Tank discount for June 1st: Automobile Club advises - don't fill up too early
Created: 05/26/2022, 09:21 am
By: Markus Hofstetter
Politicians want to relieve motorists from June 1st with the so-called tank discount.
But the petrol stations could take longer to lower prices than hoped.
Stuttgart/Munich - Many motorists in Germany are looking forward to June 1st.
Because from this date, the tank discount applies nationwide, which is intended to reduce the price of gas.
The energy tax will be reduced by around 14 cents per liter for diesel and by around 29.50 cents per liter for petrol.
If you add the saved VAT, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance it is even 16.7 cents per liter of diesel and 35.2 cents per liter of petrol.
Consequences of the Ukraine war: fuel prices ride a rollercoaster
The tax cut, valid for three months, comes at the right time.
Because in the course of the Ukraine conflict, fuel prices have taken a real rollercoaster ride.
Especially at the beginning of the war, from the end of February to mid-March, according to the ADAC, Super E10 rose by around 45 cents per liter, and diesel even soared by around 65 cents.
According to a recent evaluation by the Automobile Club, a liter of Super E10 still cost an average of 2.09 euros nationwide on May 17, 5.4 cents more than in the previous week.
The development at diesel is the opposite.
On average, drivers have to pay just under 2.03 euros for a liter, which is 2.1 cents less than a week ago.
Motorists cannot rely on being able to fill up cheaper on time on June 1 © MANUEL GEISSER/Imago
Tank discount could not be implemented immediately everywhere
The fuel discount, which is controversial among experts, would be a considerable relief for drivers.
But the joy of the pump could be delayed a bit.
If you want to fill your tank cheaply in time for the start of the discount, you could be bitterly disappointed.
The Auto Club Europa (ACE) has announced that the discount cannot be implemented at all petrol stations in Germany at the same time.
In the event of a rush to gas stations, prices could fall only hesitantly, since demand determines prices.
It could even take a few days before the fuel is noticeably cheaper.
The ACE therefore recommends holding back at the beginning of the month and only refueling after the big rush, when the situation has calmed down and prices have leveled off at a more favorable level.
The fact that the petrol station industry cannot rule out possible bottlenecks at the petrol pumps from June 1st also speaks in favor of waiting.
Tank discount: Only larger gas station chains could immediately reduce the fuel price
The chairman of the Association of Free Gas Stations gives another reason why fuel prices don't have to drop as of June 1st.
"Gas station operators would not have to immediately pass on the tax rebate to consumers," Duraid El Obeid told the online magazine
Business Insider
.
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However, El Obeid assumes that larger gas station chains will immediately "show the price pole" the discount.
In the case of smaller petrol station companies, however, he expects that not everyone will or would like to pass on the entire discount.
The reason is the loss involved.