Fill your tank by Thursday or pay €5-€10 extra from this weekend

Petrol and diesel prices look like they are about to rise sharply across Spain this week, so topping up your tank before Thursday could stop you shelling out an extra five to ten euros by the weekend.

Drivers planning summer getaways already face higher costs at the pumps after Brent crude smashed through the $100 mark. Geopolitical tension in the Middle East has put pressure two key shipping routes:  the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea choke point, cutting tanker traffic and sending freight and insurance costs rocketing.

Why petrol prices are jumping this week

International energy monitors and shipping intelligence firms, including the International Energy Agency and Kpler, report tanker movements have dropped hard. Alternative land routes are under pressure too, leaving Europe short of supply. Brent, the benchmark for Spanish stations, now carries a risk premium that analysts treat as baked in for the near term.

Spanish pumps follow the classic “rocket and feather” pattern: crude rises race through to the forecourt in 10 to 14 days while falls crawl. With the international spike already more than a week old, station boards are due to flip higher any day. Full impact lands before the month is out, so weekend prices will already feel the pinch.

How much more will a full tank cost?

A typical 55-litre fill of 95-octane petrol is expected to jump between five and ten euros compared with levels of the past few weeks. Diesel drivers face an even steeper bill. Gasóleo A has already begun several consecutive rises according to the EU oil bulletin and now sits above petrol again – a rare gap that reflects Europe’s heavy reliance on middle-distillate imports.

For a family hatchback or small SUV that averages 55 litres, that extra cost quickly adds up across a fortnight of summer trips. Professional drivers covering longer distances will notice the difference even sooner.

Diesel users feel the squeeze hardest

Spain’s vehicle fleet still leans heavily on diesel for work vans, long-distance travel and many family cars. The same maritime squeeze that lifts crude hits middle distillates hardest, the exact products European refineries need. OECD strategic stocks sit tight and agencies see no quick surplus. Without a diplomatic breakthrough that reopens shipping lanes, diesel pressure looks set to hold at least until September. The gap with petrol may widen further, hitting professional hauliers and holiday drivers.

Practical steps to limit the damage

Everyday drivers still have a few levers left. Skip the motorway stations where prices always sit highest. Comparison apps let you hunt the cheapest pump in your area in seconds. Loyalty schemes and supermarket networks often shave a few cents more off the litre.

Best moves worth making this week:

• Fill the tank no later than Thursday, 30 July, while current rates still hold
• Check three local stations on a price-comparison app before you leave home
• Avoid motorway services unless you have no choice
• Use any supermarket or chain discount cards you already hold
• Consider a half-tank top-up mid-week if you cannot wait until Thursday

Nothing stops the barrel from climbing even more, yet every cent saved matters when a fill that cost €75 last week tips over €85 almost overnight. Drivers in Spain who act before Thursday stand the best chance of keeping this summer’s fuel bill under control. Prices at the pumps are already moving; the full weekend jump is only days away.