Are Petrol Prices Going Up? (Updated October 2026)

Are Petrol Prices Going Up?

What is driving prices up?

Three things: the cost of crude oil, refining margins, and the exchange rate. The Strait of Hormuz normally carries around a fifth of the world's oil. Shipping through it is still heavily restricted, and in late September the US rejected Iran's latest plan to reopen it. That pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel again. Diesel is under the most pressure because refined diesel is in short supply worldwide, and the UK buys in a large share of the diesel it uses.

Retailer margins are part of the story too. The Competition and Markets Authority said in August that it found no sign of retailers changing their pricing to cash in on the crisis, but it warned that some were slow to pass on falls in wholesale costs. It plans a closer look this autumn.

For drivers who prefer to think in gallons, that puts UK petrol at roughly £7.92 per gallon and diesel at around £9.05 per gallon. Diesel has never been this expensive in cash terms, and petrol is at its highest level since the summer of 2022.

How have fuel prices changed since 2021, and where could they go next?

The chart below shows the official weekly average pump price for petrol and diesel since January 2021, with a projection to December 2026. Prices jumped within days of the Strait of Hormuz closing on 28 February 2026. They eased in June when hopes of a peace deal rose, then climbed again from July. Diesel has pulled much further ahead of petrol this time than it did in 2022.

How much more does a tank of fuel cost now?

The full impact of the oil price spike is showing up at UK forecourts. Here is what a typical 55 litre fill-up costs now compared to the last week of February 2026, just before the conflict began.

Diesel drivers are feeling the squeeze hardest. Using the RAC's daily figures, a full diesel tank now costs almost £110, about £31 more than at the end of February. The RAC's figures run a little ahead of the official weekly data because they are updated every day.

Regional variation means some UK drivers are paying even more. Data from the government's Fuel Finder scheme shows prices at nearby stations can vary by 20p or more per litre, so checking before you fill up can make a real difference.

Is there a fuel shortage in the UK?

No. As of 1 October 2026 there is no national fuel shortage in the UK. Fuel is still being delivered to forecourts as normal and there are no plans for fuel rationing. The government does have emergency rationing plans, but they are only for a severe national supply problem and they have not been used.

What some drivers have seen is the odd empty pump. When prices jump, people tend to fill up at the same time, and that can leave a forecourt short for a few hours until its next delivery. This happened in March 2026 when the conflict began, with queues at some supermarket sites. It looks like a petrol shortage, but it is a demand spike rather than the country running out.

The last real fuel shortage in the UK was in September 2021, when a lack of HGV drivers and panic buying left many forecourts dry for days. The issue then was getting fuel to the pumps, not a lack of fuel. In 2026 the problem is price, not supply. The bigger risk for drivers is a long period of high prices rather than forecourts running empty, and the best thing you can do is fill up as you normally would.

What does the LNG shortage mean for UK energy bills?

It is not just petrol and diesel prices that are affected. The UK imports a lot of its gas as liquefied natural gas (LNG), and a large share of the world's LNG normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. When LNG supply tightens, wholesale gas prices rise. Because gas-fired power stations still set the price of electricity in the UK most of the time, electricity costs go up too.

The Ofgem energy price cap rose by 4% on 1 October 2026, taking a typical dual fuel bill from £1,663 to £1,723 a year. The rise would have been bigger, but there is no VAT on household electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, which takes some of the sting out.

The cap is set using wholesale prices from the previous few months, so it always lags behind the market. The next cap, covering January to March 2027, will reflect wholesale prices over the autumn. If oil and gas stay high, that could mean another rise in the new year.

Will higher energy prices affect electric vehicle owners?

Yes, though EV drivers are still in a much better position than petrol or diesel drivers, even with energy prices rising.

From 1 October 2026, the average electricity unit rate under the Ofgem price cap is 26.32p per kWh. For an EV with a 60 kWh battery, a full home charge at that rate costs about £15.79, enough for 200 to 250 miles of real-world range. Home charging an EV costs well under half as much per mile as filling up with petrol at today's prices.

Drivers on dedicated off-peak EV tariffs, available from suppliers including Octopus Energy, can charge overnight for as little as 7 to 8p per kWh, cutting costs further still.

