Fuel stations near major airports and along motorways charge roughly 10 – 25% more per litre than comparable city-centre or supermarket forecourts – a premium that can add €8 – €15 to a single fill-up. Based on Fuelconomy's live dataset of over 52,000 stations across France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, the pattern holds in every country we track, though the size of the markup varies dramatically depending on where you land and how you refuel.
Fuelconomy aggregates fuel prices from official government feeds and regulated station reporting systems, then standardises them into a single live database across France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and United Kingdom. All station counts, average prices, and price spreads in this article are based on the Fuelconomy dataset as of March 2026. Inline prices update automatically as new data arrives.
The markup at airport-zone stations is not random gouging – it is a structural feature of how these locations operate. Stations near airport terminals pay premium rents or concession fees to airport authorities for the right to occupy high-traffic land. Motorway service area operators face similar economics: government-awarded concession contracts, mandatory 24/7 staffing, security requirements, and limited competitive pressure from neighbouring forecourts.
Drivers pulling in near an airport or on a motorway are a captive audience. Rental car return deadlines, flight schedules, and unfamiliarity with local roads all push travellers toward the nearest pump rather than the cheapest one. Station operators know this, and price accordingly.
The effect compounds for rental car customers. Most hire companies operate a full-to-full fuel policy: you collect the car with a full tank and must return it full. If you fail to do so, the rental firm charges its own refuelling rate – often €2.00 – €2.50/L, roughly double or triple the pump price. That penalty makes the airport station's markup look modest by comparison, but it also means drivers who refuel at the nearest airport forecourt are still paying well above what they would in town.
The size of the location premium varies across Fuelconomy's markets. Below is a breakdown based on our data and industry reporting from motoring associations.
Italy's autostrada service areas – often branded as Autogrill locations – carry some of the highest fuel premiums among the countries Fuelconomy tracks. Highway concession fees in Italy are substantial, and the result is a typical markup of €0.15 – €0.25/L above town-centre stations. On top of that, choosing a staffed pump ("servito") rather than self-service ("fai da te") adds another €0.10 – €0.15/L. A driver filling a 50L tank at a servito autostrada pump could pay €12 – €20 more than a self-service town forecourt.
Across Italy's {[STATION_COUNT_italy]} stations, Gasolio currently averages {[PRICE_AVG_italy_gasolio]}/L, while Benzina sits at {[PRICE_AVG_italy_benzina]}/L – but these national averages mask the gap between highway and city prices. In major airport cities like Rome and Milan, the spread between the cheapest and most expensive stations can be significant: {[PRICE_SPREAD_CITY_rome_benzina]}/L for Benzina in Rome and {[PRICE_SPREAD_CITY_milan_benzina]}/L in Milan. (Live data)
Tip: In Italy, always look for "Pompe Bianche" (white pumps) – independent, brand-free stations that typically offer self-service only and undercut major chains by a wide margin. Exiting the autostrada for just 1 – 2 km into a nearby industrial zone ("zona industriale") can save €8 – €12 per fill-up.
In France, the cheapest fuel is almost always found at supermarket stations attached to Leclerc, Carrefour, or Intermarché hypermarkets. These chains sell fuel at near cost, using low pump prices to draw shoppers into the store. By contrast, autoroute service areas – constrained by concession agreements and 24-hour operating requirements – typically charge 15 – 20% more than town-centre or supermarket forecourts.
Across France's {[STATION_COUNT_france]} stations in the Fuelconomy network, Gazole averages {[PRICE_AVG_france_gazole]}/L and E10 averages {[PRICE_AVG_france_e10]}/L. Near major airports like Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly, the cheapest stations are often a short drive from the terminal perimeter – typically in nearby towns like Roissy-en-France or Wissous rather than the airport access road itself. (Live data)
The French government requires all stations selling more than 500 m³ of fuel annually to publish prices on the official prix-carburants.gouv.fr portal, making it straightforward to compare before you drive. Use Fuelconomy's live price map alongside this data to find the cheapest forecourt near your route.
