Is it worth crossing the border from Germany for cheaper fuel?

Germany has seen the steepest rises in fuel prices in Europe since the US and Israel attacked Iran, sparking a regional war that has disrupted global supply chains and wreaked havoc on oil prices.

Tomaso Duso, chairman of the Monopolies Commission, has been warning this week that in Germany in particualr fuel costs have shot up sharply.

"Price increases in Germany are significantly stronger than the European average..." Duso said.

Indeed, figures from the EU Commission shared Monday showed that diesel and premium gasoline are sometimes more than 50 cents below the German average in countries just beyond its borders.

This development is causing a boom in "fuel tourism", or people crossing the border to fuel up. Apart from the Netherlands and Denmark, premium petrol and diesel were cheaper in most of Germany's neighbouring countries even before the war began. These price differences have since increased even further.

So where is fuel cheapest, and when does it really make sense to go out of your way for it?

Here are the fuel prices at a glance in Germany's neighbouring states:

Austria

Germany's south-eastern neighbour has long been known for having cheaper fuel. In the past two weeks, the difference for gasoline reportedly rose from 32 to 37 cents, and for diesel from 19 to just under 27.

Austrian law limits petrol stations from changing their prices more than once per day -- a regulation that is meant to limit gas prices from spiralling upward. Germany's Economics Minister said on Wednesday that the German government intended to implement the same practice.

But whether the measure truly keeps prices down is in question. In Austria, the upward trend in fuel prices since the outbreak of the war in Iran was slower than in Germany, but faster than in most other neighbouring countries.

READ ALSO: Why fuel prices are rising faster in Germany than in other European countries

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is one of the countries with the highest price difference to Germany. For gasoline and diesel, it was recently more than 50 cents, mainly due to lower taxes and levies. Prices have also risen there, albeit more slowly than in Germany.

In the area immediately around the border, fuel tourism from Germany is currently flourishing. Czech media, however, has reported that German customs are increasingly checking for fuel at border crossings.

Note that bringing large amounts of fuel over the border undeclared into Germany is not allowed. More on that below.

Poland 

Poland is also in the top group with a price difference of more than 50 cents for gasoline and more than 40 cents for diesel, which traditionally leads to fuel tourism there as well.

The main reason for this is lower taxes. 

Belgium

In Belgium, gasoline is currently 40 cents less, and diesel more than 30 cents less than in Germany.

Belgium's police told the German Press Agency (DPA) that there have been repeated queues at gas stations near the German border in recent days. The police also reported related traffic accidents and disputes, and at least one recorded assault.

In Belgium, a daily price cap is set for petrol, diesel and other petroleum products, which suppliers often undercut according to the Belgian Ministry of Economy.

The mechanism for determining maximum prices has existed since 1974 and is a consequence of the oil crisis which took place then.

Luxembourg

Fuel prices in Luxembourg are lower than in many other countries.

On Monday, there was a difference of around 50 cents for gasoline and around 30 cents for diesel compared to Germany. This leads to considerable fuel tourism, sometimes with many German license plates seen in queues at gas stations.

In Luxembourg, the Ministry of Economy sets maximum prices for petrol, diesel and heating oil. Normally, prices are changed about twice a month – but more frequent resets are common in the event of special market fluctuations.

France

The French government has reacted to price increases by inspecting petrol stations and the prices they charge. Sanctions were recently imposed on five percent of the gas stations inspected.

So far, the prices for gasoline and diesel in France have risen by 12 to 13 cents less than in Germany. The fuels are thus around 20 cents cheaper at the time of writing.

READ ALSO: How to find the cheapest petrol and diesel in France

Denmark and the Netherlands

The prices in Denmark are similar to those in Germany, so fuel tourism is not really present here. 

According to data from the EU Commission, the Netherlands has the most expensive fuel of Germany's neighbours. If there is fuel tourism here, it flows in the other direction. That said, the price increase since the beginning of the war has been lower in the Netherlands.

Is it really worth the trip?

The above prices are based on nationwide averages, but there are often regional differences, and local prices in border regions prices may be higher.

Consumers would be advised to think carefully about whether a longer journey is worthwhile. 

Purely from a monetary view, there is the cost of the additional fuel burned to drive to a cheaper fuelling station as well as wear and tear on the vehicle, which can quickly outweigh the savings of a few cents per litre.

That's to say nothing of the time it takes and the added environmental pollution.

Be aware of customs laws

If you do decide to cross the border for fuel, you'd be advised not to try to bring too much back with you.

The Rheinische Post has reported increased controls at the borders.

"More and more often, we catch motorists who have more than the permitted allowance of excise fuel in the trunk," German Police Union chairman Andreas Roßkopf told the newspaper. "We expressly warn against carrying large quantities in additional canisters that are no longer permitted."

According to Germany's customs authority (Zoll), bringing fuel from other countries over Germany's border is only allowed for personal use. Bringing "energy products such as petrol or diesel...in a private, non-commercial vessel" is not. 

In other words, you can fill up your tank over the border and drive home with it, but you should be careful brining much more than that.

According to reporting by DPA, in addition to the fuel in your tank, a maximum of 20 litres of fuel may be carried across the border to Germany in a tightly closed reserve canister.

With reporting by DPA.