Last week we reported that diesel was 3.7p away from its all-time high. It has now gone. RAC Fuel Watch puts the UK average at 199.18p a litre, just above the 199.09p set on 25 June 2022 in the months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That makes this the most expensive diesel UK drivers have ever paid.
The rise since the US–Iran conflict began has been steep. Diesel averaged 142.38p at the end of February. It has climbed almost 57p since then — close to 40% — and filling a 55-litre family car now costs £109.55, about £31 more than before the conflict. Petrol is up too, at 174.13p, though it remains well below its own 191.53p record from July 2022.
Live on PetrolPrices.co.uk right now
- Average diesel across the stations we track: 199.8p — above the 2022 record
- Forecourts charging £2 or more for diesel: 2,596 (32.5% of stations reporting diesel)
- Average petrol (E10): 174.6p
- Cheapest diesel in the UK: 158.0p, dearest: 238.8p
Updated 30 Sep 2026, 23:39 from the government Fuel Finder feed. Refreshes every 15 minutes.
£2 diesel has gone from nowhere to almost everywhere
A separate analysis of the government's Fuel Finder data by the campaign group New AutoMotive found 2,208 forecourts charging at least £2 a litre for standard diesel. A week earlier the figure was 562. In early July it was zero. That is now more than one in four forecourts.
The same analysis found at least one £2 forecourt in 559 of the UK's 650 parliamentary constituencies, and in 148 constituencies at least half the forecourts had crossed the line. Its own average came out at 199.4p, rising to 199.53p a day later — slightly different from the RAC's figure because the two use different samples, but both above the old record.
| Area | What the analysis found |
|---|---|
| Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles) | Highest average in the UK at 211.9p; 11 of 12 forecourts at £2+ |
| Cities of London and Westminster | All 6 forecourts covered at £2+ |
| Bournemouth West | 5 of 6 forecourts at £2+ |
| Runcorn and Helsby, Swindon North | More than two-thirds of forecourts at £2+ |
| Watford | Cheapest constituency, averaging 191.2p |
The pattern is not just remote and rural areas. Central London and ordinary commuter towns appear alongside the islands, and even the cheapest constituency in the analysis is paying far more than any area was in July. The Fuel Finder scheme that made this analysis possible is explained in our guide to how Fuel Finder works.
What it costs a diesel household
For a family covering 9,200 miles a year in a diesel car, fuel now costs about £1,970 a year — around £340 more than in early July. There were 15.1 million diesel vehicles on UK roads at the end of June, 9.8 million of them cars, so the rise reaches a large share of households directly, and almost everyone else through delivery costs.
| Diesel price | 55-litre tank | Versus end of February |
|---|---|---|
| 142.38p (end of February) | £78.31 | — |
| 199.09p (June 2022 record) | £109.50 | +£31.19 |
| 199.18p (new record) | £109.55 | +£31.24 |
| 211.9p (Western Isles average) | £116.55 | +£38.24 |
Why it reaches everyone, not just diesel drivers
Diesel moves most of the UK's goods. Larger firms tend to pass on higher costs through fuel surcharges, and the RAC and AA both expect the record to feed into prices for deliveries, groceries and trades. The AA has said there is a strong case for extra relief on diesel specifically, arguing that many smaller businesses cannot pass the cost on automatically.
Why diesel is rising faster than petrol
The gap between the two fuels is now about 25p a litre, the widest of the crisis. Disruption in the Middle East hits diesel and jet fuel supplies first, and the UK and Europe rely heavily on imported diesel. We set out the structural reasons in why diesel costs more than petrol.
Will the government step in?
Not yet. The current 5p duty cut runs to 31 December 2026, and the duty rate stays at 52.95p a litre until then. At 199.18p, VAT adds another 33.2p, so tax makes up around 86p of every litre of diesel — see how much fuel is taxed in the UK. Calls for a further cut, including the Liberal Democrats' 10p proposal we looked at in what a 10p fuel duty cut would save you, have so far been met with the line that tax decisions are made at fiscal events.
25 June 2022
Previous diesel record of 199.09p.
End of February 2026
US–Iran conflict begins. Diesel averages 142.38p.
28 September 2026
Diesel sets a new all-time high of 199.18p.
Wednesday 28 October 2026
The Budget. Any change to fuel duty is expected here — background in Budget 28 October: the fuel duty decision.
31 December 2026
The current 5p duty cut is due to end.
Motorway services are the worst place to fill up
Motorway service areas are consistently among the most expensive forecourts in the country, and the gap to a supermarket just off the junction can be large. If you are on a long run, fill up before you set off or plan a stop just off the motorway.
How to keep clear of the £2 pumps
Three in four forecourts are still below £2, and the gap between the cheapest and dearest station in the same area is often far bigger than any change in the national average. We explain why in why petrol prices differ in the same town.
Four quick ways to pay less
- Check before you set off. We cover over 8,000 stations from the government Fuel Finder feed, updated every 15 minutes.
- Use the fuel price map to compare the stations around you side by side — supermarkets are usually the cheapest.
- The forecourt matters far more than the day of the week — see told to fill up before Thursday?
- Drive smoothly and keep tyres at the right pressure. On a £110 tank, a few percent better economy is worth several pounds a fill.
National averages are from RAC Fuel Watch as of 28 September 2026. Forecourt and constituency figures are from New AutoMotive's analysis of government Fuel Finder data. Tank costs are based on a 55-litre tank. Live figures come from the government Fuel Finder feed and refresh every 15 minutes.