Spain offers some of the lowest fuel prices among Western European countries that Fuelconomy covers, thanks to comparatively lower excise duties. The motorway premium here is also more restrained – roughly 10 – 15% above city-centre stations, according to industry data.
Gasolina 95 E5 currently averages {[PRICE_AVG_spain_gasolina-95-e5]}/L across Spain's {[STATION_COUNT_spain]} tracked stations, while Gasóleo A averages {[PRICE_AVG_spain_gasóleo-a]}/L. Major airport hubs like Madrid Barajas, Barcelona El Prat, and Málaga Costa del Sol all have dedicated stations near rental return areas, but a few minutes' drive into the surrounding town almost always delivers a better price. (Live data)
UK motorway service stations carry a well-documented premium over supermarket forecourts. In Fuelconomy's UK data, the spread between the cheapest and most expensive station can be substantial. B7 (diesel) currently averages {[PRICE_AVG_united-kingdom_b7]}/L, while E10 averages {[PRICE_AVG_united-kingdom_e10]}/L across {[STATION_COUNT_united-kingdom]} stations. (Live data)
Around airports like London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester, the pattern is similar to the rest of Europe. Stations on airport access roads or inside terminal perimeters price higher than nearby supermarket forecourts. UK supermarket chains (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons) operate their own fuel stations and consistently undercut branded forecourts by 3 – 7p/L.
Portugal's motorway network charges tolls and carries a fuel premium of roughly 12 – 16% above town prices based on European motoring association estimates. Gasóleo Simples averages {[PRICE_AVG_portugal_gasóleo-simples]}/L and Gasolina Simples 95 averages {[PRICE_AVG_portugal_gasolina-simples-95]}/L across {[STATION_COUNT_portugal]} stations. (Live data)
For drivers returning rental cars at Lisbon or Faro airports, the key is to fill up in town before joining the airport access road. In Faro, stations along the EN125 typically undercut the airport-adjacent options by a comfortable margin.
(Live data – Updated: March 2026)
Airport fuel premiums hit rental car customers hardest. Here is how the numbers typically stack up for a full-to-full rental policy on a car with a 50L tank:
Scenario 1 – Fill up at an airport-zone station: You pay the airport premium, roughly €0.15 – €0.25/L above the national average. Extra cost: €7.50 – €12.50 per fill-up.
Scenario 2 – Return the car without filling up: The rental company charges its own rate, often €2.00 – €2.50/L – roughly double the pump price. On a half-empty 50L tank, that penalty can exceed €50.
Scenario 3 – Fill up in town, 10 – 15 minutes before the airport: You pay close to the national average. Extra cost: essentially zero above normal market rates.
The optimal strategy is always Scenario 3. A European Commission travel consumer report found that a full-to-full policy is the most transparent and preferred option among surveyed travellers – but only if you actually refuel before returning. Plan your last stop using Fuelconomy's live price map to find the cheapest station along your route to the airport.
Warning: Some rental companies charge a refuelling penalty even if the tank is only slightly below full. Always fill until the pump clicks off automatically, and keep the receipt as proof. Refuel within 10 – 15 km of the return point so the gauge still reads full when inspected.
The markup is real but avoidable. Here are practical strategies that work across all Fuelconomy markets:
Plan your last fill-up in advance. Open Fuelconomy before heading to the airport and identify a station along your route. In most cities, a forecourt 5 – 10 minutes from the terminal offers prices at or below the national average. In Paris, look for supermarket stations in towns just outside the airport perimeter. In Rome, head to a "pompa bianca" near the GRA ring road rather than filling at Fiumicino's access road.
Exit the motorway one stop early. If you are driving on the autostrada, autoroute, or autopista toward an airport, take the last exit before the airport junction. Town-centre stations near motorway exits are typically priced well below the service area you just passed.
