Buying Petrol in France

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Fuel prices in rural France - at March 2012 prices in our local garages a litre of diesel costs 1.52 Euro, 95 octane 1.70, and 98 octane 1.74 .  (I'll keep the current prices updated as they change)

Supermarkets are up to 5 cents cheaper, while 'Real'
petrol stations charge about 5 cents more, and of course autoroute
service areas are the most expensive, at around 1.80 for a litre 98
octane.

Needless to say, when travelling on the autoroutes I
always try to buy fuel - petrol particularly - at local supermarkets,
often using their excellent restaurants for lunch and comfort stops.  

With the withdrawl of leaded 98 octane fuel many supermarkets have used their redundant  pumps to dispense kerosene, which is widely used for small heating appliances.  This is known in France as 'Le Petrole,' so do not think that these red pumps are a service provided for classic car owners!  Several such owners have returned frm France with tales that French petrol is now rubbish, and little better than paraffin . . .

Avoid pumps selling 'Le Petrole!'

Most
supermarkets have unmanned pumps which respond to a credit card being
inserted. Virtually all of these will now talk to you in the language of
your card, and of course you get the best current exchange rate.  Note
the use of the number buttons to select your desired fuel, and those labelled 'A' (Annuller/No/Cancel) and 'V'
(Valider/OK/Yes) to confirm your PIN code and confirm or cancel the
provision of a receipt.

Likewise, use your plastique on the
autoroutes.  Even when the peage station is manned they save a lot of
time and the accumulation of loose change.  It's also handy at peak
times to use le plastique at the exit points for 'Cartes de Credit' rather
than wait in a massive queue.  Just push your ticket into the LH slot,
then the card into the RH slot.  The ticket will vanish for ever, and
your card wil be returned in a second or two.

Most exit
points are no longer manned, so le plastique is a useful
alternative to feeding cash into the machine. 

Edited by Mike Fishwick - 15 Jul 2013 at 2:07pm

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Mike Fishwick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Member Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 2753	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike Fishwick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Buying Petrol in France Posted: 07 Feb 2010 at 3:58pm
	Fuel prices in rural France - at March 2012 prices in our local garages a litre of diesel costs 1.52 Euro, 95 octane 1.70, and 98 octane 1.74 . (I'll keep the current prices updated as they change) Supermarkets are up to 5 cents cheaper, while 'Real' petrol stations charge about 5 cents more, and of course autoroute service areas are the most expensive, at around 1.80 for a litre 98 octane. Needless to say, when travelling on the autoroutes I always try to buy fuel - petrol particularly - at local supermarkets, often using their excellent restaurants for lunch and comfort stops. With the withdrawl of leaded 98 octane fuel many supermarkets have used their redundant pumps to dispense kerosene, which is widely used for small heating appliances. This is known in France as 'Le Petrole,' so do not think that these red pumps are a service provided for classic car owners! Several such owners have returned frm France with tales that French petrol is now rubbish, and little better than paraffin . . . Avoid pumps selling 'Le Petrole!' Most supermarkets have unmanned pumps which respond to a credit card being inserted. Virtually all of these will now talk to you in the language of your card, and of course you get the best current exchange rate. Note the use of the number buttons to select your desired fuel, and those labelled 'A' (Annuller/No/Cancel) and 'V' (Valider/OK/Yes) to confirm your PIN code and confirm or cancel the provision of a receipt. Likewise, use your plastique on the autoroutes. Even when the peage station is manned they save a lot of time and the accumulation of loose change. It's also handy at peak times to use le plastique at the exit points for 'Cartes de Credit' rather than wait in a massive queue. Just push your ticket into the LH slot, then the card into the RH slot. The ticket will vanish for ever, and your card wil be returned in a second or two. Most exit points are no longer manned, so le plastique is a useful alternative to feeding cash into the machine. Edited by Mike Fishwick - 15 Jul 2013 at 2:07pm

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