UK Fuel Prices: Diesel Hits £2 | Fuel News 6 Oct 2026

Fuel News round-up: 6 October 2026

It finally happened. UK fuel prices hit a new milestone last Thursday when the average litre of diesel went over £2 for the first time ever, and if you've filled up a diesel car since then you'll have felt it. Petrol isn't far behind in the pain stakes either.

Here's what happened at the pumps this week, what's going on with oil, and what it means if you're planning a drive over the October half-term.

Diesel breaks the £2 barrier

According to the RAC, the average price of diesel hit 200.01p a litre on 2 October 2026, a new record. Simon Williams, the RAC's head of policy, called it "a pump price threshold that no-one wanted to cross".

Put in real terms, filling a 55-litre family car with diesel now costs about £110. That's roughly £31.70 more than it cost at the end of February, before the war with Iran sent oil markets into a spin.

Petrol was averaging 174.71p a litre on the same day, so a 55-litre tank costs around £96, up about £23 since February.

UK fuel prices this week

The latest weekly figures from Fuel Finder (week ending 4 October) show prices still creeping up:

Unleaded petrol (E10) : 174.5p - +0.7p
Diesel (B7) : 199.7p - +0.8p
Super unleaded (E5) : 191.6p - +1.5p
Premium diesel : 217.1p - +1.3p

Where the cheapest petrol is

Supermarkets are still your best bet for petrol, though the gap is narrower than usual, at around 1.4p a litre. Average petrol prices by retailer last week were:

Costco: 166.9p
Tesco: 173.3p
Sainsbury's: 173.8p
Esso: 175.5p
Shell: 176.6p
BP: 176.9p

The real sting is on the motorway. Motorway services were charging an average of 21.3p a litre more than other forecourts. On a 55-litre fill, that's close to £12 you could keep by pulling off at the next junction instead.

What's happening with oil prices?

Brent crude was trading at around $98 a barrel this morning, down nearly 2% on the day after finishing last week just above $102. That's a bit of relief, but it's still far higher than the low-$70s we saw at the start of July.

The big issue remains the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping through it is still well below where it was before the conflict began in February, and the cost of chartering a supertanker out of the Gulf has gone through the roof. There are some signs of movement: Iraq sent 2 million barrels through the strait on its own tankers over the weekend, its first shipment like that in decades.

Diesel has been hit harder than petrol because Europe, and the UK in particular, relies heavily on imported diesel, and global supplies are tight. The RAC has warned that diesel is likely to keep rising while shipping stays disrupted.

Analysts at BMI (part of Fitch Solutions) have raised their forecasts and now expect Brent to average about $107 in the final quarter of this year and $112 in early 2027. If that's right, there's not much chance of a big drop at the pumps before Christmas.

Fuel duty: what's coming in 2027

Fuel duty is frozen at 52.95p a litre until the end of 2026. Back in May, the government postponed the planned rises because of the jump in prices caused by the Iran war.

The current plan is for the 5p cut to come back in two stages:

1 January 2027: up 3p to 55.95p a litre
1 March 2027: up 2p to 57.95p a litre

Once VAT is added, that works out at roughly 6p a litre more at the pump by March. On a 55-litre tank, that's an extra £3.30 or so. Given where prices already are, expect plenty of pressure on the Chancellor to think again.

Is there a fuel shortage?

No. There's no national fuel shortage, and deliveries to forecourts are carrying on as normal. Prices are high, but the fuel is there, so there's no need to panic-buy or top up more than you normally would.

Driving this half-term? How to save on fuel

If you've got a road trip planned for the October half-term, a few small things add up:

Fill up before you hit the motorway. Avoiding services alone could save you around £12 a tank.
Check prices before you leave. A fuel price app or comparison site will show you the cheapest forecourts on your route.
Head for a supermarket or Costco if there's one nearby (you'll need a Costco membership for that one).
Ease off the speed. Driving at 70mph instead of 80mph uses noticeably less fuel.
Check your tyre pressures and clear out the boot. Under-inflated tyres and extra weight both cost you miles per gallon.
Stick to regular unleaded or diesel unless your car's handbook says otherwise. Premium fuel is currently around 17p a litre dearer for both.

Quick answers

What is the average price of diesel in the UK today?
About £2 a litre. The RAC recorded 200.01p on 2 October 2026, the highest ever.

What is the average price of petrol in the UK?
Around 174 to 175p a litre for regular unleaded.

Will fuel prices go down soon?
Probably not by much. Oil has eased slightly this week, but forecasts point to higher prices through the winter, and fuel duty is due to go up in January.

When does fuel duty go up?
By 3p a litre on 1 January 2027 and a further 2p on 1 March 2027.

How can I calculate the cost of my fuel?
Through our free online calculator

---

We'll be back with the next fuel news round-up soon. Prices quoted are UK averages and will vary by area and forecourt.