ADAC: Austria model makes refueling more expensive

Since April 1, 2026, prices at the pumps may only be increased once a day at 12 p.m., but can be lowered as often as desired. However, according to ADAC observations, the so-called Austria model, which was actually introduced to dampen prices, is having the opposite effect: it has generally made fuel prices at German gas stations significantly more expensive compared to the period before the new regulation. To validate this observation, the club compared oil prices and the euro-dollar exchange rate in March with those in April and the currently applicable Austria model. It shows that oil companies charge a high risk surcharge with the one-time increase at 12 p.m., which they only slowly reduce during the day. In addition, the periods in which one can refuel below the daily average have shortened compared to the free pricing model. However, according to ADAC, predictability has not improved.

Shortened time window

In the analysis, ADAC examined more than 14.000 gas stations during the first two and a half weeks of April 2026. At noon, Super E10 prices increased by a good nine cents per liter on average during this period, and diesel fuel by 10.5 cents. Prices then slowly decreased until early evening and remained quite close to the daily average until the next morning. The daily average was usually undercut around six o'clock, and from about ten o'clock, fuel was around two cents cheaper than the daily average. Only shortly before 12 p.m. were prices significantly below the average, at an average of 2.7 cents. Those who miss this short time window must wait for the following cycle or refuel at a higher price.

Dissatisfied refueling customers

Before the introduction of the new regulation, despite free pricing, longer periods were noticeable in which one could refuel cheaper than the average. This was usually in the evening around 8 p.m. and lasted a few hours. In addition, the overall price level was lower. This was apparently already recognizable without the club's detailed investigation: 21 percent of those surveyed in the study found the new refueling rule to be good. With 42 percent, twice as many and thus almost half expressed disappointment with the result. It can be assumed that this distribution has already shifted further towards "dissatisfied" now that the rule has been in place for longer. 95 percent of drivers already knew the new pricing rule at the time of their survey.

(fpi)