The average cost of driving has risen considerably recently, mainly due to increased fuel prices. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the index tracking the prices of goods and services related to car travel-the “Motorist Price Index”-showed a 6.7% increase in prices for March 2026 compared to the same month last year. This annual rise was notably higher than the overall consumer price increase, which stood at only 2.7% during the same period.
Consumers felt the impact of global conflicts directly at the pump; in March 2026, fuel prices had climbed 20.0% year-over-year. Diesel fuel saw a 29.7% rise, super gasoline increased by 17.3%, and LPG rose by 1.1%. Other costs also increased compared to the previous year: repairs, inspections, parking fees, and similar services rose by 4.1%; used cars increased by 2.9%; and costs for driving schools and licenses rose by 2.8%. In contrast, the prices for new cars, including motorhomes, increased by a modest 2.4%, while vehicle insurance rose by 1.4%, and garage or parking space rental also saw a modest 1.4% increase. Parts, accessories, and care products were cheaper by 1.3% compared to the previous year.
Ticket prices for public transport also rose in March 2026. Consumers had to pay 6.2% more for combined bus and train tickets, a rise largely attributed to the Deutschlandticket price increase in January 2026. Rail travel within local networks became 5.3% more expensive over the past year, while long-distance train travel increased by 1.4%.
Comparing expenditures over the medium term reveals varying trends: in 2025, the total cost of car-related goods and services, as measured by the Motorist Price Index, was 31.2% higher than in 2020. This growth was above the overall consumer price increase of 21.9% during the same period. Certain components of the index saw steep increases, including vehicle insurance (+63.0%), used cars (+45.3%), and driving schools/licenses (+42.7%). Fuel prices also rose significantly (+37.5%), with LPG increasing by 76.2%, diesel by 44.2%, and super gasoline by 34.9%.
Over the five-year period, costs for repairs, inspections, parking fees (up 34.5%), parts, accessories, and care products (up 24.2%), and new vehicles including motorhomes (up 23.9%) also rose above average. However, the rent for garages/parking spaces (+7.2%) and vehicle taxes (+2.3%) increased relatively little.
The picture for public transport is mixed. Over the period from 2020 to 2025, local train travel fares rose by 20.1%. Long-distance rail fares remained roughly stable, at the 2025 level relative to 2020 (+0.5%). Conversely, combined tickets for rail, bus, and other transport options fell by 18.0%, largely due to the introduction of the Deutschlandticket in May 2023.
For household spending, mobility accounts for more than a tenth of monthly expenditures. In 2023, households spent an average of 361 euros per month on transport, which represented 11.9% of their total spending and made it the third largest expenditure category after housing and food. Compared to 2018, monthly mobility spending had decreased by 4.7%, where it accounted for 14.0% of total monthly spending (at 379 euros).
Transport costs encompass spending on purchasing, leasing, maintaining, and repairing vehicles, as well as fuel and tickets. In 2023, the largest components of transport spending were purchase costs, including leasing for cars (104 euros), and spending on fuel and lubricants (100 euros). The average expenditure for passenger transport services was 47 euros, of which 31 euros went to buses, trains, or taxis.