Contents9 sections
One of the most common mix-ups in the DKV universe: search for "DKV fuel station" and you land between two answers that don't line up. The classic DKV fuel card is accepted at around 70,000 fuel stations across Europe; the entire DKV acceptance network, including toll and service partners, spans more than 50 countries. DKV InstantFuel currently works at approx. 12,000 stations in 10 countries. Both are DKV products, but they use different infrastructure. This article explains why that is, what it means for your fleet, and when each network is the right fit for you.
Why two networks in the first place?
DKV was founded in 1934 as "Deutscher Kraftverkehr"; cashless fuel supply was added in the 1950s, the DKV fuel card followed in 1966, initially as a printed card; the magnetic stripe came in the 1970s, later the chip card. Over the decades, DKV has signed contracts with independent oil companies, truck stops and fuel station networks. The result is a card acceptance network that works across almost all of Europe, from a neighbourhood Aral in Berlin to a truck fuel station in Sofia.
DKV InstantFuel has been available since 2025 and uses a different technical infrastructure: the PACE Mobility acceptance network. Unlike card acceptance, every station here needs a direct digital connection to the point-of-sale systems, and payment runs via the app, without a physical card. Stations are not integrated via card readers, but through an API interface. This is technically more involved per station, but it offers structural advantages: digital receipts in real time, structured data per refuelling, central administration in the dashboard.
The two networks in direct comparison
| Dimension | Classic DKV fuel card | DKV InstantFuel |
|---|---|---|
| Total stations | approx. 70,000 | approx. 12,000 |
| Countries | Europe-wide (total network incl. toll/service: 50+ countries) | 10 (DE, AT, CH, NL, BE, LU, FR, IT, PL, DK) |
| Motorway coverage DACH | very dense | dense on main routes |
| Truck-specialist stations | many | few |
| Special cases abroad (e.g. Turkey) | yes | no |
| Payment technology | card reader at the station | app (select the pump in the app) |
| Toll | can be added via DKV Box (EETS), billed through the DKV account | not included |
| Service bundle (toll, cleaning, lubricants) | included | not included (focus: diesel, petrol, HVO 100, AdBlue) |
| Additional services (service package) | yes (e.g. toll, washing, breakdown assistance) | no |
Practical example, field sales Stuttgart–Vienna:
- DKV fuel card: possible throughout, incl. toll vignette + AdBlue + cleaning
- DKV InstantFuel: possible, but check stations in advance on the live map; no toll function (solve separately)
Practical example, Berlin SME with an 8-car fleet:
- DKV fuel card: works, but with a credit check and a standard contract process (application, review, card dispatch)
- DKV InstantFuel: considerably more pragmatic, setup in around 5 minutes, working like your own company credit card without a credit check (details: Fuel card without a credit check), all relevant Berlin stations covered
Where do the networks overlap?
In Germany, Austria and the Benelux countries there is strong overlap: many fuel stations are in both networks. In concrete terms, this means:
- At stations from brands such as Esso, OMV or OIL! that are integrated into the PACE network, both DKV products work. Whether a specific station is included is shown on the live map.
But:
- At an Aral station in Munich: only the classic DKV fuel card (Aral is currently not in the PACE network)
- At a small, brand-agnostic station on the A38 in Saxony-Anhalt: possibly only DKV InstantFuel (if it has been integrated into the PACE network, but is not in the classic DKV contract network)
The live map is the reality check: dkvinstantfuel.com/karte/ shows all DKV InstantFuel stations, up to date to the day. Before activation, run through the most important routes of your fleet once.
Brand distribution in the DKV InstantFuel acceptance network
Unlike the classic DKV card with its broad contract network, the DKV InstantFuel network has a characteristic brand distribution:
Brands represented in the network include JET, Esso, AVIA, HEM, Q1, OMV, Hoyer, bft, Classic, OIL!, Tamoil and tankpool24. Which brands are strongly represented along your routes varies by country and region; the reliable answer comes from the live map with its per-country filter.
For a deeper look: Understanding the acceptance network: what's behind the approx. 12,000 stations.
Practical consequence: If your drivers have a strong brand loyalty (e.g. always Shell because of a bonus programme), the DKV InstantFuel network can become thin. If the brands don't matter, coverage is generally good.
