Almost half of all motorists have been forced to change their driving habits because of the rising price of petrol and diesel, with experts suggesting that the Ulez expansion and car tax also playing a role.
A staggering 69 per cent of drivers said they were now shopping around for the cheapest price per litre of fuel.
There has been a rise in the number of drivers travelling further distances to get the cheapest price for petrol and diesel, even if there are filling stations closer to them.
Experts are warning that the global price of oil could force fuel costs up
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Around 44 per cent of road users said they had changed their driving habits to ensure they pay less for fuel.
This could be down to driving to a cheaper petrol station or changing the way they drive to preserve their fuel for longer.
In August, drivers were paying £88.74 to fill a 60-litre tank, with it now costing £94.21.
Diesel drivers will be even more upset forking out £97.46 for a tank, although some van drivers will be paying far more than £100.
Sally Foote, UK Managing Director at carwow, highlighted how motorists were making serious efforts to reduce their bills as prices continue to jump.
She said: “Petrol prices have been slowly creeping up again this year, but over the last few weeks we have seen some of the sharpest rises in some time, with the cost of unleaded increasing by over 6p a litre in August.
“This may not sound like a huge amount, but it all adds up, and is no doubt why we are seeing people change their driving habits and shop around for the best prices as they look to try and mitigate the impact of rising petrol prices on their household budgets.”
The RAC forecasts that the price of petrol could fall, although diesel costs are expected to continue rising.
One of the easiest changes drivers could make to their habits to save money would be to visit supermarket filling stations, which are around 3p per litre cheaper than the UK average.
Similarly, drivers should avoid filling up on the motorway as both petrol and diesel prices are more than 21p more expensive than the UK average and almost 25p more than the average supermarket.
There are fears that global prices could increase dramatically with oil prices nearing $100 (£82.38) a barrel, which was seen last year, resulting in record-breaking prices at the forecourts.
Sally Foote continued saying that drivers would need to prepare for the overall cost of motoring to increase further, in addition to the rising fuel costs.
She said: “If you add on to this the new charges associated with clean air zones like the expanded Ulez area, as well as increased car tax since April 2023 and car insurance premiums rising - motorists up and down the UK are feeling the pinch when it comes to keeping their cars on the road.
“The cost of driving seems only to be rising, but it still pays to compare prices when it comes to all associated motoring costs - including of course if you’re buying a new car or selling your old car.”
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Record fuel prices were seen last June and July
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Drivers are also urged to use fuel price checker apps or services, with the RAC estimating that drivers could save as much as 6p per litre with a simple search of their area.