Driving around Bulgaria raises many questions among tourists about refueling the car. Where they sell high-quality fuel, how much gasoline costs in Bulgaria and at which gas stations the price of gasoline is lower. Which diesel engine is best to refuel and should you tip the gas station attendants? You will learn the answers to these and other questions from this article.

Dynamics of changes in gasoline prices

Gasoline prices in Bulgaria are among the lowest in Europe. You can only refuel cheaper in a few countries that are not part of the European Union.

Real-time fuel price chart in Bulgaria (petrol/diesel/gas).

Even over short periods of time, prices can change significantly – both up and down. For example, in 2018, a liter of A95 gasoline cost from 1.98 to 2.38 leva (from 1.01 to 1.21 euros).

The main factors influencing the cost of fuel:

oil prices – the dynamics of the cost of gasoline coincides with changes in quotations for black gold;
strikes – during periods of mass protests, prices at gas stations in Bulgaria are reduced by 5 – 8%.

You can track prices at gas stations in Bulgaria via the Internet. The website fuelo.net publishes information on the cost of gasoline, diesel and gas at Bulgarian network gas stations.

Differences in fuel prices across the country

Prices at gas stations in Bulgaria differ depending on the region. The most expensive fuel is in Sofia, Plovdiv and other cities located in the central or western part of the country. You can refuel your car in Varna, Burgas and other coastal cities relatively cheaply.

Before a long trip in Bulgaria, it is worth going to the website bg.fuelo.net and checking how much gasoline costs in the regions through which the route passes. Refueling in advantageous locations will reduce costs by 5–7%.

Which fuel is more profitable to drive around Bulgaria?

The most common types of fuel at gas stations in Bulgaria are A95 and A98 gasoline, diesel and propane-butane (LPG). If A98 is obviously the most expensive gasoline, then with A95 and diesel the situation is not so clear.

In Bulgaria, 1 liter of diesel fuel costs on average 10% more. But this does not mean that diesel is useless. Fuel consumption on cars with a diesel engine is lower: the difference usually reaches 20 – 30%.

Diesel allows you to save in 2 cases:

If you rent a large car: a business class sedan, a family station wagon or an SUV. Heavy vehicles have higher fuel consumption, so the difference in the cost of gasoline and diesel will be significant.
If you plan to travel a lot around Bulgaria on country roads. The higher the mileage, the greater the savings on diesel.

For short trips around the city and surrounding areas, it is better to take a car with a gasoline engine. In such cases, tourists usually choose compact cars that consume little fuel.

Gas filling stations are also widespread in Bulgaria.

Gas-powered cars are usually not rented, so for tourists this option is only relevant when traveling in their own car.

Gas station networks in Bulgaria and price differences

The highest quality fuel in Bulgaria is sold at network gas stations. There are 10 large networks operating in the country. You can buy gasoline, diesel fuel and propane-butane (LPG) at most gas stations, while methane gas is sold only at some gas stations.

Lukoil gas station in Bulgaria.

The difference in prices at different gas stations reaches 10%. If you refuel in a more favorable place, you can save 5 – 6 euros per tank. The table for each network shows an estimate of the cost of fuel on a 5-point scale (the higher, the more expensive).

Gas station network name	Price level (higher = more expensive)
Perfect petrol	5
Shell	5
Eko	5
Gazprom	5
SNG	4
Rompetrol	4
Cruise	3
Lukoil	3
OMV	2
VM Petroleum	1

Brief characteristics of each gas station network

Perfect petrol, often referred to on the Internet as Petrol. The largest network of gas stations in Bulgaria. Sells all types of fuel, including methane.
Shell. The British-Dutch network is distinguished by its relatively low price for 98-octane gasoline.
Eko. Gas stations are widely represented in all regions. Gasoline prices are high, but methane is relatively cheap.
Gazprom. The number of gas stations is small – 35 throughout Bulgaria, with most of them located in the central part of the country.
SNG. Almost all gas stations are located in Sofia, but there are also several gas stations in coastal cities. Prices are lower than those of large companies.
Rompetrol. Gas stations under this brand can be found in all regions of Bulgaria. The prices are average, the quality is also not satisfactory.
Cruise. Prices are low, but the only gas station on the coast is located in Burgas.
Lukoil.
OMV. One of the Bulgarians’ favorite gas stations – with reasonable prices and high-quality fuel.
VM Petroleum. A small chain with the lowest prices in Bulgaria. Owned by a Bulgarian businessman and politician, known for his fight to reduce tariffs. Local residents argue about the reasons for low prices, but agree on the good quality of the fuel.

Application for tracking prices at gas stations in real time

You can get up-to-date information on current fuel prices by downloading the smartphone application

Android

iOS

However, it is not easy to clearly identify the most expensive and cheapest gas stations. Often the price depends on the specific type of fuel: in one place it will be more profitable to fill in 98-grade gasoline, in another – 95-grade gasoline. Use the application if you want to save on refueling your car.

Car refueling process

In Bulgaria, it is not customary to refuel the car yourself: the fuel attendant does all the work. Even if he is busy serving other customers, you just need to wait.

Having approached the pump, tell the gas station attendant what kind of fuel needs to be poured into the tank and how much – in money (50 levs), in liters (20 liters) or just a full tank (in Bulgarian it sounds like this: ninety and pet full).
Open the gas filler flap before locking the car and heading to the checkout.
Go to the gas station pavilion and give the pump number and make the payment.

Is it necessary to tip the gas station attendant?

Whether or not to tip the gas station attendant is a purely personal matter. The fact is that he not only refueles the car, but also does additional work. While you pay for fuel at the checkout, the gas station attendant will wipe the glass and headlights. If you ask, he will even wash away a stain on the body: for this purpose, there is usually a bucket with a brush next to the gas station. In Bulgaria, it is customary to tip in cafes, car washes, and gas stations – 1 lev.

What gas stations do Bulgarians like to refuel at?

VM Petroleum – the cheapest gas stations in the country.

Statistics show that Bulgarians prefer gasoline cars, but often install gas equipment on them. The share of gas in automobile fuel consumption reaches 13% – the highest figure in Europe. Diesel cars are less popular: their attractiveness is maintained only by the import of inexpensive used cars from other EU countries that are gradually abandoning diesel fuel.