Hungary will give targeted aid to diesel-car owners but will not introduce a pump price cap, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said, citing shortage risk if a protected price returned. Owners of diesel passenger cars with a maximum of 150 horsepower will receive a total of 20,000 forints, about $64 at Reuters FX, by December.
The government said the support equals 5,000 forints a month through year-end, with the first payment in October. Aid is automatic via the tax authority vehicle database to the State Treasury, covers one vehicle per owner registered as of Jan. 1, 2026, and is aimed at about or nearly one million diesel cars. Farmers will also receive diesel excise-tax refunds through year-end.
The package is Hungary-only policy and is not an EU-wide scheme. MOL’s main Danube refinery has run at reduced capacity since an October 2025 fire damaged a crude unit, a backdrop Reuters noted alongside the aid decision.
Sources: Reuters / Krisztina Than (no price cap; HUF 20,000 / $63.96; ~1 million; ≤150 hp; farmers excise; MOL Danube Oct 2025 fire); kormany.hu (HUF 5,000/month; total 20,000; first October; NAV to State Treasury; ownership 1 Jan 2026; one vehicle; nearly 1 million); Daily News Hungary / Budapest Times (mechanics amplify).
