Overview
- Long queues formed at Polish and Czech stations over the weekend, with waits up to 45 minutes and local prices near €1.50 per liter versus roughly €2 in Germany.
- Customs confirmed nationwide spot checks at border crossings and said motorists may return with a full tank plus, in principle, up to 20 liters from EU countries, though Poland permits only 10 liters in a canister.
- Exceeding allowed amounts can trigger retroactive energy tax of about 65.4 cents per liter and penalties including fines, temporary vehicle seizure or, in severe cases, imprisonment.
- ADAC data show the surge has cooled: on Sunday diesel averaged €2.117 per liter (+0.7 cent day on day) and E10 €1.984 (+0.4 cent), with a modest move on Monday morning.
- Diesel remains especially expensive due to import reliance and industrial substitution for gas, while authorities monitor pricing and the Bundeskartellamt prepares an analysis as some countries such as Croatia reintroduce caps.