Fuel guides: prices, savings and tips
All our guides to understanding fuel prices, choosing the right fuel and paying less at the pump.
Prices
Why is diesel dearer than petrol in the UK?Diesel used to be the cheaper fuel. Here is why it now costs more at the pump, what the Middle East conflict changed in 2026, and what it means for diesel drivers.Rockets and feathers: why pump prices rise fast and fall slowlyWhy petrol and diesel prices jump when oil rises but drift down when it falls, what the CMA has said about it and how to spot a fair price.How the oil price, the pound and tax decide what you pay at the pumpWhat makes up a litre of UK petrol: crude oil, refining, retail margin, fuel duty and VAT – and why a $10 move in Brent changes the pump price by about 5p.Why fuel costs more in some parts of the UKRural areas, Scottish islands, motorway corridors and city centres: what drives regional differences in UK petrol and diesel prices.UK fuel prices in 2026: diesel at record levels, petrol up a thirdWhat happened to UK petrol and diesel prices in 2026: the Middle East conflict, diesel passing £2 a litre, and the fuel duty decisions ahead.Fuel prices in Northern Ireland: how they compare with the rest of the UKWhy petrol and diesel prices in Northern Ireland differ from Great Britain, the cross-border effect and how to find the cheapest station in Belfast and beyond.
Tax
UK fuel duty explained: how much tax is in a litre of fuel?Fuel duty is 52.95p a litre plus 20% VAT. How much of what you pay goes to tax, the 5p cut, and what to watch for at the Budget.What the Budget could mean for UK fuel pricesThe 28 October 2026 Budget and fuel duty: what is frozen, what is scheduled to rise in January 2027 and how to work out the effect on your tank.
Fuel types
E10 or super unleaded (E5)? Which petrol should you buy?E10 has been standard unleaded since 2021. When super unleaded E5 is worth paying extra for, which cars should avoid E10 and how to check yours.B7 diesel, premium diesel and HVO: what is the difference?What “B7” means on UK diesel pumps, whether premium diesel is worth the extra, and what HVO is.
Data
The UK Fuel Finder scheme: how live petrol prices reach appsSince 2026 UK petrol stations must report their prices to the government’s Fuel Finder scheme. What it is, who reports, and how it feeds price comparison sites.UK petrol station brands compared: who is cheapest on average?How we calculate brand averages from live Fuel Finder prices and what the rankings do and do not tell you about where to fill up.How FuelPriceAtlas calculates UK fuel pricesWhere our UK data comes from, how we compute national averages, daily history and rankings, and the limits of the data.Following UK fuel prices: weekly reports and news from FuelPriceAtlasWhere to find our weekly and monthly UK fuel price reports, price-move news and guides, and how they are produced from live data.
Costs
How to work out your fuel cost per mileA simple formula to turn the price per litre and your MPG into pence per mile, with worked examples for petrol and diesel cars.MPG to litres per 100 km: conversion tableConvert UK miles per gallon to litres per 100 km and back, with a quick table for the most common fuel economy figures.How much does it cost to fill a tank? Typical UK car tank sizesTank sizes for common cars and what a full tank of petrol or diesel costs at current UK prices, plus the cost of a 20-litre top-up.Diesel or petrol car in 2026: which is cheaper to run?Comparing running costs of petrol and diesel cars at autumn 2026 prices, including fuel economy, price per litre and when diesel still makes sense.Road trip fuel budget: Land’s End to John o’ GroatsHow much fuel does the 874-mile Land’s End to John o’ Groats drive cost? Budgets for petrol and diesel cars and tips to cut it.Petrol versus electric: running cost per mile in 2026A simple way to compare the cost per mile of a petrol car with an electric car using your home electricity rate, with a worked example.
Saving money
Where to buy the cheapest petrol: supermarkets, independents or oil brands?How supermarket forecourts, independent stations and oil-company brands compare on price, and why motorway services are almost always the dearest.Motorway services fuel prices: how much more do you pay?Why fuel at UK motorway services costs more, how big the premium is, and how to avoid it on long journeys.12 ways to use less fuel (that actually work)Practical, evidence-based tips to cut your fuel bill: speed, tyre pressure, weight, air conditioning, route planning and when to fill up.Are fuel loyalty discounts worth it? Supermarket fuel savings explainedHow supermarket fuel discount schemes work, when they beat a cheaper pump price and what to check before you chase a voucher.What is the best day and time to buy petrol and diesel?Is there a cheapest day of the week to fill up? What the data shows about UK fuel price patterns and what to do instead of chasing the calendar.Fuel price comparison tools: how to find the cheapest petrol near youMaps, price tables and alerts: how to use FuelPriceAtlas and other tools together to find the cheapest station near you.
Driving
Clean Air Zones, ULEZ and your fuel type: what petrol and diesel drivers need to knowWhich UK cities charge older petrol and diesel vehicles, the emission standards that matter, and how to check a vehicle before you drive.Fuel in the Scottish Highlands and islands: prices and planningWhy fuel costs more in remote parts of Scotland, how far apart stations can be and how to plan fill-ups for the North Coast 500 and island trips.What to do if you run out of fuel (and how far a warning light really goes)How many miles you have after the low fuel light comes on, what to do if you run out on a motorway and how to avoid misfuelling.
Towns and cities
Petrol and diesel prices in London todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in London, the cheapest petrol stations and how London compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Birmingham todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Birmingham, the cheapest petrol stations and how Birmingham compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Manchester todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Manchester, the cheapest petrol stations and how Manchester compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Leeds todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Leeds, the cheapest petrol stations and how Leeds compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Glasgow todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Glasgow, the cheapest petrol stations and how Glasgow compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Liverpool todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Liverpool, the cheapest petrol stations and how Liverpool compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Bristol todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Bristol, the cheapest petrol stations and how Bristol compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Sheffield todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Sheffield, the cheapest petrol stations and how Sheffield compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Edinburgh todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Edinburgh, the cheapest petrol stations and how Edinburgh compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Cardiff todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Cardiff, the cheapest petrol stations and how Cardiff compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Belfast todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Belfast, the cheapest petrol stations and how Belfast compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Newcastle upon Tyne todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Newcastle upon Tyne, the cheapest petrol stations and how Newcastle upon Tyne compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Nottingham todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Nottingham, the cheapest petrol stations and how Nottingham compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Leicester todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Leicester, the cheapest petrol stations and how Leicester compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Southampton todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Southampton, the cheapest petrol stations and how Southampton compares with the UK average.Petrol and diesel prices in Aberdeen todayToday’s average petrol and diesel prices in Aberdeen, the cheapest petrol stations and how Aberdeen compares with the UK average.