What's Causing It and How Does the UK Compare?
Petrol and diesel prices have climbed sharply across the UK in recent weeks, with diesel now around the £2-per-litre mark. But what's actually pushing prices higher, and are motorists in the UK paying more than drivers elsewhere in Europe?
Latest UK Petrol and Diesel Prices
Fuel prices have risen significantly during 2026, with diesel seeing the largest increase.
Based on these prices, filling a typical 55-litre tank from empty would cost roughly £96 for petrol and approximately £110 for diesel.
The latest official Department for Energy Security and Net Zero weekly figures, for the week beginning 28 September 2026, recorded petrol at 173.46p per litre and diesel at 197.58p per litre.
How Much Have Fuel Prices Increased in 2026?
Looking at the official UK weekly figures shows just how quickly prices have moved.
| Date | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 5 January 2026 | 134.90p/L | 144.19p/L |
| 6 July 2026 | 149.80p/L | 164.77p/L |
| 31 August 2026 | 161.61p/L | 183.49p/L |
| 7 September 2026 | 164.40p/L | 186.36p/L |
| 14 September 2026 | 168.14p/L | 190.72p/L |
| 21 September 2026 | 172.01p/L | 195.53p/L |
| 28 September 2026 | 173.46p/L | 197.58p/L |
Between 5 January and 28 September, the official average petrol price rose by almost 39p per litre, while diesel increased by more than 53p per litre.
That's an increase of approximately 29% for petrol and 37% for diesel in less than nine months.
Why Are Fuel Prices Rising?
There's no single reason behind the increase. The price displayed on a forecourt sign is affected by crude oil prices, refining, international supply, exchange rates, taxation, transport costs and retailer margins.
1. Higher Global Oil Prices
Crude oil prices have risen sharply as disruption in the Middle East has placed pressure on global oil supplies.
Brent crude moved back above $100 per barrel during September, significantly increasing the wholesale price paid for petrol and diesel.
2. Disruption Around the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy shipping routes.
Disruption and increased risk around the route can affect the amount of oil reaching the global market while also increasing shipping and insurance costs.
3. Diesel Supply Is Particularly Tight
Diesel has been hit harder than petrol because international diesel supplies are currently particularly tight.
That's one of the main reasons the difference between petrol and diesel prices has become so large.
4. The UK Relies on Imported Diesel
The UK imports a significant proportion of the diesel it consumes. Reduced UK refining capacity means international supply problems can feed through to British pump prices relatively quickly.
5. Petrol and Diesel Are Traded in US Dollars
International oil and refined fuel markets are largely priced in US dollars.
This means the pound-to-dollar exchange rate can affect what UK fuel suppliers pay even when the underlying dollar price of oil remains unchanged.
6. Fuel Duty and VAT
UK fuel duty currently remains at 52.95p per litre. VAT is then charged at 20%.
Fuel duty hasn't caused the recent wholesale price increase, but tax remains a substantial part of the final amount motorists pay at the pump.
Why Has Diesel Reached Around £2 Per Litre?
Diesel has been particularly affected by the current international fuel market. The latest prices have taken the UK average to around £2 per litre – above the previous record levels experienced during 2022.
Diesel isn't only used by diesel cars. It's essential to the UK's haulage, delivery, construction, agricultural and commercial vehicle sectors.
When diesel becomes more expensive, therefore, it can eventually increase the cost of transporting goods around the country as well as increasing everyday motoring costs.
How Do UK Fuel Prices Compare With Europe?
Fuel prices vary enormously across Europe due to differences in taxation, government policy, refining capacity, distribution costs and competition between retailers.
The table below compares the UK's official 28 September 2026 average with a selection of European countries from the European Commission's Weekly Oil Bulletin.
European prices have been converted into pounds using an exchange rate of approximately €1 = £0.8598 on 28 September 2026. Figures are therefore approximate and intended to provide a like-for-like comparison.
| Country | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | ≈ £1.15/L | ≈ £1.04/L |
| Spain | ≈ £1.67/L | ≈ £1.66/L |
| Ireland | ≈ £1.70/L | ≈ £1.83/L |
| United Kingdom | £1.73/L | £1.98/L |
| Italy | ≈ £1.85/L | ≈ £2.02/L |
| France | ≈ £1.90/L | ≈ £2.04/L |
| Germany | ≈ £2.02/L | ≈ £2.10/L |
| Netherlands | ≈ £2.12/L | ≈ £2.17/L |
| Denmark | ≈ £2.29/L | ≈ £2.19/L |
So despite the UK's sharp increase, British petrol isn't currently the most expensive in Europe.
