If you feel like you're paying more every time you fill up, you're not imagining it. The average price of petrol has hit its highest level since last September, with drivers now facing five straight months of price hikes, according to new data from RAC Fuel Watch.
In February, the cost of a litre of unleaded went up by 0.65p, reaching 139.65p. The last time it was this expensive was September 6, 2024 (139.81p). Diesel also saw a 0.73p increase, climbing to 146.48p—a price last seen in late August.
That means filling up a typical petrol car now costs £76.81, nearly £3 more than in October. A full tank of diesel has crossed the £80 mark, now sitting at £80.56—over £4 more than it was last autumn.
Where Can You Find the Cheapest Fuel?
Supermarkets are your best bet, charging around 2.3p less per litre of petrol and 2.6p less for diesel than the UK average. Some locations—like those near Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle—have unleaded for just 127.7p per litre.
Even better, independent stations in some areas are offering serious savings. One forecourt in Shropshire is selling petrol at just 126.9p and diesel at 135.9p per litre, meaning a full tank of petrol costs £69.80—£7 less than the UK average.
As usual, drivers in Northern Ireland are getting the best deal, with petrol averaging 132.9p per litre and diesel at 138.9p—around 6–7p cheaper than the rest of the UK.
Will Prices Go Back Down?
Fuel costs have been rising due to higher wholesale prices, largely driven by oil climbing to $82 a barrel in January. This was caused by increased winter demand and uncertainty around global supply, especially with political shifts in the US.
However, there’s some good news—oil prices have been dropping for several weeks, which should lead to lower fuel prices at the pumps soon.
RAC’s Simon Williams says, “It’s frustrating to see prices up again, but with wholesale costs falling, we expect petrol and diesel prices to come down this month. As always, it pays to shop around—some supermarkets are charging up to 13p a litre less than others.”
To track the cheapest fuel near you, use the free myRAC app, available on the App Store and Google Play. The app lets you search within a 2, 5, or 10-mile radius to find the best prices nearby.
For more info on fuel price trends, check out RAC Fuel Watch—it tracks supermarket prices, motorway service costs, and historical fuel price data dating back to 2000.
