Filling up a diesel car or van will cost more from Monday, 19 October 2026. The Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP) expects diesel to rise by about 4.5 cents a litre and petrol (gasolina simples 95) to fall by about 1.5 cents, Lusa reported via RTP on Friday. The Government has already published the new weekly fuel tax (ISP) rates in Portaria 458-A/2026/1, which take effect on the same day.
What is expected at the pump
Based on Thursday’s figures from the energy directorate (DGEG) and ACP’s forecast, Lusa says the average price of simple diesel should reach about €2.149 a litre, and simple 95 petrol about €2.115 a litre. These are estimates: the final change depended on Friday’s market close, and each brand and station sets its own prices, so what you see on the board can be different.
As a rough guide, a 50-litre diesel tank would cost about €2.25 more than this week if the 4.5-cent rise is confirmed, and a 50-litre petrol tank about 75 cents less. Lusa links the higher prices to the war in Iran and tension in the Middle East, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and to attacks on refineries in the war in Ukraine.
The tax discount for next week
Since the Middle East crisis began, the Government has cut ISP each week whenever pump prices are more than 10 cents above the level of 2 to 6 March. The idea is to hand back the extra VAT the State collects when fuel gets more expensive. For the week starting 19 October, Portaria 458-A/2026/1 sets:
- Diesel: discount of €102.11 per 1,000 litres (up from €96.47 this week), with the ISP rate set at €259.49 per 1,000 litres.
- Petrol: discount of €71.90 per 1,000 litres (down from €78.04 this week), with the ISP rate set at €425.62 per 1,000 litres.
The Portaria also lists the total “Redução do ISP+IVA” (tax reduction including VAT) to be shown at filling stations on the mainland: €0.239 a litre for diesel and €0.231 a litre for petrol. These rates apply to mainland Portugal only; Madeira and the Azores set their own fuel taxes.
On 9 October Parliament unanimously approved the Government’s plan to keep this discount mechanism until 31 December 2026 (Decree of the Assembly 114/XVII). When we checked on 17 October, we had not found the final law published in Diário da República yet; the weekly Portarias keep the discount running in the meantime. We covered last week’s prices in our 12 October fuel update.
What this means for immigrants and workers
Many of our readers drive for a living: TVDE (Uber and Bolt) drivers, delivery riders with cars, farm and construction workers who share vans, and small shop owners who do their own supply runs. Many of these vehicles run on diesel, so for them the price rise is what matters next week.
- Fill up diesel before Monday if you can, while this week’s prices still apply.
- Compare stations on the official DGEG price site, precoscombustiveis.dgeg.gov.pt.
- Check Monday’s board, not the forecast. The 4.5-cent figure is an average estimate; your usual station may move by more or less.
Key dates
- Sunday 18 October: last day of the current ISP rates.
- Monday 19 October: new ISP rates and expected pump changes start.
- Friday 23 October: expected date for the next weekly ISP Portaria (the Government published one every Friday so far in October).
- 31 December 2026: end date of the discount mechanism approved by Parliament.
Sources
- Diário da República – Portaria n.º 458-A/2026/1, 16 October 2026 (ISP rates from 19 October)
- Diário da República – Portaria n.º 451-A/2026/1, 9 October 2026 (rates for the week of 12 October)
- RTP / Lusa – Litro de gasóleo sobe 4,5 cêntimos e de gasolina desce 1,5 na próxima semana (16 October 2026)
- SAPO – Parliament approves fuel discount extension to 31 December (9 October 2026)
- DGEG – official fuel prices site
This article is general information, not tax or legal advice. Pump prices are set freely by each station and the weekly figures above are estimates until they appear on the boards. Last updated: 17 October 2026.