**Use self-service pumps in Italy.** Choosing "fai da te" over "servito" consistently saves €0.10 – €0.15/L. At Italian airport-area stations this is especially important – the servito premium stacks on top of the location premium.
**Supermarkets are your friend in France and the United Kingdom.** Leclerc, Carrefour, Tesco, and Asda forecourts are among the cheapest in Fuelconomy's dataset. Many are located near airports or along major approach roads.
Avoid pre-paid fuel from rental companies. The prepaid rate is almost never cheaper than filling up yourself, and you receive no refund for unused fuel. Industry data suggests the majority of travellers who choose prepaid options end up overpaying because they return with fuel still in the tank.
For a driver who fills up near airports or motorway service areas regularly – say, a business traveller catching two flights a month – the cumulative cost is not trivial. On a 50L tank with an average premium of €0.18/L, that is €9.00 per fill-up. Over 24 airport trips per year, the total runs to roughly €216 – simply for not driving an extra five minutes to a town-centre station.
Even for occasional holiday travellers, the stakes are meaningful. A family renting a car in Barcelona for two weeks might fill up three or four times. Choosing the cheapest nearby station for every fill-up – using Fuelconomy's price spread data – could save €25 – €40 compared to reflexively pulling into the nearest highway or airport forecourt.
### Why are fuel stations near airports more expensive than city stations? Airport-zone stations pay high rents or concession fees to airport authorities for the right to operate on premium land. They also face captive demand from rental car customers and time-pressured travellers who are unlikely to comparison-shop. These structural costs are passed directly to the pump price.
### How much more do motorway service stations charge compared to town centres? Based on Fuelconomy's data and European motoring association research, the premium ranges from roughly 10% in Spain to as high as 25% in Italy. The average across the countries we track is in the range of 15 – 20%.
### Should I use the rental company's pre-paid fuel option? In most cases, no. Prepaid fuel rates often include a markup of 10 – 20% above local pump prices, and you forfeit the value of any fuel remaining in the tank when you return the car. Filling up yourself at a town-centre station is almost always cheaper.
### What happens if I return a rental car without a full tank? The rental company will refuel the car and charge you at its own rate – typically €2.00 – €2.50/L, which can be double or triple the market price. On top of that, some firms add a service fee. Always refuel before returning.
### How do I find the cheapest fuel station near an airport? Use Fuelconomy's live price map to compare stations along your route. Avoid stations on airport access roads or inside terminal zones. Instead, look for supermarket forecourts or independent stations in nearby towns – typically within a 5 – 10 minute drive.
### Is the fuel quality different at airport or motorway stations? No. All fuel sold in the EU must meet the same EN228 (petrol) and EN590 (diesel) standards regardless of where the station is located. You are paying a location premium, not a quality premium.
### Are self-service pumps cheaper than staffed pumps in Italy? Yes – consistently. The "fai da te" (self-service) price is typically €0.10 – €0.15/L lower than "servito" (staffed) at the same station. This applies at airport, motorway, and city stations alike, but the saving matters most at already-inflated highway locations.
### Does Spain have lower airport fuel markups than other European countries? Based on Fuelconomy's data, Spain has one of the more moderate highway premiums among the countries we track – roughly 10 – 15%. Lower base excise duties contribute to this, though city-centre stations still offer meaningfully better prices than motorway or airport-adjacent ones.
Airport and motorway fuel premiums are a structural feature of European driving that costs the average traveller €7 – €15 every time they fill up in the wrong place. The fix is simple: plan one extra stop. Use Fuelconomy's live data to identify a town-centre, supermarket, or independent station along your route to the airport, fill up there, and skip the captive-pricing trap at the terminal or service area.
Compare live prices across Fuelconomy's network of over 52,000 stations and find the cheapest forecourt near your next airport drop-off – your tank and your wallet will thank you.
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