Fuel prices in France - check prices first!
Unfortunately for those of us who use diesel fuel and who have always found that prices in France were significantly cheaper than they were in this country, this is not the case any longer. Diesel at our local supermarket in this country is currently £1.16 - and the current cheapest price in Calais where we would usually full up is €134.4 (or £1.19)!!
So for the moment fill up before you set off - and check prices on https://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/ to find the lowest prices along your route, or in those areas where you'll be spending time to make sure you're not paying over the odds for your fuel.
Comments
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....??...the French also pay these proces in euros....what's this got to do with the level of the pound...or the dollar (for yanks in France...)
the price is what it is, due to changing economic forces....
simple anwer, head to Spain, still just over a euro a litre there... 88p.
too cold in France at the mo...
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I can see that any changes in the exchange rate will affect the price we are paying, in Sterling, but what has the 'referendum' got to do with the French price?
Last year in France we were paying about €1.18, and the year before about €1 in Spain so an increase to €1.34 is quite a jump.
Just had a quick look at the places we usually use around Roscoff and its €1.31-1.33 but in Brest one Intermarche is €1.499!
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We were in France in January and diesel was more expensive than last May but still cheaper than the £1.24 we have to pay here in Mid Wales.
Out of interest have you see this on the BBC web page :-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43204734
Makes me wonder what we should be doing.
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I agree with this and ADs comment but the habits of a liftime are hard to ignore so I still have a look on Google maps for supermarket fill up points that are on my route.
Our last long trip in a petrol engined car was app 2200 miles, in 2012, to Italy with a 2.7L Twin Turbo Audi Allroad at 16.8 MPG-so most trips now seem cheap in comparison!
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Thanks for the info Val, Can't imagine French diesel drivers are too happy either
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Thanks for the info Val but so be it. We don't get too excited about this subject just try to use supermarkets. We have been going to France for so long we know where the best places are to fill up are eg at the L'Eclerc fuel stop (not supermarket) between Dreaux and Orleans (by a roundabout) about half way to Beziers we can get there either way on a tank of diesel; and just to the south side of Clermont Ferrand (exit A75 J2 and head towards CF). As an aside, if in Germany the price of fuel changes throughout the day! Best time, I think, was late morning or early afternoon.
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Whilst we have taken advantage of the lower prices of fuel in France over the years I won't get too concerned about the equalisation of French and UK prices. I am now of the view that if we both manage to be fit enough at the time we go on holiday that is the biggest bonus!!! One advantage of the motorhome I have found is that not only is it slightly more economic than my previous tow car I also have a larger 90 litre tank so in theory have a range of about 500 miles which gives me a bit more flexibility on where I fill up. I suppose it's possible that over the next 6/12 months the value of Sterling could be on a bit of a roller coaster until what is happening is clearer so that could also impact both positively and negatively on our holiday costs.
David
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I agree with David's comments but I would not be too happy if I was a young family on a tight budget. Last September one or two camps I stayed on were commenting on the lack of British during the summer hols. This increase in fuel cost may put even more young families off which would be a shame.
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My ferry is already booked. As much as I would prefer to pay less (who wouldn't) it's what it is.
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At today’s exchange rate that makes it £1.209 a litre.
The cheapest I have seen locally is £1.187 but most are more. Whilst I agree that any increase is not great I don’t think parity of price, or at worst a few pence more per litre, will impact the budgeting for a holiday costing hundreds of pounds.
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Hi Peedee, So lets assume that someone travels from Calais to the Spanish border in SW France and back-a trip of app 1500 miles. Let’s say they do 25MPG. That’s 60 gallons or 272 litres. Let’s say the price goes up from the current parity, or a couple of pence per litre more, to 10 litre more.
Thats £27 more.
I appreciate that we are all sometimes guilty of not seeing the ‘bigger picture’-my wife could give you countless examples relating to me-but I am prepared to bet that avoiding that £27 would cost far more.
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I did say look A&J. I will certainly be looking at the alternatives for my next trip. 1.35p.l. is a pretty much the minimum you will pay, prices are much higher if you don't use the Supermarket garages many of which can be difficult to use with a caravan in tow or with a motorhome. Factor in French tolls and savings could be greater than you think.
peedee
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For anyone who's bored on another cold day, theres always ViaMichelin to play with...
just put in your route, from home to exotic destination, select your preferred crossing points, add in the fuel cost and toll selection and ..... There you go.....
swap long crossings for short ones, tunnels for ferries, vary the fuel price to check overall effect.....
hours of fun....beats Monopoly
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Don't most people, travelling with a caravan, do what we do and fill up when we're unhitched on an overnight stop? There is no need to fill up on the autoroutes for most cars these days as generally a tank of fuel will easily get you between overnight stops.
It's also possible to get all the way down through France without too much hassle without paying a penny in tolls if saving money is important. We do, every time we drive up and down and it really doesn't have to involve too much extra travelling time.
The prix du carburants website (French Gov) is still showing most supermarket fuel starting from around 1.30 euros which is £1.16 and the most expensive fuel is definitely that on the autoroutes.
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It is what it is 
