UK fuel prices: compare your forecourt with the weekly average

The UK Government publishes average petrol and diesel pump prices each week, giving drivers a national benchmark for judging local offers. However, the evidence available for this edition does not include the latest observations or their reference date, so no current prices have been estimated or presented as fact.

Latest official petrol and diesel figures

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s weekly oil and petroleum statistics collection identifies the observation date and reports average UK pump prices in pence per litre.

The latest numerical observations must be taken directly from the published dataset on the day of publication. Until those figures and their reference date are available, the honest comparison is:

This does not mean the official figures are unavailable from the government collection. It means that quoting a price here without retrieving the current observation would risk presenting an outdated or invented number.

A national average is a benchmark, not a required price

UK forecourts do not have to charge the weekly national average. A local pump price can be above or below it because the figure combines observations from different locations and businesses.

Several factors can explain the gap:

• Nearby forecourts may compete more aggressively for customers.
• Motorway service stations can have different operating costs and pricing conditions.
• Premium fuel grades normally cost more than standard petrol or diesel.
• Local prices may change before the next weekly national observation is published.
• Individual retailers can adjust prices at different times.

A forecourt being several pence above the benchmark therefore does not, by itself, prove unfair pricing. The most useful comparison is between the correct fuel grade at nearby stations, checked at roughly the same time.

RAC Fuel Watch provides additional consumer-facing monitoring and commentary on UK fuel prices, but displayed local or retailer prices may use a different collection period from the government’s weekly average. Broader oil price uncertainty also provides context for the pressures that can affect household fuel budgets.

How to calculate the cost of a 40-litre fill

Once the official figures are available, convert pence per litre into a fill-up cost with a simple calculation.

For a clearly labelled 40-litre example fill:

• Petrol cost in pounds = official petrol price in pence × 40 ÷ 100.
• Diesel cost in pounds = official diesel price in pence × 40 ÷ 100.
• Cash difference = the pence-per-litre gap × 40 ÷ 100.

For example, a genuine local saving of 3p per litre is worth £1.20 over 40 litres. A 5p-per-litre saving is worth £2.00. These examples illustrate the calculation only; they are not current national price observations.

The same method can compare two nearby forecourts. Subtract the cheaper price from the higher price, multiply the difference by the number of litres needed, and divide by 100.

Check whether a cheaper station is worth the detour

Compare nearby prices before starting the journey, using a retailer’s information, a reputable price-comparison service or a forecourt’s displayed price. Confirm that the listing covers the right location, fuel grade and update time.

A long detour can erase a small pump saving. Compare the expected saving with the extra fuel consumed, additional mileage and time. Combining refuelling with shopping, commuting or another planned errand will often be more economical than making a separate journey.

Plan the stop while parked. Drivers should never search for prices, enter destinations or handle a phone while driving. If information needs to be checked during a journey, a passenger can do it or the driver should stop safely and legally first.

Source: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero