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Date Published: 23/02/2023

Fill up for less: days and times fuel is cheaper in Spain

The price of petrol and diesel in Spain varies greatly from day to day, and can often change overnight

Filling the tank has become quite a hefty budget item for most people in Spain since the government abolished the cost-saving fuel discount at the beginning of the year. Low-cost filling stations often have queues around the block and many people are opting for more sustainable options, like electric scooters or bikes, to reduce the financial impact.

But for those who still need to use the car, there is actually a very efficient way of saving a few euros at the pumps and it all depends, believe it or not, on the day and time they choose to fill up.

What day is fuel cheapest?

Several detailed studies have looked at the driving habits and patterns of motorists across Spain and concluded that Monday is the cheapest day of the week to fork out for petrol and diesel. On the flip side, Saturdays, when most people are at leisure, are by far the most expensive.

According to the RACC automobile club, “Distributor brands tend to take advantage of collective mobility patterns to adjust their commercial policies, so that prices are higher on days of greatest demand.”

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This means that in the hours leading up to a bank holiday weekend, for example, or a major festival, petrol and diesel prices skyrocket as drivers up and down the country scramble to fill up before hitting the road.

So be forewarned and head to the filling station well before any trip, on a Monday if at all possible.

What times are the cheapest?

This isn’t as clear-cut as the days, but the researchers have still spotted a pattern, suggesting that refuelling should be cheaper first thing in the morning, before the oil companies set their prices with the European Commission.

Bearing this in mind, the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) believes that drivers can save “up to 1%” by filling up early on a Monday morning.

The RACC also recommends hitting the service station before merging onto a motorway, as these facilities are usually much cheaper.

Other tips from the experts for saving money on fuel

Plan your trip: use route planners to shave off valuable kilometres and map out the cheaper filling stations along the way. Last year, Google Maps launched a new function which allows drivers to choose the most economical route in nearly 40 European countries, including Spain, to cut down on fuel costs.
Correct tyre pressure: “Driving using tires with less than the correct pressure causes consumption to increase by 2% in urban areas and 4% in interurban areas,” according to RACE.
Watch your speed: Continuously accelerating, braking and changing gears uses far more fuel so try to keep your speed uniform to save gas.
Turn off the engine: If you’re stopped for more than a couple of minutes the experts advise you to turn off the engine rather than letting the car idle.

Find all the latest motoring and transport news here or join our Driving in Spain Facebook group for regular updates

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