes classic toll booths with electronic-only motorways, where you need a transponder. 🇵🇱 Poland keeps state motorways free for cars, while the private A1, A2 and A4 concessions charge at booths or through the Autopay application.
Toll-free for cars
Motorways are free for passenger cars in 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇧🇪 Belgium and 🇳🇱 Netherlands. Rare tunnel and bridge exceptions still apply, but there is no vignette and no ticket to buy for a car of up to 3.5 tonnes.
Plan your trip
Start by mapping refuels around the cheapest country on your route rather than around the moment the warning light comes on. Then buy every vignette you need online from the official site before you reach the border, which removes one reason to stop and helps you avoid border queues.
Finally, put numbers on the plan. Use the route planner to build the drive with fuel and toll stops, and the trip cost calculator to estimate the combined fuel and toll expenses for the whole journey. Because prices are refreshed weekly, run that estimate again a day or two before departure.
Useful tools
- Live Fuel Prices Across Europe — country & 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
- Trip Cost Calculator — estimate fuel, toll and total trip expenses
- Currency Calculator — UAH, PLN, EUR and more live rates
Source: nakordoni.eu — Fuel Prices & Tolls | Updated: 28.07.2026