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Before setting off on holiday, the cost of the car journey often weighs heavily on the budget, especially when fuel prices soar. Fuel, tolls, wear and tear on the vehicle: for a family crossing France, the bill can quickly exceed a hundred euros for the outward journey alone.
Here is how to work out the cost of a car journey simply, which tools to use and our tips for reducing it without giving up the trip.
| Item | How to estimate it |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Distance x consumption per 100 km x price per litre, divided by 100 |
| Price per litre | 2,03 euros for SP95-E10 and 2,19 euros for diesel, national average as of 12 November 2026 |
| Tolls | Roughly 8 to 12 cents per kilometre of motorway for a car |
| Caravan or motorhome | Higher consumption and tolls, class 2 or above |
| Tools | Route planners, official fuel price website |
| Biggest saving | Driving at 110 instead of 130 km/h and sharing the costs |
The calculation is simple. You only need three figures: the distance of the trip, the average consumption of your vehicle and the price per litre.
Fuel cost = distance (km) x consumption (litres per 100 km) x price per litre, divided by 100.
Let us take an example: a 700-kilometre trip in a car that consumes 6 litres per 100 km, that is 42 litres of fuel. At the current average price of SP95-E10, 2,03 euros, the trip costs about 85 euros of fuel for the outward journey.
These prices are updated automatically from public data from the Ministry of the Economy, which records the prices of almost 10,000 petrol stations.
For consumption, rely on the on-board computer rather than the technical data sheet, which is often optimistic. Add 10 to 20% if the car is loaded, if you are carrying a roof box or if the air conditioning runs continuously.
On motorways, tolls often represent as large a cost as fuel. For a car, count on an average of around 8 to 12 cents per kilometre, depending on the motorway operators and the sections. On our 700 km trip, 600 km of which are on motorway, the bill easily rises by 60 euros.
Warning: with a caravan, a high trailer or a motorhome, you move into class 2 or above, and the rate rises sharply. Route planners give the exact amount of tolls according to vehicle class.
For a family of four, the car often remains the most economical option, especially with camping equipment. Alone or as a couple, the train can become competitive, particularly with discount cards and tickets booked in advance, provided the campsite is reachable from a station. Carpooling, for its part, lets you share the costs of a trip already planned.
The cost of a car journey can be worked out in two minutes: fuel on one side, tolls on the other. With current prices, it is worth comparing before you leave, driving more gently and filling up in the right place. To build a complete holiday budget, also read our guide on working out the budget for a week of camping.
Multiply the distance by the consumption per 100 km and by the price per litre, then divide by 100. Then add the amount of tolls.
A car that consumes 6 litres per 100 km uses 42 litres, that is about 2,03 euros at the current average price of SP95-E10, plus about sixty euros of tolls if most of the trip is on the motorway.
Around 8 to 12 cents per kilometre for a car, depending on the motorway operators. With a caravan or a motorhome, the rate is higher.
Yes, driving at 110 instead of 130 km/h on the motorway reduces consumption by around 20%, according to estimates passed on by ADEME.
On the official website prix-carburants.gouv.fr, which compares station prices. Stations at large retail stores are often cheaper than motorway service areas.
A route planner such as ViaMichelin or the motorway operators’ website. On every campsite page of our site, a route planner also estimates fuel and tolls from your town.
Campsites marked “Partner” are Aimer Camper members and are shown first. All results match your search.
