Drivers hit with biggest pump price rise for 18 months - how to beat it
Drivers have been clobbered with the biggest rise in pump prices for 18 months, data shows.
Roadside breakdown giant the RAC says the nationwide average for petrol rose by 2.17p a litre in November, to 137.17p. Diesel jumped even more, up 3.84p, with the average cost of a litre now standing at 146.57p, a figure motorists have not seen since late August 2024.
The last time fuel prices rose as sharply in a single month was April last year, the RAC said. The sharp rise has come at the most expensive time of year for many households ahead of Christmas.
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According to the RAC, it would now cost £75.44 every time to fill up the tank on an average petrol car, or £1.19 more than at the end of October.
The typical bill is cheaper at supermarket forecourts, at £73.69, it said. A full diesel refill now costs £80.61 on average, up £2.11 since the start of the month, and £78.69 at a supermarket. Compared to a year ago, petrol is about 0.5p per litre higher, while diesel is more than 4p dearer.
The latest increase follows last week’s Budget announcement that the rate of fuel duty will begin to rise from 52.95p next September - ending the present 5p fuel duty discount introduced in spring 2022 – and increasing the level of tax paid by drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles.
Simon Williams, the RAC’s head of policy, said: “Drivers will be disappointed to see prices at the pumps rise so sharply in the run-up to festive period.
“Not only is it one of the most expensive times of the year, it’s also a time when many of us drive hundreds of miles to celebrate with family and friends over the extended break, making it a costly Christmas on the roads.”
He suggested drivers use its myRAC app where they can use a feature to find the cheapest petrol or diesel stations. “Every penny really does count, as each 1p less per litre saves around 55p a tank for an average family-size car,” Mr Williams added.
It comes after the AA, which also has a fuel finder option on its app, said pump prices continued to rise this week despite wholesale costs nose-diving almost a fortnight ago. Petrol rose to a national average of 137.5p a litre on Monday, it said, with diesel at 146.9p a litre.
Luke Bosdet, the AA’s spokesman on pump prices, said: “Last week the Chancellor not only spared drivers an increase in fuel duty for now but saved the fuel trade having to pay more tax up front to buy their deliveries.”
The government last month confirmed all drivers will be able to benefit from near real time data on fuel prices through a fuel finder scheme from early next year.