On the coming Thursday, 18 September 2026, the reduction in Italian excise duty on diesel will come to a definitive end. Following several extensions in August and September, the discount of 17.08 cents per litre applies only until Wednesday, 17 September inclusive. Without the government tax reduction, the diesel price in Italy would reach a new all-time record, clearly surpassing the previous high set in March 2022. Our live fuel price overview shows that petrol and diesel are already at their highest levels in more than three years. The government has announced that, from 18 September onwards, it will shift from blanket tax reductions to targeted support measures.
What happens from 18 September
With the expiry of the tax reduction, the excise duty on diesel reverts to its standard rate. In numerical terms, this means a surcharge of 17.08 cents per litre plus VAT, totalling around 20 cents per litre. For a 50-litre full tank, this represents an additional cost of around ten euros. In practice, however, prices at the pump will not change by exactly this amount overnight. Petrol stations factor in a certain lead time and adjust their prices daily in line with oil markets, meaning the increase will occur in stages and will partly overlap with other price movements.
According to calculations by Quattroruote citing Il Sole 24 Ore, diesel prices without the price brake would jump to over 2.4 euros per litre as a national average. For comparison, the previous all-time record of 17 March 2022 stood at 2.229 euros per litre. On Italian motorways, figures would be even higher; some petrol stations in the servito area are already exceeding 2.50 euros per litre.
Price developments in September 2026
Fuel prices in Italy have risen sharply since the beginning of September. On the national road network , diesel in the self-service area cost 2.130 euros per litre on 31 August; by 12 September the price had already reached 2.208 euros. Petrol rose over the same period from 2.017 to 2.100 euros per litre. A full tank has therefore become around four euros more expensive within just twelve days. According to data from the Osservatorio prezzi carburanti of the Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy , these are the highest figures recorded since spring 2022.
On the motorway , prices are notably higher still. The self-service diesel average rose from 2.269 euros on 11 September to 2.285 euros on 12 September; the corresponding petrol figures were 2.176 and 2.192 euros per litre. The developments are being driven by the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed the crude oil price above 100 US dollars per barrel, as well as by the imminent end of the tax reduction, which market participants are already pricing in.
A 100-euro fuel bonus as a debated alternative
The Italian government has announced on several occasions that, from 18 September, it intends to move away from the blanket tax reduction and towards targeted support. One option under discussion is a fuel bonus of 100 euros, to be paid to employees via their payslip. According to plans made public so far, both employed workers and the self-employed are set to benefit. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini recently indicated that a solution should be found before the end of the month.
The bonus has not yet been formally approved, however. The precise details and the question of exactly who will be eligible are the subject of ongoing negotiations between the Ministry of Economy under Giancarlo Giorgetti and the other departments. In parallel, the government is examining an increase to the existing tax credit for the haulage industry. This credit is to be topped up by an additional 16 million euros for the current year. For the transport of goods, this measure is particularly significant, as lorry fleets in Italy run predominantly on diesel.
What travellers to Italy should know now
For those travelling by car in Italy over the coming weeks, it is worth checking the price differences between motorways and ordinary roads. Leaving the motorway briefly and filling up at an independent petrol station in the surrounding area can save, according to official MIMIT data, between 12 and 17 cents per litre, sometimes more. So-called pompe bianche, that is, independent petrol stations with no brand affiliation, are frequently among the cheapest options. Up-to-date average prices for petrol, diesel and autogas are regularly updated in the live overview using official MIMIT data.
When it comes to filling up in Italy , it is also worth noting that the servito area, where an attendant fills the tank, consistently costs 15 to 20 cents per litre more than self-service. Those who have the choice between "Self" or "Fai da Te" and the attended price will make a notable saving by using the self-service option . Whether the government actually implements a structural shift to selective support measures, or whether the continued upward pressure on prices ultimately leads to a short-term extension of the tax reduction, should become clear over the coming days.
