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If you have a car in the Netherlands, you’ll have already experienced it: filling up the tank costs an arm and a leg. Petrol here is among the most expensive in Europe, mainly due to taxes. Almost everyone assumes it’s something that can’t be changed, but there’s a simple way to get a few cents back on every litre without changing anything you already do: a discounted fuel card, the tankpas.
I’ll tell you what it is, how much you genuinely save, how it works, and if it’s worth it for you based on how much you drive.
What is a tankpas?
Be careful with this, as it confuses many people: the tankpas is not a payment card; it’s a discount card. You continue to pay for petrol as usual, with your regular card. All the tankpas does is return a portion of what you paid.
The one most commonly used by everyday people in the Netherlands is from UnitedConsumers, a Dutch collective buying platform. It has no monthly or annual fee, and what you save accumulates in a balance under your name.
How much do you really save?
No smoke and mirrors. UnitedConsumers offers two discounts that add up:
- A minimum of €0.06 per litre off the national average recommended price.
- Another €0.01 to €0.03 per litre off the pump price.
In practice, this usually amounts to between 10 and 13 cents per litre for petrol and diesel, and more than 20 cents for GLP (LPG). UnitedConsumers mentions an average of around €50 per year, although that figure is for an average driver: if you put a lot of kilometres on your car, you save significantly more, because it’s calculated per litre.
You won’t get rich, but it’s money you’re currently giving away by not using it, and using it costs nothing.
How it works, step by step
- You fill up with regular fuel at a networked fuel station.
- You pay as usual, with your bank card.
- You give the tankpas to the employee to register the refuelling (or scan it yourself).
- Within 24 hours, you’ll see the discount in your balance (kortingstegoed) within your UnitedConsumers account.
- You can transfer that balance to your bank account whenever you want.
The card arrives at your home by post within a couple of weeks.
Where can I use it?
At over 500 fuel stations across the Netherlands: Shell, BP, Texaco, Esso, Total, Avia, Gulf, Q8… the usual ones. Unless you only fill up at two or three very specific low-cost stations, you’re sure to have one close to home or on your routes.
How much does it cost?
The card costs €5 in administration fees, but it’s free if you refuel at least 250 litres within the first six months (easy if you use your car often) or if you sign up for another one of their products, such as electricity. No monthly fees.
→ Order the UnitedConsumers tankpas
Who benefits?
If you drive regularly or cover many kilometres, it’s a clear yes: the more you refuel, the more you get back, and since you don’t pay a fee, everything you receive is profit. If you hardly use your car or have an electric car and rarely visit a petrol station, then you won’t get as much out of it. If you have an electric car, take a look at our post Get paid to charge your electric car at home: how it works in the Netherlands.
If you’re calculating how much your car costs you in the Netherlands, this is one of the easiest levers to pull. And while you’re at it, see if you’re overpaying on other things: our guides on buying or leasing a car and car insurance might be helpful.
Own an electric car instead? You may be able to get paid for charging it at home under the Dutch emissions-trading scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a credit card?
No. It’s just a discount card. You pay for petrol with your regular card; the tankpas only registers the refuelling to return a portion to you.
Does it have a monthly fee?
No. Only those initial €5, which you also get back if you refuel 250 litres within the first six months.
Can I order it as a foreigner?
Yes, as long as you are registered in the Netherlands and have a Dutch bank account where you can receive the balance.
When do I see the discount?
Each refuelling is credited to your balance within 24 hours.
Do you already use a tankpas? Tell us how it’s going for you in the comments.
