Fuel excise duty 2026 in Romania — explained for everyone
In 2026 the standard excise is 3.06 RON per litre on petrol and 2.80 RON per litre on diesel — the specific tax the state collects before the litre even reaches the pump. 21% VAT is applied on top. At the average petrol price of 9.97 RON/litre on 22 September 2026, the two taxes add up to 4.79 RON, i.e. 48% of the final price. This article explains what excise is, how much it is in 2026, which temporary diesel cuts applied, how Romania compares with the EU floor and why OUG 19/2026 does NOT touch this tax.
1. What excise duty is and who collects it
Excise is a specific indirect tax levied by the state on products with an environmental or health impact (fuels, alcohol, tobacco). Unlike VAT — which is proportional to price — excise is a fixed amount per unit (RON per liter). The legal basis is Title VIII (Excise duty and other special taxes) of the Romanian Fiscal Code, articles 335-456, transposing EU directives 2003/96/EC and 2008/118/EC.
Excise revenues account for roughly 9-11% of the consolidated state budget according to the Ministry of Finance. A portion is allocated directly to CNAIR for road infrastructure and to the Environment Fund for decarbonization projects.
2. 2026 excise duty values
According to Annex 1 to Title VIII of the Fiscal Code (Law 227/2015), as amended by Law 141/2025, and the table published by the Ministry of Finance, the 2026 excise is:
- Unleaded petrol (95, 98): 3,059.80 RON per 1,000 litres, i.e. 3.06 RON/litre;
- Diesel: 2,804.29 RON per 1,000 litres, i.e. 2.80 RON/litre;
- Aviation kerosene (Jet A-1): 0 RON/liter — fully exempt (see our kerosene articles);
- LPG used as motor fuel: 984.60 RON per tonne;
- Natural gas used as motor fuel (CNG): 19.96 RON per GJ.
Petrol and diesel levels rose twice in 12 months. Until 31 July 2025 they were 2,528.76 and 2,317.59 RON per 1,000 litres; Law 141/2025 raised them by 10% from 1 August 2025 (2,781.64 and 2,549.35 RON) and set the 2026 levels directly, another 10% higher. For 2026 the same law rules out inflation indexation. LPG and natural gas rose 6.1% versus 2025.
Temporary diesel cuts. Under Law 162/2026, the Ministry of Finance reviews quotes and the average pump price every two weeks and may cut the excise on standard diesel. So far: by 20% between 16 and 31 August 2026 (2,243.43 RON per 1,000 litres) and by 25% between 1 and 30 September 2026 (2,103.22 RON per 1,000 litres). The up-to-date calendar is on the when will diesel get cheaper page.
3. Pump price structure
Let's break down the average petrol price of 9.97 RON/litre, measured on pretcarburant.ro on 22 September 2026, into actual components:
- Product price + commercial markup (international quote + transport + refinery and station margin): 5.18 RON/litre (52%);
- Excise duty: 3.06 RON/litre (31%);
- 21% VAT: 1.73 RON/litre (17%). VAT is applied on top of the net price, excise included, so it is 21/121 of the final price.
Out of every leu spent on petrol at the pump, roughly 48 bani goes to the state as taxes (VAT + excise). A 50-litre fill costs 498.50 RON, of which 239.50 RON are taxes. For diesel, during the reduced-excise period the share is lower: at 10.95 RON/litre, taxes were 4.00 RON (37%). Today's exact figures, recalculated several times a day from the current average price, are in the live pump-price breakdown.
4. EU comparison
Directive 2003/96/EC sets an EU floor of 359 euro per 1,000 litres for unleaded petrol and 330 euro per 1,000 litres for diesel. At about 5.25 RON per euro (ECB, September 2026), Romania's 2026 excise is roughly 0.58 EUR/litre on petrol and 0.53 EUR/litre on diesel — about 62% above the floor for both fuels. After the increases of August 2025 and January 2026, Romania is no longer among the EU countries with the lowest excise. A comparison with other states, in euro per litre, is in the table on the excise transparency page.
5. OUG 19/2026: what it does NOT change
OUG 19/2026 (in force 1 April - 30 June 2026) caps the commercial markup of fuel stations at the average level of the 30 days preceding the ordinance. Many confuse this with a tax cut — wrong. OUG 19 does NOT modify excise duty or VAT. The excise (2,804.29 RON per 1,000 litres on diesel, 3,059.80 RON on petrol) and the 21% VAT apply unchanged. The temporary excise cuts of August–September 2026 come from a different law, Law 162/2026.
In practice, during the cap period major networks display nearly identical prices ("uniform pricing"), since they cannot grow margin. See our lowest prices by county page to observe the effect concretely.
6. Special exemptions and reductions
Four categories with reduced or zero excise under the Fiscal Code:
- Aviation kerosene (Jet A-1) — full exemption;
- Maritime and Danube navigation fuel — full exemption;
- Coloured (red) agricultural diesel — excise reduced by ~1.68 RON/L for farming work;
- Defence, police and intelligence fleet fuel — exemption for operative missions.
Refunds for professional road carriers (trucks above 7.5 tons) are roughly 0.40 RON/L under the approved State Aid Scheme, valid through 2027.
7. Household budget impact
Take a family with two cars consuming 250 liters of petrol monthly. At 3.06 RON/litre excise, the annual contribution is about 9,180 RON. The 2026 increase (from 2.78 to 3.06 RON/litre) means about 835 RON extra per year just from excise, plus about 175 RON of VAT charged on top of it. For a professional driver covering 78,000 km/year (about 8,900 litres of diesel), the annual diesel excise contribution reaches roughly 25,000 RON at the standard level.
In short, every leu added to excise is amplified by VAT, making fuel tax policy directly felt in drivers' wallets.
Disclaimer: The article provides general information. Always verify current excise values on the ANAF portal or the Romanian Official Gazette. PretCarburant.ro is not an official tax source.
Read also: Fuel VAT for companies 2026 | Mileage allowance 2026 | Diesel price today
