Regan Brown
Diesel fuel is widely available in France, with diesel pumps at all service stations. Diesel is called diesel (pronounced ‘dee-ezel’) or gazole or gasoil (both pronounced ‘gazwal’). In 2013, diesel was cheaper in France than in the UK. As of 2006, the cost of diesel per litre in France was around €1.10. In June 2024, the French government issued a decree to allow the general public to buy XTL 'green diesel', which reduces carbon emissions by up to 90%.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diesel fuel name in France | Diesel, Gazole, or Gasoil |
| Availability at service stations | Available at all service stations |
| Pump color code | Black |
| Availability of green diesel | Available since June 2024 |
| Cheapest source for diesel | Hyper/supermarkets |
| Most expensive source for diesel | Rural petrol stations |
| Average cost of diesel in September 2006 | €1.10 per litre |
| Average cost of LPG in September 2006 | €0.85 per litre |
| Price variation across areas | Up to €0.15 per litre |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel is available at every filling station in France
Diesel fuel is widely available in France and can be found at every service station across the country. In French, diesel fuel is referred to as "diesel" (pronounced 'dee-ezel'), "gazole", or "gasoil" (both pronounced 'gazwal'). It is worth noting that the availability of diesel fuel may vary slightly depending on the region and the type of filling station. For instance, hypermarkets or supermarkets typically offer cheaper fuel prices compared to rural petrol stations, which tend to be more expensive.
To locate the best prices and find the nearest garage, the French government website Prix-Carburants.gouv.fr provides up-to-date information on petrol and diesel prices in all areas of France. This can be a helpful resource for travellers looking to refuel their vehicles. Additionally, to assist travellers in finding inexpensive petrol, petrol stations located within 10 kilometres of a motorway are permitted to advertise their prices on the motorway itself.
It is important to be aware of the colour-coding system used at French fuel pumps and pipes. Diesel fuel is designated by the colour black, making it distinct from unleaded petrol, which is coded green, and 4-star petrol, which is coded red. This colour-coding system helps prevent errors when refuelling. Additionally, the nozzles of 4-star petrol pumps are typically larger than those of unleaded pumps and will not fit into the petrol filler hole of a car fitted with a catalyser.
In recent years, there has been a push towards more environmentally friendly fuel options. XTL 'green diesel', a synthetic diesel made from natural gas, biomass, plastic waste, and vegetable oil, has become available to the general public in France. This type of fuel can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90% and produce 25-30% less particulate matter. It can be used on its own or mixed with traditional diesel fuel. However, the widespread adoption of electric vehicles remains a priority for the French government, and 'green diesel' may not receive the same level of encouragement.
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It is also available at hypermarkets, where it is 10-15% cheaper
Diesel fuel is readily available at hypermarkets and service stations across France. In fact, hypermarkets are the cheapest source for diesel fuel in the country, with prices up to 15% lower than at other outlets. Diesel fuel is called 'diesel', 'gazole', or 'gasoil' in French, and pumps are colour-coded black to avoid confusion.
The French government has recently made XTL 'green diesel' available to the general public, which can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%. This synthetic diesel, made from natural gas, biomass, plastic waste, and vegetable oil, is an alternative to traditional diesel and can be used on its own or mixed with diesel fuel. However, as of October 2024, only one Carrefour supermarket in Athis-Mons, Essonne, currently offers this fuel option.
The cost of fuel in France has risen dramatically in recent years, and prices can vary by up to €0.15 per litre depending on the region, town, and petrol station. To find the best prices, the government website Prix-Carburants.gouv.fr provides information on petrol and diesel prices in all areas of the country. Additionally, to help tourists and travellers on motorways locate inexpensive petrol, petrol stations within 10km are allowed to advertise their prices on the motorway, and a leaflet called 'La Carte de l’Essence Moins Chère' is available from French Government Tourist Offices.
UK cardholders may occasionally encounter issues when using their chip-and-pin cards at French petrol stations, so it is advisable to test your card beforehand or use a manned pay pump to avoid problems.
