August starts next week. And with it the second and largest part of the Exit Operation planned for this summer, which will cover a total of about 4.5 million journeys through Spain. The summer itself usually means the biggest fuel costs for Spaniards, but this year coincided with prices hitting record highs due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, two of the countries on which Europe depends for diesel and petrol.
For this reason, it is essential that before you set out, you analyze the route you are going to take and identify the cheapest petrol stations on the route, as these can save up to 16% fuel costs. And when it comes to deposits to fill them, they can easily exceed 100 euros, they are not insignificant amounts.
Due to its distribution when it comes to road construction, Spain is very radial in its distribution, with the main highways running from Madrid to the ends of the peninsula. However, one of the biggest tourist attractions — and vacation destinations — are the coasts. Therefore, two major highways have been developed, the Mediterranean Highway (AP7), which connects Cádiz with the French coast and runs through the entire Levant; and the north, which starts at Vigo and reaches France through San Sebastian, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, there are other domestic routes such as the Ruta de la Plata (A66), which connects León with Seville; the Mudéjar highway (A23), between Zaragoza and Castellón; or that of the Ebro Valley (A68), although this is barely 80 km from the expected 450 achievable.
All the data collected on this map was updated before the print edition closed on July 27 and, given the daily variability of fuel prices, it is best for drivers to check the gas stations through virtual tools, whether they use the interactive map from ABC, which sets a reduction of less than EUR 1.9 per liter of petrol; that of Datadista, which includes all service stations; or an app for the phone.
However, cheap gas stations often remain cheap even when prices change. This is because the so-called ‘low-cost’ brands, such as Ballenoil or Plenoil, gain their price advantage by mostly being self-service stations where they lay off employees to reduce their fixed costs. Another good option for cheap refueling is to go to supermarket stations, as these companies make their profits from other activities and can reduce the margins of their suppliers in an attempt to obtain more volume.
According to a similar study by the OCU, there is a price difference between the various Spanish highways, especially when it comes to the major highways mentioned above. These are, compared to the overall Spanish average, 2% more expensive, while diesel is about 4% more expensive.
According to the organization, the routes closest to the national average are the A68 (Valle del Ebro) and A23 (Mudéjar), with or without diesel, with 0.4% and 0.5% more respectively; as well as with petrol: 0.8% and 0.4% more. In contrast, the A1, A5 and A8 are between 2.5% and 2.7% more.
Nevertheless, all holiday trips in Spain have affordable refueling options, even if these are not directly accessible from the highway. As a rule, it is necessary to deviate expressly to achieve them. This is especially interesting on some roads, such as the A2, A4, A5, A7 and A68, as these are the routes where the price varies the most between the different filling stations present on the route.
As in almost any other industry, competition often leads to consumer benefits. For this reason, it is easier to find cheap gas stations in urban centers where several brands operate and not where there is only one, acting as the local monopoly for an uninhabited area. The presence of industrial vehicles, both in ports and industrial estates, is usually also a good sign for finding a good price on pumps.
One piece of advice that is not yet widely known is to go to agricultural cooperatives in rural areas to refuel. Some of them, such as Bodegas Yuntero, in Manzanares, Ciudad Real province, are one of the best options for planning routes, in this case as a stopover between Andalusia and Madrid.
Finally, it should be remembered that a steady and calm speed reduces fuel consumption, as it increases exponentially with a higher pace.
The final price of our trips is largely determined by the type of vehicle with which we make the trip. On average, travel 600 km and fuel prices of 1.74 euros — available at the Alcampo de Alicante, for example — with a five-door sedan such as a Seat León or Renault Megane, whose consumption is around 5.5 liters per 100 km. price for doing the full route 57.2 euros. This, to refuel at a Repsol in the same city, with a petrol price of 1.96 euros per litre, would have meant a payout of 64.7 euros for covering the same 600 km.
The difference is also pronounced with diesel, but less, because the consumption of these propellants is more limited. In the diesel engines of this segment, it is common to find figures of 4.6 liters per 100, or what is the same: 48 euros for those 600 km of refueling in the Alcampo, or 52.7 if you do it at Repsol.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
