TL;DR
Get business pricing on garage and car supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
RAC Foundation data in the supplied report shows UK petrol prices have risen 31% and diesel prices 41% since late February, adding about £22 to an average petrol-car fill and £30 to a diesel-car fill. The effect varies with the vehicle and driving habits; drivers can compare local pump prices, while EV charging costs depend heavily on where and when they charge.
UK petrol prices have risen 31% and diesel prices 41% since late February, adding an estimated £22 to an average petrol-car fill and £30 to a diesel-car fill, according to the supplied report citing RAC Foundation data. The increases are raising motoring costs, with the impact varying by vehicle efficiency, mileage and access to cheaper fuel or charging.
The report says prices initially rose more sharply for diesel after the conflict in Iran began in late February, then eased over the summer as the gap between petrol and diesel narrowed. Both fuels have since risen again. It attributes diesel’s volatility to high demand from haulage and shipping alongside limited supply, and says diesel prices are at their highest since 2022. Those explanations are reported claims; the material does not provide a detailed breakdown of the price movements.
For its running-cost comparison, the report uses end-of-month fuel prices from RAC Fuel Watch and an annual mileage of 5,561 miles, the average reported by respondents to its latest car survey. It excludes plug-in hybrids because their costs depend on how often they are charged. On that basis, costs for tested petrol, diesel and hybrid cars have varied since February. Hybrids are less exposed to fuel-price rises because their batteries can improve efficiency, but the cost for any driver depends on mileage and the specific car.
The report gives the KGM Rexton as an example of a vehicle with high fuel costs: at 463 miles a month, its estimated refuelling bill is just over £140 a month, up £40 since February. For electric cars, home charging on an off-peak tariff is described as the least expensive option, while rapid public charging can cost more. Zapmap data cited in the report shows off-peak home charging rose by 0.9p per kWh and slow public charging by 3p per kWh over the 12 months covered.
UK motoring costs · September 2026
The Real Impact of Soaring Fuel Prices—and What You Can Do
Fuel price rises are adding pressure at the pump, but the effect on your budget depends on your car, mileage and where you refuel or charge.
Since late February 2026, according to the supplied report citing RAC Foundation data.
Diesel rose more sharply in the period covered by the report.
01 / The pressure at the pump
Same rise, different household impact
The report compares prices with late February 2026. A higher-mileage driver or a less efficient vehicle will generally buy more fuel, so the estimated fill-up increases are reference points—not a monthly bill for every motorist.
The report says diesel costs are at their highest since 2022. It links diesel volatility to demand from haulage and shipping alongside limited supply; the supplied material does not provide a detailed price breakdown.
02 / Your vehicle matters
Running costs move with efficiency and use
RAC Fuel Watch end-of-month prices and annual mileage of 5,561 miles form the report’s comparison. Results vary by car and driving pattern; plug-in hybrids were excluded because charging frequency changes their costs.
More fuel, higher exposure
Costs depend on fuel economy, distance driven and the price paid at the pump. The average fill-up estimate will not predict each driver’s monthly total.
Efficiency does not guarantee savings
Diesel cars are typically more efficient, the report says, but sharper diesel price increases can change the usual running-cost comparison.
Costs depend on the energy source
Hybrid batteries can improve efficiency. EV charging was more stable in the cited data, but tariffs and charger type still shape the bill.
03 / A real-world example
Vehicle size can amplify the monthly bill
The report gives the KGM Rexton as an example of a vehicle with high fuel costs, using its stated monthly mileage assumption.
Per month at 463 miles driven.
Reported increase for this example vehicle.
04 / Charging costs
Where and when you charge changes the comparison
Zapmap figures cited in the report show smaller changes for selected charging types over the 12 months covered. These averages do not apply to every tariff or charger.
Off-peak home charging
Described as the least expensive option. It depends on having a suitable home charger and access to an off-peak tariff.
+0.9p per kWh
Increase in off-peak home charging over the 12-month period in the cited Zapmap data.
+3p per kWh
Increase in slow public charging. Rapid charging can cost more and may narrow EV savings.
The report says an MFG promotion cut its rapid-charge price from 79p to 59p per kWh from 1 July, with the offer scheduled to end on 30 September 2026. Prices after that date may differ. Tesla Supercharger access and local availability can also affect averages.
05 / Local price snapshot
A few miles can make a noticeable difference
A PetrolPrices.com snapshot from 24 September 2026 found these listed prices within a 3.5-mile radius in Watford.
Costco · Watford
161.9p per litre
Membership required.
Asda
164.7p per litre
A nearby alternative in the same snapshot.
Welcome Break · M1
196.9p per litre
Listed at a motorway service station.
06 / A practical check before you set off
Turn local information into a better choice
Use a comparison service such as PetrolPrices.com.
Compare the potential saving with the distance to the forecourt.
Check home and public tariffs, charger access and active offers.
Recheck costs when tariffs, promotions or policies take effect.
What may change
These figures are a snapshot, not a forecast
The supplied report links the renewed fuel rise to the conflict in Iran, which it says began in late February 2026. It reports expectations that the conflict could continue until at least November; that is a forecast in the source material, not a confirmed end date. It also mentions a possible US diesel export halt, which is not a confirmed policy decision.
