Petrol and diesel drivers warned as Britons should 'avoid filling up' during certain time of day

At present, the RAC does not forecast any changes to the price of fuel in the near future.

Drivers are consistently told to avoid filling up at motorway service areas if they can avoid it, as they risk paying between 20p and 25p more per litre of fuel.

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Data shows that motorists who need to fill up at a service station will pay almost £1.58 for petrol and as much as £1.66 for a litre of diesel.

Road users are being warned that a commonly held belief when visiting the filling station is actually false.

Gordon Wallis, from Your NRG, explained that many motorists believe that filling up a car later in the evening when temperatures are cooler can save money because the fuel is denser.

However, he outlines that while small changes in fuel volume can be seen because of the temperature, the difference is "very small".

As a result of this, drivers would typically only save a few pence every time they fill up, although this could add up over time if it becomes a common habit.

Wallis added: "It's a good idea to fill up your gas tank during late evenings or early mornings because fewer people buy fuel, so the prices are lower.

"Drivers should try to avoid filling up during midday or after 5pm when most people are done with work, as queues can quickly form."

With the ongoing cost of living crisis, drivers could find themselves doing more to ensure they are not wasting money unnecessarily, especially at the pumps.

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Some motorists choose to avoid filling up their tank completely, as it may be easier for them to fill up less of their tank at more regular intervals.

The expert highlighted how filling the car's tank completely does add weight, but it's generally less than five per cent of the car's total weight.

He said: "So the difference in fuel efficiency between a full and half-full tank is likely to be minimal and you might not see much change at the gas station."

Drivers will be hoping the Government moves forward with the Fuel Finder scheme before the end of the year.

This will require major retailers and supermarkets to publish their latest fuel prices on a centralised database, accessible to drivers.

Forecasts from the Government suggest that motorists could save between one and six pence per litre when filling up.

The Fuel Finder tool is expected to launch within the coming months and comes after extensive campaigning from motorists and industry experts.