Petrol and diesel car owners have been told to top up their vehicles with fuel before Wednesday, with costs likely to rise towards the end of the week. Experts at Carowl have suggested that Wednesday could be the last chance to fill up at a lower rate, as prices tend to increase closer to the weekend.
Specialists at Carowl said that prices are “often lower” on Wednesday as part of a “mid-week dip”. However, they warned that demand tends to build on Thursday before “rising” prices start to hit the pumps on Friday. It means cash-strapped motorists desperate to save will need to take advantage of lower prices on Wednesday before any increases.
Record diesel prices
The latest warning comes as petrol and diesel costs continue to soar due to ongoing disruption in the Middle East. Conflict in the region has continued to put a strain on wholesale oil costs, which is having a knock-on effect at fuel pumps. Diesel prices have now exceeded the all-time record in a major blow for road users.
Average diesel costs now sit at 199.11p per litre, breaking the previous record of 199.09p which was set back in July 2022. Experts at Carowl have specifically warned that road users should “fill up by Wednesday at the latest”.
Fuel price checker
AA’s Luke Bosdet said: “Every 6p increase in the pump price of fuel includes an extra penny in VAT for the Treasury. Petrol currently averages around 172p a litre, with diesel above 196p. This time last year they averaged 135p and 142p respectively.”
Motorists keen to find the absolute cheapest prices can take advantage of the Government’s Fuel Finder checker. Under the new rule, fuel stations are legally required to report their petrol and diesel prices within 30 minutes of any update. This data is then sent to third-party services such as the AA, RAC and PetrolPrices, with road users able to find the lowest costs nearby.
Labour has previously suggested the scheme could help motorists save up to £40 per year at the pumps. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has previously revealed that as many as 97% of petrol stations are now reporting fuel data.
