When Is the Cheapest Time to Fill Up in Norway? How to Save 300 NOK on a Single Tank
Fuel prices at Norwegian stations can change by several kroner within just a few hours. By choosing the right time to visit the pump, you can save around NOK 300 on a single fill-up. However, this requires changing your habits.
Filling up at the right time can result in real savings.
MN / retusz ai
The Norwegian Competition Authority (Konkurransetilsynet) examined the pricing mechanisms used by the five largest fuel chains. The analysis covered Circle K, Uno-X, St1, Esso and YX stations. The data show that petrol and diesel prices in Norway follow a specific pattern. Rates are sharply increased several times a week over the course of just a few hours. The stations then gradually lower their prices.
The End of Cheap Mondays. When Do Prices Rise?
For many years, Norway followed a fixed price pattern. Fuel was cheapest on Monday mornings, with prices rising sharply around lunchtime. The next low point came on Thursday mornings, followed by another increase at noon. According to a 2016 Forbrukerrådet study, 59% of consumers considered Monday to be the cheapest day to fill up, while 54% pointed to Sunday. Since December 2017, this stable system has broken down. The change was initiated by Circle K in late November, when it introduced a new pricing strategy. Today, it is impossible to predict in advance which day of the week fuel will be cheapest. The days on which price increases are introduced change from week to week and vary by region. However, the time of day has remained the same. Fuel prices are increased in the afternoon. The lowest rates apply just before that increase.
Save Up to NOK 300. How Can You Track Prices?
The most common difference between the highest and lowest fuel price during a week is around NOK 5 per litre. In some places, price jumps reach as much as NOK 6. By filling up 60 litres at the cheapest time, you keep NOK 300 in your pocket. To achieve such savings, monitor local prices and fill up when they are low. Do this even if your car’s tank is not yet empty. DrivstoffAppen helps you monitor prices. It is an app for finding the best prices for fuel, electric vehicle charging and car washes.
The app provides historical data for stations. It shows price peaks, lows, changes since the last update and average prices. In the app, you can set price alerts (prisvarsling) for your favourite stations, so you can fill up before the afternoon price increase. DrivstoffAppen covers more than 10,000 stations and is used by over one million users. Changes in the fuel market are a consequence of measures taken by Konkurransetilsynet in 2015. At the time, the authority expressed concern that four national chains were tacitly coordinating prices during Monday and Thursday increases.
The app provides historical data for stations. It shows price peaks, lows, changes since the last update and average prices. In the app, you can set price alerts (prisvarsling) for your favourite stations, so you can fill up before the afternoon price increase. DrivstoffAppen covers more than 10,000 stations and is used by over one million users. Changes in the fuel market are a consequence of measures taken by Konkurransetilsynet in 2015. At the time, the authority expressed concern that four national chains were tacitly coordinating prices during Monday and Thursday increases.
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