Fuel in France

Just like here you get the best deals at supermarkets but that is a bit extreme.

On the A10 the stations were charging between aboput 1.13 and 1.20 for diesel when I came down on Monday 8th. Unleaded petrol was in the 1.40 to 1.45 range.

Just did an online check on recent autoroute prices and this range seems pretty universal.

However much it was, the supermarkets are a lot cheaper - as in the UK as Wildwood states.

Where was the Intermarche, Triky?

If you want to check out where to buy the cheapest fuel in a town/area or even departement, then check the French Government fuel price website.

Every filling station is listed, and prices are updated very regularly in most instances.

On the front is a map showing all the Departements of France, and running your mouse over them will show the cheapest and most expensive fuel in that departement, in the panel to the right.  

Where was the Intermarche, Triky?

Write your comments here...Off at junction 31 for Wimereaux on the A16,towards the "Napoleon Column",left at the dual carriageway and at the top of the hill on right .Use it every time , !!.

On our journey down through France two weeks ago we bought our fuel at supermarkets prior to each night stop. In the past week we've been in Spain where the diesel price on the autopista has been just over one euro! At theses prices we've just bought at service stations.

At intermarche at Beaune, the unmanned pump authorized 149 euros worth of fuel and we drew 40, which meant 109 euros unavailable on our account until the purchase cleared. Who can fill up with 149 euros worth of diesel at at car pump? 

chas, when you say 'authorised' does this mean that, say, at your next Intermarche fuel stop, there is no authorisation process (ie your credit is good) or that you have already 'paid' for another €129 which will remain 'somewhere' until you drawdown more fuel.....?

obviously, no one likes paying in advance for anything (fuel and campsites....) so whats the difference (if any) between authorising a large amount and paying in advance....

a large 'authorised' balance in an account is no use if you are not likely to drawdown the rest......ie can you 'get it back' and when....?

ive heard of this process before, and have used unmanned pumps, but have never considered what a carried forward 'authorisation' might mean.....

and if you draw less than that amount (as you did).... whats the point, why not just wait a few seconds at the next pump for the next 'authorisation'.....?

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ok, thanks David.....a bit of an odd system but, if it works.....no problem...

The 'authorised' amount, is that amount displayed on the pump as the maximum fill up amount.  On some cards this amount is 'debited' from your account, so that amount isn't available to you until the transaction is cleared.  However, if you have an account with a reasonable balance you're not likely to notice this, only if your account contains less than the 'debited' amount or you have another big spend before the first transaction is cleared.  

For pre-paid cards this is a problem and why they're not recommended for use for fuel or autoroute tolls.  Here's the advice from the CaxtonFX website:

• Your prepaid card will not work at automated petrol stations

  For security reasons your Caxton FX card will not work at automated petrol stations. We recommend that you avoid using them or you use an alternative card to settle the bill.

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• Avoid using your prepaid card at Toll booths

  Caxton FX prepaid cards require a merchant to seek authorisation before they provide the goods or services. The majority of European toll roads and bridges do not seek an authorisation and therefore you can't use your Caxton FX currency card at most toll booths.