Public rapid charging is the exception. At around 76p per kWh, it already costs more per mile than a petrol car, and if wholesale electricity prices keep rising, that gap could widen. EV drivers who rely heavily on rapid chargers rather than home charging will feel the LNG price squeeze more.

What else gets more expensive when oil and gas prices rise?

Fuel and energy are the most obvious costs, but the wider impact on motoring is broader. Here is a quick look at what else is affected.

For a full breakdown of what is driving insurance costs right now, read our guide on how much car insurance costs in 2026.

How can UK drivers save money right now?

Shop around for fuel. Since February 2026, all UK fuel retailers must report their prices within 30 minutes under the Fuel Finder scheme. Prices can vary by 20p or more per litre between nearby stations, so checking before you fill up can add up to real savings over a year.

Supermarket forecourts are often among the cheapest, but prices still vary from site to site. You can check today's prices at your nearest supermarket stations:

• Tesco petrol and diesel prices
• Asda petrol and diesel prices
• Morrisons petrol and diesel prices
• Sainsbury's petrol and diesel prices

Drive fewer miles where you can. Lower mileage means less fuel spend and could mean a lower insurance quote too. Our guide on average UK mileage explains how annual mileage affects your costs.

If you drive an EV, switch to a dedicated off-peak tariff. Charging overnight at 7 to 8p per kWh rather than the standard 26.32p rate can cut your annual home charging costs by several hundred pounds, especially if you cover a lot of miles.

Compare your car insurance. Even when costs are rising across the board, different insurers price the same driver very differently. A few minutes comparing quotes could save you money, and it is one of the simplest ways to cut your overall motoring bill.

If fuel costs have you rethinking the car itself, it is worth knowing what it is worth before you decide anything. You can get a free valuation if you are thinking about selling a diesel car or selling a petrol car, with no obligation to sell.

Will petrol prices ever come back down?

Nobody can say for certain. UK pump prices depend on global oil markets, the conflict in the Middle East, and government tax policy, and none of these can be predicted with confidence. Right now the pressure is upwards. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is still heavily restricted, Brent crude is above $100 a barrel, and the 5p fuel duty cut is due to end in January, with phased rises (3p from 1 January 2027, 2p from 1 March 2027) taking duty back to 57.95p.

There are reasons for cautious optimism, though. When hopes of a peace deal rose in June, diesel fell by around 17p a litre in a single month, the biggest monthly drop the RAC has recorded. That shows how quickly prices can fall when oil supply improves. If a lasting deal is reached, drivers could see a meaningful drop, although history suggests pump prices fall more slowly than they rise.

The bottom line

UK fuel prices are going up, not down, as of October 2026. Diesel is at a record high and petrol is at its highest since 2022. There is no fuel shortage, so there is no need to panic buy, but high prices are likely to stay while the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted. Fuel duty is also due to rise in January unless the Budget changes that.

You can't control oil prices, but you can control where you fill up, how much you drive and what you pay for insurance. Checking prices before you set off is the quickest win, and small steps can add up to real savings over the year.

Fuel prices FAQs

Are petrol prices going up in October 2026?

Yes. The RAC put average petrol at 174.13p a litre and diesel at a record 199.18p on 28 September 2026, and both were still rising. The RAC has warned that diesel is likely to go higher.

Is there a fuel shortage in the UK?

No. There is no national fuel shortage and no fuel rationing in place. Some forecourts run short for a few hours when lots of people fill up at once, but deliveries are continuing as normal. The problem in 2026 is high prices, not a lack of fuel.

Why is diesel so much more expensive than petrol?

Refined diesel is in short supply worldwide, and the UK imports a large share of the diesel it uses. That has pushed diesel prices up faster than petrol. In the week of 21 September 2026, diesel was 23.5p a litre more than petrol in the official figures.

Will fuel duty go up in 2027?

Under current plans, fuel duty rises by 3p a litre on 1 January 2027 and by a further 2p on 1 March 2027, taking it from 52.95p to 57.95p. With VAT, that adds about 6p a litre at the pump. The final rates will be confirmed at the Budget on 28 October 2026.

How can I find the cheapest petrol near me?

Use a fuel price comparison tool. All UK forecourts now report their prices under the government's Fuel Finder scheme, and prices at nearby stations can vary by 20p or more per litre. Supermarket forecourts are often among the cheapest.