UK fuel prices today: average costs and trends

Keeping track of UK fuel prices helps you make smarter decisions about when and where to fill up. Here's what you need to know about the current state of petrol and diesel prices across the country.

Current UK averages

PumpSaver tracks prices at over 5,600 stations across the UK, updated twice daily using the government's Fuel Finder scheme. You can see the latest averages, cheapest prices, and regional breakdowns on our dashboard.

What affects UK fuel prices?

The price you pay at the pump is made up of several components. Roughly 50-55% goes to fuel duty and VAT, which are set by the government. The rest covers the wholesale cost of crude oil (influenced by global markets), refining costs, distribution, and the retailer's margin.

When crude oil prices move, it typically takes 2-4 weeks for those changes to filter through to forecourt prices. Retailers are often quicker to raise prices than to lower them — a pattern known as the "rocket and feather" effect.

Regional differences

Fuel prices aren't uniform across the UK. London and the South East tend to have higher prices due to higher operating costs, while Northern England, Scotland, and Wales often see slightly lower averages. Rural areas with less competition can also be more expensive. PumpSaver breaks down averages across all 12 UK regions so you can see how your area compares.

How to track trends

PumpSaver's price trends chart shows how average UK prices have moved over the last 30 days for all three fuel types. This helps you spot whether prices are trending up or down, so you can time your fill-ups accordingly.