It’s official, and it’s good news : from January 17, gas stations will have to display this new mandatory information at the pump

A Tuesday evening in January. It’s cold, the windshield is fogged up, and you’re standing at a half-lit gas station, watching the numbers race on the pump. You squint at the tiny price-per-liter sign, trying to work out in your head how much this full tank is really going to cost you over the month. Next to you, a driver sighs, cancels the transaction, and switches to “just 20 euros, that’s all for today”.

We fill up, we grumble, we pay – and most of the time, we leave without really knowing what we’re getting into for our budget. We navigate blind, or almost.

From January 17, that is about to change in a very concrete way at the pump.
Some people are going to be surprised.

From January 17, a new line on the pump – and it’s not just cosmetic

From this date, gas stations will have to display a new piece of mandatory information directly at the pump: an estimated cost per 100 km, in euros, for the fuel you are putting in your car. Not just the price per liter that most of us barely read anymore, drowned in promotional posters. A real, concrete number that speaks the language of everyday driving.

In other words, you’ll finally see, in plain view, how much your car roughly costs you for every 100 km driven. A bit like nutrition labels on food, but for your fuel budget.

Imagine the scene. You’re at the station on a Saturday morning before hitting the road. On pump 3, SP95-E10. On pump 4, diesel. Before, you’d probably have looked at the price per liter, shrugged, and gone with your usual choice on reflex.

From January 17, another figure will stare back at you: “Estimated cost: X €/100 km*”. Suddenly, it’s not just cents per liter. It’s the price of your next 100 km to go see friends, commute to work, or do the weekly supermarket trip.

That new label is meant to be visible, standardized, and based on average consumption, so that anyone can grasp it at a glance – even if they’re in a rush.

This small change hides a big shift. Public authorities want drivers to connect their fuel type, their car, and the cost on the road much more clearly. Instead of letting us juggle abstract numbers, they’re translating it into something we all understand: what does it cost me to actually travel?

The idea is not to moralize. It’s to offer a simple tool so people can compare fuels, spot big gaps between their car and others, and maybe adapt their habits a bit.

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Let’s be honest: nobody really does this every single day with a calculator after leaving the station.

How to use this new information so it really works for you

The most effective way to use this new figure is to connect it directly to your own routes. You see “7,80 €/100 km”? Think immediately: my daily commute is 30 km round trip, that’s roughly 2,34 € per day. Multiply that by 20 working days, and suddenly you’ve got a monthly fuel bill that makes sense.

Turn that number into concrete journeys: the long weekend 250 km away, the kids’ activities, the twice-monthly visit to family. The goal is not to obsess over every cent, but to get a clearer picture of how your car fits into your overall budget.

Many drivers will also use this new label to compare their current car to another one. You might look at the cost per 100 km and think, “My car drinks more than that, for sure.” That’s where it gets interesting.

One common slip is to look at that number once, nod, and forget it for six months. Another is to panic and think you must instantly change cars. Both extremes miss the point. The right reflex is quieter: watch the figure, compare it with your real consumption, and gently adjust your way of driving, routes, or refuelling times.

Money anxiety at the pump is already heavy enough. This tool is there to unpack it, not to add guilt.

From a consumer rights perspective, this new rule is seen as a transparency win: “Drivers finally get a number they can actually relate to their daily lives, not just a theoretical price per liter,” explains one transport economics observer. *It won’t solve everything overnight, but it shifts the balance of information back a little towards the customer.*

• Glance at the €/100 km figure every time you fill up, just to anchor it in your mind.
• Compare it to your dashboard data or trip computer over a month.
• Note roughly how much one “typical week” of driving costs you in fuel.
• Use that to plan big trips instead of being surprised at the pump.
• Revisit your budget once or twice a year with these more realistic numbers.

A small sign at the pump that could change conversations about driving

This new mandatory information won’t magically lower prices or erase long daily commutes. The number on the pump won’t drive your car for you or change your job location. What it can do is something more subtle and, over time, powerful: turn a blurry expense into something you can see, grasp, and talk about.

You may start hearing different conversations in front of the pumps. Instead of “Fuel is crazy again”, more people will say “My car costs me almost 10 €/100 km, I didn’t realise” or “We’ve got about 40 € of fuel for this weekend’s trip, it’s manageable”. That’s already a shift.

Key point	Detail	Value for the reader
New mandatory label	Estimated fuel cost per 100 km displayed at the pump from January 17	Turns an abstract price-per-liter into a concrete, comparable number
Daily budget tool	Connects the €/100 km figure to your own regular routes	Helps anticipate monthly fuel expenses and avoid bad surprises
Decision support	Allows easy comparison between fuels, cars and driving habits	Supports smarter choices without complex calculations or apps

FAQ:

• Question 1From when will this new information be visible at gas stations?
• Answer 1From January 17, gas stations will have to start displaying an estimated cost per 100 km at the pump, alongside the classic price-per-liter information.
• Question 2How is the €/100 km figure calculated?
• Answer 2It’s based on an average consumption value for the type of fuel and vehicle category, combined with the current price per liter. It’s a standardized estimate, not a personalized reading of your exact car.
• Question 3Will this number match my own consumption exactly?
• Answer 3Not necessarily. Your driving style, traffic, load, tire pressure and vehicle age all affect real consumption. The pump label gives a reference point, a benchmark you can compare yourself to.
• Question 4Can this new rule lower fuel prices?
• Answer 4No, it doesn’t act on prices directly. It’s a transparency and information measure. The benefit is that you regain some control over your budget and choices, with clearer data.
• Question 5What can I do if my actual cost per 100 km is much higher than the one displayed?
• Answer 5You can first check your driving style and tire pressure, then consider servicing your vehicle. If the gap remains big, it may be a sign that your current car is simply very thirsty, and that a future change of model or fuel type could have a real impact on your wallet.