An infographic study on UK & Europe fuel prices
In Europe, petrol (known as gasoline in the USA) prices are considerably higher than they are in the States and in fact can sometimes be double the cost. This is due to the government subsidies that the US applies to gasoline.
It is worth noting however that in many European countries, diesel is less expensive than in the U.S. This is because some countries subsidise diesel through lower taxes. As can be seen from the infographic below, if you travel to Europe it might be an idea to hire a diesel car especially if you plan on traveling long journeys. A small turbo diesel will accelerate well on those long journeys and open roads and can get more than 50 miles to a gallon of fuel. Another tip when in Europe is to attempt to research fuel stops and source the best prices.