LPG in Germany: Sprechen Sie Autogas?

© KÜSThe ACME dispenser is screwed onto the in-car nozzle. It is easy and safe to use

Germany has long been a highway eldorado, with thousands of kilometres of toll- and speed limit-free „autobahns”. Somewhere along the way, the country has also become a promised land for the thrifty, as there are over 6500 autogas distribution points in Germany today, many of them located directly by the aforementioned autobahns, but also in city centres.

For all we know, back in 2012 it was not exactly easy to find an LPG-offering fuel station for a couple of tens of kilometres after crossing the Polish-German border in Swiecko, but this could have well changed. If you want to be on the safe side, plan your route thoroughly according to a list of stations available along your way. If you need extra details, you can display them for each station individually. Downloading PDF lists of stations is also possible.

Mind you, in Germany you will have to fill up your LPG tank on your own. However, you may come across different coupling nozzle standards – the Italian dish, the Belgian ACME or the Dutch bayonet. If you are not accustomed to using any of them, not to worry – there are multi-language manuals and guidelines to follow on autogas dispensers. Of course, you are going to need appropriate nozzle adapters (unless you are not – some dispensers have two different nozzles each) and if you are precautious, you may get yourself a set before going on holiday. However, many German stations have adapter sets of their own and are happy to lend them to you, albeit sometimes for a deposit of 20 euros.

With your own or borrowed adapters, do not miss the opportunity to buy autogas in Germany, particularly because it is only going to cost you 0,70 euro per litre, while petrol is priced at 1,55 euros per litre, on average. The price relation is 45%, so even accounting for LPG's slightly higher consumption per 100 km, you will still be way ahead cost-wise. No matter how cheap petrol is in your country, do not haul large quantities of it with you, for you will probably not beat autogas in terms of savings anyway. Gute fahrt!