The report says domestic electricity VAT was scheduled to change from 5% to 0% on 1 October 2026 through March 2027, alongside an Energy Price Guarantee rise of less than 1%. The size and timing of any effect on household costs remain uncertain. Actual costs depend on mileage, vehicle efficiency, fuel source, tariff and charger access.
Quick answers
What drivers are asking
How much have petrol and diesel prices risen?
The report says petrol rose 31% and diesel 41% since late February 2026. It estimates average fill-ups cost about £22 and £30 more, respectively.
Why has diesel risen more sharply?
The report points to haulage and shipping demand alongside limited supply. It does not confirm that a US export policy change has happened.
How can drivers reduce fuel costs?
Compare local forecourt prices and account for the distance to a cheaper station. The Watford figures are one area’s snapshot on one date.
Are electric cars unaffected?
No. Charging costs were more stable in the cited data, but costs vary by tariff and charger. Off-peak home charging was generally cheaper.
Will fuel prices fall soon?
The supplied report says a near-term fall is unlikely while the conflict continues, but it does not provide a verified price forecast.
What is the best figure for my own budget?
Use your mileage, your vehicle’s efficiency and the prices or charging tariffs available to you. Survey averages cannot establish every household’s bill.
Source: supplied report citing RAC Foundation, RAC Fuel Watch, Zapmap and PetrolPrices.com data.
How Higher Prices Change Motoring Costs
Fuel price increases affect household budgets differently. A driver covering more miles or using a less efficient vehicle will generally buy more fuel, so the reported average fill-up increases do not describe every motorist’s monthly bill. Diesel’s higher rise can also alter the usual cost comparison between diesel and petrol cars: the report says diesel vehicles are typically more efficient, but are not always cheaper to run when fuel prices move.
Electric-car owners have seen more stable energy costs in the cited data, though charging location matters. Public rapid charging can narrow the difference with petrol and diesel running costs, while lower-cost home charging depends on having a suitable charger and tariff. The figures therefore offer a snapshot of the pressure on drivers, rather than a guarantee of what a particular car will cost to run.
Fuel Prices and Charging Costs
The supplied report links the latest rise to the conflict in Iran, which it says began in late February 2026. It notes that the summer decline in prices was followed by a renewed increase and reports expectations that the conflict could continue until at least November. That is a forecast in the source material, not a confirmed end date.
Electricity costs moved less over the periods described. The report says rapid-charge averages recently fell after operator MFG introduced a 25% promotion on 1 July, reducing its price from 79p to 59p per kWh. The promotion was due to end on 30 September, after which average rapid-charging prices could rise again. It also says Tesla has gradually opened more Supercharger sites to other drivers, which can lower averages where those chargers are available. The report notes a domestic electricity VAT change from 5% to 0% scheduled to begin on 1 October and run until March 2027, alongside an Energy Price Guarantee rise of less than 1% on 1 October.
Local petrol prices can differ sharply. In a PetrolPrices.com snapshot dated 24 September 2026, the report found petrol at 161.9p per litre at Costco in Watford, where membership is required, and 164.7p at a nearby Asda. A Welcome Break service station on the M1 was listed at 196.9p per litre. The three sites were within a 3.5-mile radius, illustrating how location and station choice can affect the price paid.
What Could Change the Cost Estimates
The supplied material does not give the full chart data, the precise dates behind every comparison, or a forecast for future pump prices. Its suggestion that prices are unlikely to fall soon is based on expectations about the conflict, while reported discussion of a possible US diesel export halt is not a confirmed policy decision. The size and timing of any effect from such a move remain unknown.
Individual costs also remain uncertain without a driver’s mileage, vehicle efficiency, fuel source and charging arrangements. The report’s survey averages and selected car examples are useful reference points, but they cannot establish the bill for every household. Its EV charging comparisons also span different charger types and tariffs, which may not be available to all drivers.
Compare Local Prices Before Refuelling
Drivers can check local prices before filling up using comparison services such as PetrolPrices.com, then weigh any saving against the distance required to reach a cheaper station. The Watford example in the report shows that nearby forecourts can differ substantially, though its snapshot reflects prices on one date and one area.
EV drivers can compare home and public charging tariffs and check whether promotions apply at chargers they can use. The MFG discount cited in the report was scheduled to end on 30 September, so prices after that date may differ. Fuel and charging costs should be reassessed as prices, tariffs and policy changes take effect.
Key Questions
How much have UK petrol and diesel prices risen?
The supplied report says petrol rose 31% and diesel 41% since late February 2026. It estimates an average fill costs £22 more for a petrol car and £30 more for a diesel car.
Why are diesel prices rising more sharply?
The report attributes diesel volatility to high demand from haulage and shipping and limited supplies. It also mentions reports of a possible US diesel export halt, but the material does not confirm that a policy change has been made.
What can drivers do to reduce fuel costs?
Compare local forecourt prices before refuelling and factor in the distance to a cheaper station. The report cites PetrolPrices.com and gives an example of large differences between nearby Watford stations on 24 September 2026.
Are electric cars unaffected by higher energy costs?
The report describes EV charging costs as more stable than petrol and diesel prices over the periods covered, not unchanged. Costs vary by tariff and charger, with off-peak home charging generally cheaper than rapid public charging in the report’s comparison.
Will fuel prices fall soon?
The supplied report says a near-term fall is unlikely while the conflict in Iran continues, but it does not provide a verified price forecast. Future pump prices and the effect of possible supply changes remain uncertain.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
