Some UK forecourts changing fuel prices up to eight times a day

A small number of UK petrol stations are moving their pump prices repeatedly throughout the day, with official UK government fuel price data showing one forecourt in East Yorkshire changing its unleaded price eight times in a 72-hour window ending 11 July.

Most UK forecourts set a single price each morning and leave it unchanged, but the government data covering the 72 hours to 11 July at 9 pm identified six stations that recorded three or more separate price changes to their unleaded fuel. A BP station in Cottingham (HU16 4HP) led the group with eight changes, with its price moving between 154.9p and 159.9p per litre across that period. Three BP stations connected to the Hull area each recorded seven changes, with prices ranging as widely as 156.9p to 164.9p per litre depending on the site.

For ordinary drivers, this pattern means the price displayed on the forecourt sign when you pass in the morning may not be the price on the pump when you pull in at lunchtime or on the way home. A swing of several pence per litre can add a pound or more to a typical family car fill, so the timing of when you stop to refuel at one of these sites can genuinely affect what you pay. Drivers who plan ahead and check live pump prices before setting off are better placed to catch a lower price window.

Anyone buying or running a car who wants to keep a closer eye on overall motoring costs, not just fuel, can find independent guidance at Car.co.uk, which covers running costs, insurance and everything else that goes into the real price of keeping a vehicle on the road. Staying informed about all those costs together tends to make a bigger difference to household budgets than focusing on fuel alone.