How much are rising fuel costs really costing UK drivers?

UK drivers are fully aware of the rising petrol costs following recent global events. But have you stopped and considered just how much more you are paying per tank at the moment?

With RAC Fuel Watch stating petrol currently (3 June, 2026) sits at a UK-wide average of 159p a litre/179.26p at motorway service stations and diesel at 184p/200.19p at service stations, the prices can soon add up.

• In fact, Tempcover research* reveals that UK drivers are spending an average of £18.20 more to fill up their tanks with petrol following the price rises that began in March, 2026.
• Diesel drivers are also feeling the pinch, with their average tank increasing by £23.10.

How worried are drivers about the cost of fuel?

We surveyed 2,000 petrol and diesel drivers and asked how their prices compared before the increases in March, 2026.

• According to our survey, 88% of drivers are worried about continued rises.

This correlates with the rising cost of living and many drivers feeling like they are being left out of pocket - not just when it comes to their car.

Drivers have also cut back in other areas including household spending (49%), takeaways and eating out (28%), clothing (23%), social activities (21%) and holidays (16%). 12% of those polled even admit to cutting back on their food shops…

Are drivers actually driving less?

Our findings suggest that drivers are changing their behaviour to spend less time behind the wheel, with 44% saying they’re driving less overall.

• 62% are cutting non-essential driving trips
• 39% are walking or cycling more
• 26% are using public transport

Other ways you can save money while driving include:

• Planning your route - Take some time before heading off to examine what is the most efficient route. Avoid roads that could leave you stuck in traffic. Remember that a cold start uses more fuel than a warmed-up engine. Route planners like Google Maps can give you real-time information on traffic hotspots.
• Combining trips - Heading to two or three places over the next few days or weeks that are close to one another? Hit them all in one go to save on fuel.
• Reducing long-distance journeys - Is there a closer alternative to your next long road trip? Or can you save money by meeting at a more central point? Not driving as far can leave you with more money.

How can you save money on petrol?

In addition to the tips featured in our How to save money on petrol guide, there are a number of ways you can help make your car more fuel efficient.

• Monitor your usage - How far are you planning to drive? Is it within walking distance or are there alternative routes (e.g. public transport)
• Delay refuelling - Take your time before filling your car up again, but don’t drive on fumes and cause damage to your vehicle.
• Shop around for cheaper petrol - The government brought in a fuel finder this year to ensure drivers know exactly how much they will be paying when they fill up. It’s updated every 30 minutes and you’ll find various apps with this information. It costs nothing to check before filling up.
• Check your tyre pressure - Under-inflated tyres can also lead to your engine working harder and burning more fuel. You can top up the air in your tyres at most petrol stations.
• Travel light - Reduce your vehicle load by packing light. An overloaded car can put strain on both fuel consumption and the vehicle itself. Ditch the unnecessary items, including a roof box or bike rack if not needed on this journey, if you want to save on petrol usage.
• Share the drive - You could split petrol costs if you take turns driving on a long journey. This is easy with temporary car insurance - where you can cover another driver from 1 hour to 28 days - but be careful not to overcharge or profit from more than fuel costs. This could lead to a fixed penalty and points on your licence.

Are rising petrol prices contributing to electric vehicle sales?

24% of drivers said they’re likely to switch to an electric vehicle if petrol prices remain this high, with 28% considering moving to a hybrid vehicle. This complements the recent news that the 2 millionth EV has been sold in the UK.

However, the average new EV still tends to cost more than its petrol equivalent - even with the EV grants that are now available - and some EV drivers still struggle to charge their cars at convenient times. This means switching over to a greener vehicle might be put on hold for many.

Meanwhile, only 9% said they would consider giving up their car entirely. Despite the rising prices, this indicates that people are willing to keep their vehicles and take actions to save money - and this could include sharing journeys with temporary car insurance.

Sources

https://www.independent.co.uk/cars/electric-vehicles/two-million-electric-cars-on-uk-roads-b2970642.html

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/fuel-watch/

Methodology

This online survey of 2,000 UK petrol and diesel drivers was commissioned by RVU on behalf of Tempcover and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society's code of conduct.

Data was collected between 5th May and 12th May 2026. All participants are double-opted in to take part in research and are paid an amount depending on the length and complexity of the survey.

This survey was overseen and edited by the OnePoll research team. OnePoll are MRS Company Partners, corporate membership of ESOMAR and Members of the British Polling Council. Unless otherwise specified, all insights are drawn directly from this survey’s results.

[1]Respondents could select more than one answer option

[2]https://www.smmt.co.uk/two-millionth-electric-car-registered-as-market-rebounds-strongly-from-tax-changes/