Diesel taxes in Europe: Which countries charge the most?
Diesel has overtaken petrol as Europe's most expensive fuel, at a record €2.226 per litre. Yet EU governments still tax it about 12 cents less than petrol.
Diesel now costs the most at pumps across Europe, with the EU weighted average price reaching €2.226 per litre as of September 21, 2026. This represents a 13.4-cent increase from Euro-super 95 petrol and a 40% rise since late February, primarily due to disruptions in energy flows following the Iran war. Taxes on diesel average €0.861 per litre, accounting for 38.6% of the pump price, compared to €0.981 for petrol, which is only 12 cents higher.
The primary source of tax on diesel is excise duty, with additional levies and value-added tax (VAT) applied. Countries like Greece, Austria, and Lithuania have the highest taxes on diesel per litre, with Greece imposing a 38.4% tax rate, nearly identical to the difference in tax between diesel and petrol. The European Union's minimum excise duty on diesel is 33 cents per litre, while governments often maintain a higher rate to support businesses that use diesel.
Despite calls for reform, a 2021 proposal to tax fuels based on energy content rather than volume failed to gain unanimous support from member states.
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