Petrol and diesel drivers face most expensive fuel prices in 18 months as costs 'rise sharply'

Motorists travelling to the pumps are now paying an average of 137.17p per litre for unleaded and 146.57p for diesel. This is the highest diesel price since last August.

On average, the cost of petrol jumped by 2.17p in November, while diesel motorists were forced to pay an extra 3.84p over the last month.

Even supermarket forecourts, which tend to be cheaper than smaller, independent retailers, have put prices up to 134.48p and 143.08p for petrol and diesel respectively.

Families heading to the petrol station in December can now expect to pay more than £75, while diesel refills will set drivers back more than £80.

This is despite Chancellor Rachel Reeves extending the 5p per litre freeze on the rate of fuel duty until September 2026, much to the surprise of motorists.

The 5p cut was first introduced after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has been extended every year since. The standard rate of fuel duty has remained frozen for the last 14 years.

The Chancellor also cancelled the planned rise in fuel duty in line with inflation for 2026-2027, with rates returning to March 2022 levels by March 2027.

Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, said: "Drivers will be disappointed to see prices at the pumps rise so sharply in the run-up to the festive period.

"Not only is it one of the most expensive times of the year, it's also a time when many of us drive hundreds of miles to celebrate with family and friends over the extended break, making it a costly Christmas on the roads."

The RAC has forecast that in the lead-up to Christmas last year, petrol was about 0.5p cheaper, while diesel was a significant 4p cheaper per litre.

Motorists in Northern Ireland continue to pay less for their fuel, with average prices at 129.6p for petrol and 137.7p for diesel.

These drivers benefit from the Consumer Council's Fuel Price Checker, which allows people to see the cheapest and most expensive fuel in all towns and cities across the country.

At present, drivers in Dungannon, in the centre of the country, are seeing massive savings, with petrol stations charging just 124.9p for petrol and 130.9p for diesel.

Mr Williams continued, saying: "But it's not all gloom, as filling up in the right place could save drivers a lot of money.

"The best way to locate the cheapest possible petrol or diesel is to download the myRAC app and use the fuel finder feature to locate the lowest prices near you.

"Every penny really does count, as each 1p less per litre saves around 55p a tank for an average family-size car."

Motorists across the UK could soon benefit from lower prices in a scheme similar to Northern Ireland's Fuel Price Checker as the Chancellor confirmed the incoming Fuel Finder tool in the recent Budget.

Forecasts from the Government estimate that Fuel Finder is expected to save families around £89 next year, compared to previous plans.