Structural differences in the payment process
Refuelling at a DKV card station vs. a DKV InstantFuel station feels completely different for the driver:
Classic DKV card:
- Driver arrives at the station
- Refuels; the pump releases fuel after the card is read at the payment terminal OR at the till
- Insert card, PIN, confirm
- Receipt from the till printout, plus a deposit slip if applicable
DKV InstantFuel:
- Driver arrives at the station
- Opens the app; at connected stations it switches into refuelling mode
- Driver starts the refuelling process and selects the number of the pump
- Pump is unlocked, driver refuels
- Driver confirms the payment in the app
- Digital receipt is available in the app and dashboard, no paper receipt, no trip to the till
The latter is set up once in around 5 minutes (see Setting up the DKV InstantFuel app) and is considerably faster in daily operation, with better data quality.
Do I need both solutions?
As a rule: no. They are two independent products with separate networks and separate billing, and the strength of DKV InstantFuel is precisely the simplicity of a single, lean system. The decision is best made per fleet profile:
- Small and medium car fleet (field sales, service technicians, delivery vans): DKV InstantFuel
- Truck fleet or haulage company (operations abroad, toll billing, haulage volumes): classic DKV fuel card
Running both permanently in parallel means two accounting inflows and duplicate administration; it only pays off in exceptional cases (e.g. strictly separated truck and car sub-fleets with their own cost-centre logic).
What you should really consider when deciding
Three questions help with the choice:
1. Where do your drivers typically refuel?
- Mainly along DACH motorways + larger cities → DKV InstantFuel generally covers this. Check the live map.
- Truck stops + Eastern Europe + southern France → classic DKV card
- A mix with a small share of "unusual locations" → classic DKV card, or deliberately solve the special cases separately
2. What order of magnitude per refuelling?
- Cars + small vans (€40–80 per refuelling) → DKV InstantFuel is a perfect fit
- Trucks at €800–1,500 per refuelling → the classic card has structural advantages (credit-based pre-financing, volume terms)
3. How important is setup speed?
- "We want to refuel next week" → DKV InstantFuel (onboarding in around 5 minutes)
- "We have 4 weeks of planning lead time" → both are possible
FAQ
Will the acceptance networks merge in the future?
DKV Mobility and PACE Mobility are working together and continuously on expanding the acceptance network, with new stations being added all the time. There is currently no official statement that the two networks will be fully merged onto a single, unified infrastructure. What is reliable: the live map always shows the current status of the DKV InstantFuel network.
Does a classic DKV card station automatically work with DKV InstantFuel too?
No, and this is the most important clarification. Card acceptance works via card readers, DKV InstantFuel via digital integration of the point-of-sale systems. The latter has to be set up explicitly per station. If you arrive at a DKV card station without DKV InstantFuel integration and only have the app, you'd be standing there for nothing.
Where do I find out whether my regular fuel station is included?
On the live map you can see all DKV InstantFuel stations, up to date to the day. For the classic DKV fuel card, the DKV acceptance network by country is available on dkv-mobility.com.
What happens if I'm at a station that isn't included?
Three options:
- Head to another station (the live map often has alternatives nearby)
- Switch to a private card / company credit card directly (existing cash flow)
- If you need it frequently: report the station via support, we check the integration with the station operator, the network is growing continuously
In brief
The DKV card and DKV InstantFuel are not competitors, but complements within the DKV portfolio. Both have clearly defined strengths:
- Classic DKV card: maximum coverage, service package, EU-wide, trucks + specialist stations
- DKV InstantFuel: digital-first, app payment, your own company credit card, fast onboarding, ideal for SMEs with car fleets
Which product suits you depends on your fleet structure. For the majority of small car fleets, DKV InstantFuel is the more pragmatic entry point. The classic card is the right choice when your profile leans towards haulage, trucks or Eastern European traffic.
Further reading:
- Fuel card 2026: the complete guide, the hub pillar with all model comparisons
- Understanding the acceptance network: what's behind the approx. 12,000 stations, brand distribution and geo logic
- Fuel card without a credit check: does it really exist?, the model behind DKV InstantFuel
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