Going to the toilet at most motorway service stations and service areas in Germany will be more expensive in the future. From November 18, the toilet operator Sanifair wants to increase the fee for the around 400 toilet facilities it operates along the motorways from 70 cents to 1 euro, as the German Press Agency learned from company circles.
At the same time, the company is revising its well-known voucher model. In future, after paying the toilet fee, Sanifair customers will receive a voucher for the full amount of one euro paid. Previously, there was only a value voucher for 50 cents at a price of 70 cents. The voucher can be redeemed when shopping at motorway service stations - but in future only one voucher per item.
The company explained that the use of the Sanifair facilities is therefore practically cost-neutral for guests at the rest stops. In view of the high prices at the motorway service stations, however, not all Sanifair customers use the vouchers.
It is the first price increase at Sanifair since 2011. The step allows the standards of cleanliness, service and comfort to be maintained in the long term despite the sharp rise in operating costs for energy, staff and consumables, the company emphasized. Sanifair is a subsidiary of Tank
Collecting vouchers is no longer worthwhile
The move met with understanding at ADAC: "This measure is regrettable for travelers and families in particular, but from the point of view of ADAC it is understandable in view of general price increases," said an association spokesman. It is important that the increase in price is accompanied by a further improvement in terms of cleanliness and hygiene in the service area toilets.
The ADAC rated it positively that customers receive a voucher for the full amount of one euro after paying for the toilet visit. On the other hand, the association was critical of the fact that in future only one voucher per item can be redeemed. "This measure is probably intended to boost sales at the motorway service stations, but it is not consumer-friendly."
The assessment of the Federal Association of Consumer Centers (vzbv) was more critical. "The increase in toilet prices by more than 40 percent, from 70 cents to one euro, will further reduce the willingness of drivers to use the Sanifair offers," said mobility expert Gregor Kolbe. The fact that customers will receive a higher value voucher in the future will do them little good. Because most of the products at the motorway service stations still cost a multiple of what you pay off the motorway. And the trick of collecting several vouchers and then redeeming them together will no longer be possible after the price adjustment.
Criticism of the business with the necessities
The move by Sanifair was also rejected by the Automobile Club for Germany (AvD). The Sanifair mother Tank
In the event of an urgent need, drivers can also switch to one of the 1,500 unmanned rest areas on the German autobahn. However, a recent test by the ADAC shows that going to the toilet there is free of charge, but is often a rather unpleasant experience. "The rest areas often looked unkempt, the toilet facilities in particular were dirty or poorly equipped," the association recently summarized the results of random tests at 50 unattended rest areas. In the test, more than every fifth system received the rating "poor" or "very poor".
According to the ADAC, 72 percent of the systems had no soap dispenser at all or at least one was defective. 26 percent had no toilet paper. In more than half there was no or at least one broken hand dryer. Particularly unpleasant: clogged toilets and cabin doors that could not be locked.