Drivers in countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark were paying more for petrol during the same week. Diesel prices are more complicated, with the UK's price sitting above countries such as Spain and Ireland but below several other Western European markets.
The Difference Across Europe Is Huge
The European Commission figures demonstrate just how much location can affect what motorists pay.
On 28 September, petrol in Malta was approximately €1.34 per litre while motorists in Denmark were paying approximately €2.66.
Diesel showed a similarly large difference, ranging from around €1.21 per litre in Malta to more than €2.50 per litre in some of Europe's most expensive markets.
These differences aren't simply caused by oil prices. Every country has its own system of fuel duties, VAT and other taxes, while refinery and transportation costs also vary.
How Much of UK Fuel Is Tax?
UK petrol and diesel currently carry a fixed fuel duty of 52.95p per litre.
VAT is also charged at 20% on the final selling price. This means that as the underlying wholesale cost rises, the amount of VAT contained within the pump price rises as well.
The temporary 5p reduction in fuel duty introduced in 2022 remains in place at the time of writing, with the planned increase having been delayed until the end of 2026.
Will Petrol and Diesel Prices Come Back Down?
Fuel prices can change quickly and predicting the next movement is difficult.
Much will depend on what happens to global crude oil and refined fuel supplies, shipping through major energy routes, refinery output and the value of sterling against the US dollar.
If wholesale oil and diesel prices fall, those reductions would normally begin feeding through to forecourts. However, changes in wholesale prices don't always appear at the pump immediately.
How Can You Reduce Your Fuel Costs?
You can't control the price shown on a petrol station sign, but you can reduce how much fuel your vehicle uses.
- Keep your tyres at the manufacturer's recommended pressure.
- Avoid carrying unnecessary weight in the vehicle.
- Accelerate smoothly and anticipate traffic ahead.
- Avoid unnecessary idling.
- Compare local forecourt prices before filling up.
- Keep your vehicle correctly serviced.
- Replace worn or heavily restricted air filters where required.
- Have wheel alignment and tyre condition checked if something doesn't feel right.
Regular maintenance won't change the price of fuel, but making sure your vehicle is running correctly can help prevent unnecessary fuel consumption.
Keep Your Car Running at Its Best
With fuel prices approaching record levels, keeping your vehicle properly maintained is more important than ever.
Paisley Autocare provides fixed-price servicing using the correct oil grades and OEM-quality parts, helping keep your vehicle maintained to the correct standard.
View Our Fixed Price ServicingFrequently Asked Questions
What is the average UK petrol price in October 2026?
At the beginning of October 2026, UK unleaded petrol is averaging around 175p per litre. Individual forecourts may be considerably cheaper or more expensive.
What is the average UK diesel price?
Diesel has reached approximately £2 per litre nationally at the beginning of October 2026, taking it to record or near-record levels depending on the data source and measurement date.
Why is diesel more expensive than petrol?
Diesel is currently facing particularly tight international supply. Refining capacity, import dependency and strong commercial demand all affect diesel prices separately from petrol.
Why are UK fuel prices rising?
The main current driver is the higher wholesale cost of fuel following increases in global oil prices and disruption to international energy supplies. Currency movements, refining costs, taxation and retailer costs also affect the final pump price.
How much is UK fuel duty?
The current fuel duty rate for standard petrol and diesel is 52.95p per litre, with VAT also charged at 20%.
Is fuel cheaper elsewhere in Europe?
It depends on the country. Spain, Malta and Ireland were among the countries with lower petrol prices than the UK in late September 2026, while motorists in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark were paying more.
UK weekly petrol and diesel prices: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Weekly Road Fuel Prices, week commencing 28 September 2026.
European petrol and diesel prices: European Commission Weekly Oil Bulletin, reference week 28 September 2026.
Current UK forecourt averages: UK Fuel Finder-based station data, 2 October 2026.
International oil market and fuel supply information: RAC Fuel Watch and published energy-market reporting available at the time of writing.
Fuel prices fluctuate continuously and individual forecourts may charge significantly more or less than the national average. Figures were accurate to the best of our knowledge when this article was updated on 2 October 2026.
