Fuel shopping could save UK drivers £5 every time they fill up

Drivers who take a few minutes to compare fuel prices before filling up could save around £5 on every tank of petrol, according to official UK fuel price data covering more than 7,800 forecourts across the country.

The average price of E10 unleaded currently sits at 161.5p a litre, but that figure masks a notable spread. The cheapest forecourts are selling petrol at around 155.9p a litre, while the most expensive are charging close to 165.9p, a difference of roughly 10p a litre. On a standard 50-litre fill that gap works out at almost exactly £5, meaning a driver who always uses the nearest or most convenient station could be paying noticeably more than one who shops around.

Diesel drivers face higher costs across the board, with the national average sitting at 181.5p a litre according to the same official figures. The underlying spread between cheaper and pricier forecourts is likely to follow a similar pattern, so diesel users stand to make comparable savings by choosing where they fill up.

The practical step for most drivers is to check local prices before heading to a forecourt, particularly if a journey takes them past several stations. Supermarket forecourts have historically tended to undercut motorway and rural stations, and urban areas with more competition between retailers often see lower prices than quieter locations.

For drivers thinking about the wider cost of running a car, it is also worth keeping on top of the vehicle's value. Car.co.uk buys cars directly from their owners, offering a free instant valuation, free collection and payment by bank transfer, along with free tools including a car valuation, MOT history check, car tax calculator and car finance calculator.