Department of Defense ID card holders in Germany and four other countries would be wise to stock up on gas coupons before Tuesday.
Gas prices are going up 10 cents a gallon for unleaded fuel in Germany, England, the Netherlands, Turkey and the Azores starting March 1, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service announced this week. Diesel prices will jump almost 4 cents a gallon.
That’s exactly what Rob Morton did Thursday upon hearing the news of the price increase.
Morton, a civilian contractor working in Darmstadt, Germany, planned to pay the $28.42 for a full tank of super-unleaded gas in his Volvo station wagon and be on his way. But when he heard prices would rise next week, he bought coupons for 200 liters of gas — about 53 gallons.
He pocketed $5.30 in savings.
AAFES adjusts gas prices monthly based on average prices drivers stateside pay. The national average for regular unleaded gas in the United States is $1.897, AAA said Thursday.
Since drivers in the United States paid more to fill up their tanks last month, AAFES customers will pay more in March, according to AAFES.
The Navy controls gas prices for other European countries including Italy. No announcement has been made on whether those prices will increase, said Joe Giuffreda, vice president of AAFES-Europe.
Starting Tuesday, AAFES customers buying the lowest grade of unleaded gas available will pay $2.07 a gallon in Germany; $2.10 a gallon in England; $2.26 a gallon in the Netherlands; $2.22 a gallon in Turkey; and $2.21 a gallon in the Azores, according to AAFES.
“It’s still better than buying on the economy,” Morton said.
He has a point: An Aral station in Darmstadt on Thursday charged 1.14 euros a liter — the equivalent of $5.78 a gallon — for regular unleaded gas.
That’s nearly triple the $1.97 a gallon charged charged at AAFES stations across the country.
