Latest news with #FuelWatch
Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Our ultimate guide to cutting fuel costs for YOUR car – including 5p off per litre and cheapest time to fill up
Plus whether you can save by filling up at night DRIVE DOWN COSTS Our ultimate guide to cutting fuel costs for YOUR car – including 5p off per litre and cheapest time to fill up Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PETROL prices are on the rise after several months of price drops. Petrol prices have jumped by 2p a litre since the beginning of June, according to data from RAC's Fuel Watch. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Drivers may be able to save by filling up at Costco Credit: Alamy The increase comes as millions of motorists gear up to hit the road over the summer holidays. Sun Savers editor LANA CLEMENTS shares her ultimate guide to keeping down your fuel costs. WHAT'S DRIVING UP COSTS? After months of falling costs at the pump, conflict in the Middle East has put pressure on oil prices which impacts how much drivers pay for petrol. The cost of unleaded now stands at 134p a litre, RAC data showed, while diesel prices are at 141p a litre. RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: 'The arrival of summer has brought some wholly unwelcome increases to pump prices, with retailers wasting no time in putting them up following increased tensions in the Middle East. 'Unleaded and diesel are now both at their highest levels since late April, although we see no reason for further increases as wholesale prices have come back down again and have so far been static in July. 'But given fuel represents a substantial chunk of most households' monthly outgoings, families need to make sure they are making savings where they can.' Last week, the Competition and Markets Authority warned that fuel prices are still too high. It comes ahead of fears that fuel duty could be increased for the first time since 2011 in October's budget. The Sun's 'Keep It Down' Campaign has so far saved motorists £100bn amid long-running battle to keep the duty frozen. FIND THE CHEAPEST PUMP Finding the cheapest forecourt could save you £240 a year. Use or its app to find the lowest fuel costs in your area. Drivers just need to enter their postcode, and the maximum distance willing to travel to find the best prices. You can also check petrol costs at to find the cheapest fuel prices within a five, ten, or 25-mile radius or use the free app MyRAC. Where possible, avoid motorway service stations which usually have the most expensive prices, often up to 20p more a litre. IS A COSTCO MEMBERSHIP WORTH IT? Fuel prices at Costco are often 10p per litre cheaper compared to the national average. The retailer has 29 stores across the UK, with 19 of these featuring petrol and diesel forecourts. To fill up, you need to be a member which costs from £42 a year. Membership is generally restricted to business owners or those in certain jobs such as NHS, as well as local government and education. Some companies also have arrangements that allow you to become a member. But is it worth it? You could've paid for the subscription after seven visits, based on fuel being 10p a litre cheaper. You would need to work out how often you fill up and how the price compares to your local garage. Money expert Sarah Coles from Hargreaves Lansdown said: 'It only works if Costco is nearby or you go regularly for shopping because as soon as you start to make a detour for petrol, you'll quickly start to burn up any saving. 'For the right drivers this is a brilliant saving, for the wrong ones this is a one-way ticket to driving miles for petrol and accidentally buying 12 cream cakes while you're there.' DON'T MISS FUEL DISCOUNTS Drivers can also get 5p off a litre of fuel using Nectar points at Sainsbury's and selected Esso petrol stations. You can earn one point for every litre bought but 300 points can be swapped for 5p off every litre of fuel. You can also earn Tesco Clubcard points and spend vouchers at Tesco petrol stations and Esso sites with a Tesco Express. You get one Clubcard for every two litre of fuel and then vouchers are face value, then 300 points is worth £3 to spend. Motorists can earn one point worth 0.5p per litre spent at BP stations through it's MPme scheme. You can get £2.50 off fuel with 500 points or use it on sites like Amazon. Keep a look out on cashback sites like TopCashback for free fuel offers. They often do £5 free when filling up at supermarkets and petrol stations for new customers. Although, there is usually a £10 minimum spend. IS IT CHEAPER TO FILL UP AT NIGHT? A COMMON myth is that it's cheaper to fill up at night. Garages will adjust prices when it's quiet and may put them up when it's busy, so avoid peak times such as rush hour. Drivers could get a tiny bit extra if they fill up late at night instead of the middle of the day. That's because fuel prices are calculated by volume and you get more when it's cooler at night. Consumer expert Martyn James said: 'The difference is tiny. You'd only save a couple of pennies on a whole tank of fuel. "So it's not worth a midnight trip to save cash.' SIMPLE TWEAKS TO SAVE ON FUEL Subtle adjustments to your car can cut the amount of fuel you use when driving. Clear out your boot and take out unnecessary items that could be weighing down your motor. The heavier your car, the harder the engine has to work to get moving and the more fuel you'll burn. Check tire pressure once a month, as underinflated tyres means you'll use more fuel. Using your air conditioning also increases fuel consumption - but opening windows and sunroofs can also slow your car down and drive up petrol costs. How you drive affects also how much fuel you use. If your car has cruise control, try using it on motorways to keep a steady pace. Newer car models will tell you how much fuel you're using so you can adjust your driving. Google Maps allows you to find the most fuel efficient route when heading out in the car. And if you're at a standstill in traffic for more than a minute, consider turning off the engine to avoid wasting fuel.