For many Belgians, the car remains a constant for day trips, weekends, and holidays. However, the high cost of driving is causing motorists to choose, plan, and drive more consciously. This is evident from a new study commissioned by Auto5 among 809 Belgian motorists.

Almost half say they are more cost-conscious: they think more about the total cost of a trip or holiday by car today than in the past. Fuel, charging costs, tolls, and parking, in particular, play a role in the choice of destination and distance.

Changing leisure behavior

The impact of expensive gasoline and diesel is particularly noticeable in leisure behavior. Four out of ten stay closer to home more often to keep distance and costs under control. However, the car remains more attractive to many families than the train or plane.

“Belgian drivers do not simply leave their car parked, but weigh the costs more consciously than before,” explains Olivier Renard, spokesperson for Auto5.

Energy-efficient driving

The figures show that motorists use their cars differently. More than half (54.3%) say they pay more attention to speed to limit consumption. Almost as many motorists (56.9%) plan their routes more consciously to avoid traffic jams, detours, and unnecessary mileage.

One in three (31.4%) is less likely to turn on the air conditioning to save energy. Over a third (37.1%) of respondents avoid unnecessary luggage, extra weight, the use of a roof box, or a bicycle carrier to limit consumption. 

However, motorists still often forget how important it is that their car is in good condition for energy-efficient driving. For instance, less than half check their tire pressure before longer journeys (44.4%). And less than half (41%) consider a quick car check-up to optimize consumption.

Broader data strengthen the survey’s relevance. Belgian and European mobility figures show that the car remains structurally dominant for travel. Other research, such as Touring’s holiday barometer and European travel sentiment studies, also shows that inflation and high prices are pushing travelers to watch their budgets more closely.

European pattern

The whole story fits a broader European pattern. European fuel sales data show that cost pressure is evident in real-world behavior.

In April 2026, Eurostat recorded a clear drop in automotive fuel retail volumes: fuel sales fell 2.7% month-on-month in the euro area and 2.4% in the EU. Compared with April 2025, they were down 3.5% in the euro area and 2.0% in the EU.

This happened while fuel prices rose sharply: EU diesel prices were 33.7% higher year-on-year in April 2026, and gasoline prices were 13.6% higher.

Lower fuel sales do not directly prove that people are taking fewer holidays or day trips by car. They may also reflect fewer commutes, more efficient driving, delayed refueling, stockpiling in the previous month, more electric vehicles, company fleet electrification, or general economic caution.