💰 Road Trip Cost in Europe: What You'll Actually Spend Per Day

Daily Road Trip Costs by Region

Western Europe (France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, UK)

Category	Budget (2 people)	Mid-Range (2 people)
Car rental	€30-50/day	€50-75/day
Fuel (200-250km/day)	€20-35/day	€25-40/day
Tolls	€5-15/day	€10-25/day
Parking	€5-15/day	€10-25/day
Accommodation	€50-80/day	€90-160/day
Food	€30-50/day	€60-100/day
Total per day (2 people)	€140-245	€245-425
Per person	€70-122	€122-212

Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia)

Category	Budget (2 people)	Mid-Range (2 people)
Car rental	€20-40/day	€35-60/day
Fuel	€15-30/day	€20-35/day
Tolls	€0-10/day	€5-20/day
Parking	€3-10/day	€8-20/day
Accommodation	€35-65/day	€70-130/day
Food	€25-40/day	€45-80/day
Total per day (2 people)	€98-195	€183-345
Per person	€49-97	€91-172

Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Balkans)

Category	Budget (2 people)	Mid-Range (2 people)
Car rental	€15-30/day	€25-45/day
Fuel	€12-25/day	€15-30/day
Tolls/vignettes	€2-8/day	€3-10/day
Parking	€2-8/day	€5-15/day
Accommodation	€25-50/day	€50-100/day
Food	€15-30/day	€30-55/day
Total per day (2 people)	€71-151	€128-255
Per person	€35-75	€64-127

Fuel Costs by Country (Early 2026)

Country	Diesel (€/L)	Petrol (€/L)	Cost per 100km*
Luxembourg	€1.35	€1.40	€8-10
Spain	€1.40	€1.45	€8-10
Poland	€1.30	€1.35	€8-10
Portugal	€1.50	€1.55	€9-11
Germany	€1.60	€1.65	€10-12
France	€1.65	€1.70	€10-12
Italy	€1.70	€1.75	€10-13
UK	£1.40	£1.45	€11-14
Netherlands	€1.85	€1.95	€12-14
Norway	€1.85	€1.90	€12-14

*Based on a compact diesel car averaging 5-6L/100km

Toll Costs by Country

Per-Distance Tolls

• France: Most expensive toll country. Paris-Nice: ~€75. Paris-Bordeaux: ~€55. Budget €0.10-0.15/km on motorways. Avoid tolls by using "routes nationales" (free but slower).
• Italy: Milan-Rome: ~€45. Milan-Naples: ~€65. Electronic Telepass available at rental counters.
• Spain: Mix of toll (AP) and free (A) motorways. Barcelona-Madrid via AP-2: ~€30. Many autopistas are now free after concessions expired.
• Portugal: Lisbon-Algarve: ~€20. Electronic tolling (EasyToll) required on some routes.

Vignette Countries (Fixed-Period Stickers)

• Switzerland: CHF 40/year (no short-term option — even 1 day requires annual sticker)
• Austria: €9.90/10 days
• Czech Republic: €11/10 days
• Slovenia: €15/7 days
• Slovakia: €12/10 days
• Hungary: €13/10 days

Rental Car Cost Optimization

Best Booking Strategies

1. Book through aggregators (Discovercars.com, AutoEurope, Rentalcars.com) — they compare all suppliers and often negotiate bulk discounts
2. Book 4-8 weeks ahead — sweet spot for best prices. Too early and prices haven't dropped; too late and availability is limited
3. Pick up outside airports — airport locations charge 10-20% more due to concession fees
4. Weekly rates are cheaper — a 7-day rental is often only 10-20% more than a 5-day rental
5. Avoid one-way fees — returning to a different city typically costs €50-200 extra

Insurance Strategy

• Decline CDW at the counter — rental company CDW costs €15-35/day
• Buy standalone excess insurance — €3-5/day from Insurance4CarHire, iCarhireinsurance, or similar
• Check your credit card — many premium cards include rental car damage coverage
• Savings: €10-30/day, which over a 10-day trip is €100-300

Real Trip Cost Examples

Portugal Coast (10 Days, 2 People, Mid-Range)

Car rental (compact, automatic): €450 | Fuel (1,200km): €110 | Tolls: €45 | Parking: €80 | Hotels: €950 | Food: €600 | Activities: €150

Total: €2,385 (€1,192/person, €238/day for two)

Italian Road Trip (7 Days, 2 People, Mid-Range)

Car rental: €310 | Fuel (800km): €90 | Tolls: €55 | Parking: €120 | Hotels: €770 | Food: €560 | Activities: €200

Total: €2,105 (€1,052/person, €300/day for two)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a European road trip cost per day?

For two people: budget €100-180/day, mid-range €200-350/day. The car costs alone (rental + fuel + tolls + parking) average €50-120/day. Southern and Eastern Europe are 30-40% cheaper than Western Europe.

How much should I budget for fuel on a European road trip?

Budget €15-35/day based on driving 200-250km in a compact car. Fuel costs range from €1.30/L in Poland to €1.95/L in the Netherlands. A compact diesel car uses about 5-6L per 100km, costing €8-14 per 100km depending on the country.

What are toll costs for driving in Europe?

France is most expensive (€0.10-0.15/km, Paris-Nice ~€75). Italy has per-distance tolls (Milan-Rome ~€45). Several countries use vignettes: Switzerland CHF 40/year, Austria €9.90/10 days. You can avoid tolls by using free secondary roads.

How do I save money on a European car rental?

Book through aggregators 4-8 weeks ahead, pick up outside airports, rent for full weeks, decline CDW and buy standalone excess insurance (€3-5/day vs €15-35/day), and avoid one-way fees by returning to the same location.

Is it cheaper to road trip or take trains in Europe?

For 1-2 people, trains are usually cheaper for city-to-city travel. For 3-4 people, a car becomes more economical since costs are shared. A car is often the only option for rural areas where trains don't reach.