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The petrol station selling fuel 13p cheaper than normal
The average price of a litre of petrol in the UK has hit its highest level since the end of September, new data from the RAC shows. It marks a significant turnaround from five months ago, when prices at the pumps were falling at their fastest rate all year. The cost of a litre of unleaded rose by 0.65p in February 2025, reaching 139.65p, while average diesel prices also went up last month by 0.73p to 146.48p. 'It's disappointing to see pump prices up yet again in February, with drivers now facing some of the highest costs at forecourts since the end of last summer," the RAC said. However, one independent garage in Shropshire that has found a way to keep its prices lower than some of its larger competitors. DA Roberts Fuels and Garage in Whitchurch, Shropshire, sells its petrol at 126.9p a litre and diesel at 135.9p a litre - 13p and 9p lower than average - but taking a lower cut in profits. "We have a smaller margin than a lot of others other garages or supermarkets because we'd rather a low margin, but a high volume of customers," finance director Ricky Allman tells Yahoo News. "I think we have a smaller margin than a lot of others other garages or supermarkets. "It seems to work well - because we're extremely busy," he adds. While the RAC described the latest increase as disappointing, prices are still low compared to the highs of more than 170p per litre in recent years And it's not all bad news, with the RAC saying there is a "good prospect" of fuel prices coming back down this month. Here, Yahoo News takes a look at why pump prices have risen so much after last year's sustained fall. The average litre of unleaded petrol hitting 139.65p in February marked the highest price point since 6 September last year according to the RAC's Fuel Watch initiative. As for diesel, which tracked at 146.48p per litre last month, the last time it was that expensive was back in late August. That means filling a family-sized petrol car now costs £76.81, up almost £3 since the start of October when the price was £73.88 (134.33p a litre). It was a different story back in September 2024, when fuel prices were falling fast, with average prices at UK forecourts sinking to their lowest level in almost three years. Those price cuts were as a result of a lower oil price, caused by lower global demand, and a relatively strong UK pound to US dollar exchange rate helped by a fall in UK inflation rates – effectively making it cheaper for retailers to buy the fuel in in the first place. "With fuel traded in US dollars, a stronger pound means UK fuel retailers get more 'bang for their buck," the RAC said at the time. The latest hike announced today comes as retailers face higher wholesale costs, driven by the increasing cost of oil which climbed to $82 a barrel in mid-January. This was primarily due to greater demand in the northern hemisphere caused by the cold snap, along with concerns about possible supply disruptions ahead of Donald Trump's second term in the Oval Office. However, oil prices - and therefore wholesale fuel prices - have now been falling again for several weeks – meaning pump prices should follow, the RAC says. Some parts of the UK are more blessed than others, with drivers in Northern Ireland once again paying the lowest prices for their fuel, the RAC said. At the end of February, the average price of a litre of unleaded there was just 132.9p – nearly 7p less than in the rest of the UK – with diesel at 138.9p, more than 6p less a litre. Supermarkets often offer cheaper deals, and are currently charging drivers on average 2.3p less per litre of unleaded compared to the UK average and 2.6p less per litre of diesel. Some sites are charging substantially less, with the RAC reporting supermarkets close to Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-upon-Tyne selling unleaded for just 127.7p a litre. However, prices vary from forecourt to forecourt, though DA Roberts says it has found a way to keep its prices consistently lower. "We don't look at any other competitors or local garages to see what their prices are. We just work it out on a formula basis. So, if the price we're buying at comes down, our selling price comes down," Ricky Allman says. "We gain a bit of a reputation that we will look after our customers when and where and where we can and keep up prices competitive. People are struggling with the cost of living, so we try to not profiteer. Our forecourt sales have been increasing year-on year and have done for a number of years. It's a model that we think works for us.' Read more How Trump's tariffs could