Germany’s cabinet approved a temporary fuel tax cut on September 22, 2026. Its cut takes effect October 1.
Several other changes also take effect in Germany in October 2026. If you drive, receive a pension, or hold a power of attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht), these changes affect you.
#1 Fuel Tax Cut of Around 17 Cents per Litre
The energy tax on petrol and diesel drops 14 cents per litre. That runs from October 1 through December 31, 2026.
Including VAT, pump prices should fall by about 17 cents per litre. Chancellor Friedrich Merz blamed Middle East conflict for driving fuel prices up.
Merz said drivers who rely on their car daily are reaching a breaking point.
The fuel tax relief package costs about €2.5 billion. The federal government and the states split the €2.5 billion evenly.
NOTE: A past fuel tax cut was not always fully passed on by petrol stations. Compare fuel prices instead of assuming the full 17-cent cut lands right away.
Impact: this could save up to €8.50 on a 50-litre tank fill.
#2 Different Pension Payment Dates Depending on When You Retired
Your October pension payment date depends on when your pension began:
- Pension began before April 1, 2004: paid on September 30, 2026
- Pension began on or after April 1, 2004: paid on October 30, 2026
The split in pension payment dates is not new. Many newcomers still expect every pensioner to get paid on the same day.
Confirm your October pension payment date with Deutsche Rentenversicherung if you are unsure.
See Where Germany Ranks on Pensions ->
#3 Electronic Filings Now Accepted in the Advance Directive Register
Germany’s advance directive register (Zentrales Vorsorgeregister) accepts electronic filings of powers of attorney, living wills, and care directives from October 1, 2026.
Before October 1, 2026, only proof that a document existed could be filed digitally. The documents themselves needed separate handling.
Electronic filing matters if you hold a German power of attorney. Authorities and hospitals can then find the electronic power of attorney, not just paper copies at home.
Check whether your power of attorney is in the advance directive register. File an electronic copy from October 1, 2026.
#4 Clocks Fall Back to Standard Time
Clocks in Germany fall back one hour at 3am on October 25, 2026. That returns the country to Central European Time.
The clock change affects anything scheduled around the switch. Automated payments, work shifts, and calendar bookings can all be tied to local time.
