Fuel prices in France: a guide for UK drivers
Published - 4 min read
What UK drivers should know about filling up in France: fuel names at the pump, where it is cheaper, paying at automatic pumps and finding live French fuel prices.
Fuel names at French pumps
- SP95-E10: standard unleaded petrol, like E10 in the UK.
- SP95 / SP98: unleaded with less ethanol, similar to E5 and super unleaded.
- Gazole (B7): diesel. Don't confuse it with petrol (essence).
- E85: high-ethanol fuel, only for cars designed for it.
Where to fill up
As in the UK, motorway service areas (aires) on French autoroutes usually charge more than supermarkets in nearby towns. Supermarket forecourts are often the cheapest, but many close overnight and on Sundays, or switch to card-only automatic pumps.
Paying
Automatic 24-hour pumps sometimes don't accept every foreign card. Carry a backup card, and don't leave filling up until the tank is nearly empty late at night.
Live prices
France publishes official fuel prices as open data. You can see live prices near any French town on Pennyfill's France page, along with Spain and Germany.