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$104.99
Diesel fuel in France is labelled orange or yellow
Diesel fuel is widely available in France and can be found at all service stations. The cost of fuel in France has risen dramatically in recent years, with prices varying by up to €0.15 per litre depending on the area, town, and petrol station. The cheapest source is usually hyper/supermarkets, while rural petrol stations are the most expensive.
Diesel fuel in France is called "diesel", "gasoil", or "gazole". To prevent errors, petrol pumps and pipes are colour-coded, with green for unleaded, red for 4-star, and black for diesel. Diesel fuel pump labels have also changed under a new EU directive, with diesel now identifiable by a square containing the letter "B" followed by either the number "7" or "10", indicating the amount of biofuel present.
While diesel fuel itself is clear or yellow in colour, the nozzles at French gas stations are also colour-coded, with yellow nozzles for diesel and green nozzles for unleaded petrol. Diesel-powered vehicles in France also require DEF (diesel emission fluid), known as "AdBlue" in the country, to reduce the "dirtiness" of diesel exhaust through a chemical reaction. This fluid can be purchased at branded gas stations such as Total and Shell, with pumps labelled "AdBlue" or "DEF".
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It is marked as Diesel or Gazole
Diesel fuel is widely available at all service stations in France. It is marked as "Diesel" or "Gazole" (also spelled "Gasoil"), and sometimes Gazole Non-Routier (GNR) for off-road fuel. The terms "Diesel" and "Gazole" are synonyms and refer to the same standard road diesel used by ordinary on-road vehicles.
While the names are interchangeable, some product names may cause confusion. For example, you may see brand names such as "Gazole Supra," "Diesel Ultra," or "Diesel Mega," which are simply marketing names with no significant difference between them. Similarly, extra or supreme gazole may be offered, with the only difference being the addition of cleaning additives.
To help prevent errors when filling up, petrol pumps and pipes are colour-coded: green for unleaded, red for 4-star, and black for diesel. Additionally, 4-star petrol pumps usually have larger nozzles that won't fit the filler hole of a car with a catalytic converter.
It is important to note that the cost of fuel in France can vary, with hyper/supermarkets usually offering the cheapest prices and rural petrol stations being the most expensive. The government website Prix-Carburants.gouv.fr provides information on petrol and diesel prices across the country.
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Renewable diesel is also available at fuel stations
Diesel fuel is readily available in France and can be found at all service stations. It is called "diesel", "gazole", or "gasoil". Diesel is slightly cheaper in France than in the UK.
In recent years, the cost of fuel in France has risen dramatically, with prices varying considerably across areas, towns, and petrol stations. The cheapest source of fuel is usually hyper/supermarkets, while rural petrol stations are the most expensive.
In November 2023, Neste, the world's leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, signed agreements with two fuel distributors, Altens and Bolloré Energy, to sell Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ in the French market. This fuel is produced from 100% renewable raw materials and is widely available. It can be used unblended (100% concentration) without any changes to diesel-powered vehicles or their engines and is fully compatible with all diesel engines and the existing fuel distribution infrastructure.
The French government has approved the sale of renewable diesel at all fuel stations, allowing privately operated vehicle fleets and consumers to use this product and instantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ is a high-quality and high-performance fuel that meets all relevant technical standards. By using this renewable diesel, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by up to 75-95% over the life cycle of the fuel compared to fossil diesel.
This development aligns with France's commitment to the EU renewable energy directive of 2009, which aims to produce 23% of its total energy needs from renewable sources by 2020. Renewable electricity accounted for 19.6% of France's total domestic power consumption in 2016, and the country continues to work towards increasing the share of renewables in its energy mix.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, diesel fuel is available at every filling station in France.
Diesel fuel is called "gazole" in France.
Diesel fuel is generally cheaper than regular fuel. It is also cheaper at hypermarkets, where fuels can be 10-15% cheaper.
Diesel fuel has a significant environmental impact, with high greenhouse gas emissions. However, the French government has approved the sales of transport fuels made from 100% renewable raw materials, which will help reduce emissions.