cost consumers in the US and UK - even if he spares Britain (Sky News) I won't make Britons cut out meat to meet climate goals, says Starmer (The Independent) UK car club rollout means drivers can hire EV 'by the minute, hour or day' (BirminghamLive) _____________________ selling petrol at just 126.9p a litre and diesel at 135.9p a litre The average price of a litre of petrol in the UK has hit its highest level since the end of September, new data from the RAC shows. It marks a significant turnaround from five months ago, when prices at the pumps were falling at their fastest rate all year. The cost of a litre of unleaded rose by 0.65p in February 2025, reaching 139.65p, while average diesel prices also went up last month by 0.73p to 146.48p. But Yahoo News has spoken to one independent garage in Shropshire has found a way to keep its prices significantly lower than some of its larger competitors. 'It's disappointing to see pump prices up yet again in February, with drivers now facing some of the highest costs at forecourts since the end of last summer," said RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams, who said motorists were the "unfortunate casualties of rising wholesale prices through January". However, it's not all bad news, with the RAC saying there is a "good prospect" of fuel prices coming back down this month, while sharing some advice on how to save money when filling up your motor. Here, Yahoo News takes a look at why pump prices have risen so much after last year's sustained fall. The average litre of unleaded petrol hitting 139.65p in February market the highest price point since 6 September last year, when it was 139.81p, according to the RAC's Fuel Watch initiative. As for diesel, which tracked at 146.48p per litre last month, the last time it was that expensive was back in late August, with an average price of 146.55p. Filling a family-sized petrol car now costs £76.81, up almost £3 since the start of October when the price was £73.88 (134.33p a litre). A diesel fill-up today has now surpassed the £80 mark, with the average cost at £80.56 a tank, up more than £4 since early October last year (£76.45 –139p a litre), according to the RAC. The five-month hike comes as retailers face higher wholesale costs, driven by the increasing cost of oil which climbed to $82 a barrel in mid-January. This was primarily due to greater demand in the northern hemisphere caused by the cold snap, along with concerns about possible supply disruptions ahead of Donald Trump's second term in the Oval Office. However, oil prices, and therefore wholesale fuel prices, have now been falling again for several weeks – meaning pump prices should follow, the RAC says. Fuel prices were falling faster than at any other point in 2024 in September, with average prices at UK forecourts sinking to their lowest level in almost three years. Petrol and diesel prices across UK forecourts were nearly 7p per litre cheaper than a month ago, galling to 136.2p and 147.7p, respectively. The price cuts of Summer 2024 were as a result of a lower oil price, caused by lower global demand, and a relatively strong UK pound to US dollar exchange rate – effectively making it cheaper for retailers to buy the fuel in in the first place. In September, the RAC said: "The reason for tumbling pump prices is two-fold – a relatively low oil price of $73 brought about by lower global demand, combined with a relatively strong pound, with the latter being helped by a fall in the UK's rate of inflation. "With fuel traded in US dollars, a stronger pound means UK fuel retailers get more 'bang for their buck' when buying in new stock on the wholesale market." Some parts of the UK are more blessed than others, with drivers in Northern Ireland once again paying the lowest prices for their fuel, the RAC said. At the end of February, the average price of a litre of unleaded there was just 132.9p – nearly 7p less than in the rest of the UK – with diesel at 138.9p, more than 6p less a litre. Prices vary from forecourt to forecourt, with an independent Essar-branded site in Whitchurch, Shropshire selling petrol at just 126.9p a litre and diesel at 135.9p a litre as of 1 March. Drivers able to use these cheaper forecourts could pay just £69.80 for a complete petrol fill-up, which is £7 less than the average UK cost. Supermarkets often offer cheaper deals, and are currently charging drivers on average 2.3p less per litre of unleaded compared to the UK average and 2.6p less per litre of diesel. Some sites are charging substantially less, with the RAC reporting supermarkets close to Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-upon-Tyne selling unleaded for just 127.7p a litre. The myRAC app, which is free to download, has a fuel finder feature which lets drivers look for the cheapest deals near them, allowing them to search over a two, five or 10-mile radius. You can also check out RAC Fuel Watch's webpage, which has information on the average price of petrol and diesel at the big four supermarkets and at motorway services, and graphs showing how average prices have fluctuated since 2000. Read more How Trump's tariffs could cost consumers in the US and UK - even if he spares Britain (Sky News) I won't make Britons cut out meat to meet climate goals, says Starmer (The Independent) UK car club rollout means drivers can hire EV 'by the minute, hour or day' (BirminghamLive)
