Diesel passed 200p a litre in October: a tank now costs £30.78 more than a year ago
The government's weekly figures put diesel at 200.04p a litre on 12 October, above the July 2022 high. On 2 November it was 198.58p, and petrol 172.78p. Here's what a tank costs, why, and how to find cheaper fuel near you.
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Diesel averaged 200.04p a litre across the UK in the week of 12 October 2026, according to the government's weekly road fuel prices. That's above the previous high in these figures, 199.22p in July 2022. By 2 November, the latest week published when we checked on 8 November, it had eased only slightly, to 198.58p. Petrol was 172.78p. A year earlier, on 3 November 2025, diesel was 142.61p and petrol 134.38p.
What's happened
Prices were calm until early March. In the week of 2 March 2026, petrol averaged 132.14p and diesel 142.15p. Then they jumped. By 6 April, diesel was 186.75p and petrol 154.65p. The RAC tracks pump prices against the conflict in the Middle East that began on 28 February 2026.
After a dip in early summer, prices climbed again from late July and peaked in mid-October. In its November minutes, the Bank of England said Brent crude was 38% higher than at the time of its July report. It raised Bank Rate to 4% on 5 November, partly because of energy costs.
Taxes haven't moved over the past year. Fuel duty is 52.95p a litre in the government's figures, with 20% VAT on top.
What a tank costs
For a 55-litre tank at the UK average price:
| Fuel | 3 Nov 2025 | 2 Nov 2026 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 134.38p = £73.91 | 172.78p = £95.03 | £21.12 more |
| Diesel | 142.61p = £78.44 | 198.58p = £109.22 | £30.78 more |
Fill a diesel car once a fortnight and that's about £800 more over a year than at last November's prices (26 fills × £30.78 = £800.28).
Who's affected
Diesel drivers most, along with anyone who pays for deliveries and trades that run vans. The gap between diesel and petrol was 25.8p a litre on 2 November, against 8.23p a year earlier.
What to do now
- Use Fuel Finder data. Under the government's Fuel Finder scheme, retailers must register and send price updates within 30 minutes of any change. The data feeds apps and websites, and the Competition and Markets Authority enforces it.
- Check your tyres. Under-inflated tyres waste fuel. Kwik Fit and Halfords both offer free tyre checks.
- Lighten the load. Take off empty roof boxes and bike racks, and clear out the boot.
- Drive smoothly. Gentle acceleration and a steady speed use less fuel than braking hard and speeding up again.
Questions
Is 200p a record? In the government's weekly figures, 200.04p on 12 October 2026 is above the 199.22p of 4 July 2022. Petrol's July 2022 peak of 191.55p is still higher than today.
Will prices fall? In the figures we checked on 8 November, diesel had dipped for three weeks in a row, from 200.04p to 198.58p. Newer weekly figures may be out by the time you read this. Pump prices follow wholesale costs, which depend on crude oil, the pound against the dollar and retailers' margins, so there's no telling how fast.
Where do the figures come from? The government publishes average UK pump prices every week. Recent figures have come out on a Tuesday, for the week starting the Monday before.
Ways to save
At Kwik Fit, free checks include tyres, batteries, brakes and air con. Its tyre codes on 8 November included MINOV for 10% off two Michelin tyres, BRNOV for 10% off two or more Bridgestone tyres, and CONOV for 10% off two or 15% off four Continental tyres. Fitting, balancing, valve and disposal charges of £20.50 per tyre are extra. Halfords offers a free 5 point car check and free tyre and battery health checks. We've also covered what's next for the energy price cap.
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Sources: GOV.UK, weekly road fuel prices, 3 Nov 2026, GOV.UK, weekly fuel prices data 2018 to 2026, 3 Nov 2026, GOV.UK, road fuel price data, 8 Nov 2026, RAC Fuel Watch, 8 Nov 2026, Bank of England, Monetary Policy Summary and minutes, 5 Nov 2026, Kwik Fit, 8 Nov 2026, Halfords, 8 Nov 2026
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