Fuel shopping: drivers can save £5 a tank by choosing wisely
By Anthony Sharkey, Chief Operating Officer, New Reg Limited
Choosing a cheaper forecourt over a dearer one can save a typical driver around £5 every time they fill up, according to official UK fuel price data.
Drivers who take a few minutes to check fuel prices before pulling onto a forecourt could save roughly £5 on every fill-up, based on official UK fuel price data covering 7,821 forecourts across the country.
The data shows that E10 unleaded averages 161.3p a litre nationally, but there is a meaningful gap between the cheaper and the more expensive end of the market. The lowest-priced forecourts are selling petrol at around 155.9p a litre, while the most expensive are charging close to 165.9p a litre. That 10p-a-litre spread translates to roughly £5 on a standard 50-litre tank, a difference that adds up quickly for anyone who fills up once a week or more. Diesel sits higher overall, averaging 181.9p a litre nationally.
For most households, fuel is already one of the bigger running costs of owning a car, so the saving is worth pursuing without much effort. Prices vary by region and even between forecourts in the same town, so a short detour to a cheaper station can pay for itself immediately. Official UK fuel price data makes it possible to compare forecourts in any area before setting off.