Motorists everywhere are struggling in the face of spiking prices at the pumps because of the war in the Middle East — but how much should you expect to pay in France?
The price of petrol in France has jumped in recent weeks, prompting protests and demands for government help.
French Oil giant TotalEnergies announced in mid-March that it would cap petrol prices at its petrol stations at €1.99 a litre, and €2.09 per litre for diesel, although only until the end of March.
According to real-time government data, the average price of a litre of SP95 (E10) petrol on Friday, March 27th, was €1.986 per litre, while diesel was €2.221.
Prices have risen nearly €0.26 per litre for petrol and nearly €0.50 for diesel in the past month, the figures show.
Prices vary by retailers, with supermarkets generally offering the cheapest fuel, while aurotoute service stations charge the highest prices.
READ ALSO MAP: How to find the cheapest petrol and diesel in France
Meanwhile, faced with concerns about a possible diesel shortage, the French government has temporarily authorised the sale of fuel with lower cold-weather resistance.
On March 26th, the decision was published on the official government’s website, authorising the sale of diesel fuel that is “non compliant with specifications”.
Drivers in France should also be aware that the hauliers association is planning a series of roadblocks, in a protest at the cost of fuel.
Fuel in the UK is significantly cheaper, averaging at £1.49 per litre (€1.72) for petrol and £1.76 (€2.03) for diesel – so drivers travelling to France from the UK should definitely fill up before boarding the train/ferry.
