UK drivers are facing another sharp rise at the pumps, with fuel prices climbing rapidly in recent weeks amid ongoing global tensions.
As of Wednesday (24 March), the average price of unleaded petrol stood at 148.55p per litre, while diesel reached 173.83p per litre, according to the latest RAC Fuel Watch data.
For a typical family car with a 55-litre tank, that means:
- Filling up with petrol currently costs around £81.70.
- Filling up with diesel costs approximately £95.61.
The increases have been particularly steep since the end of February. Petrol has risen by 15.7p per litre from 132.83p on 28 February, adding roughly £8 to the cost of a full tank. Diesel has surged even more dramatically – up 31.5p per litre, or 22.1%, from 142.38p over the same period.
On 24 March alone, diesel jumped nearly 3p per litre in a single day, while petrol saw its biggest daily increase since early March.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams warned that the pain at the pumps is set to intensify further.
“Diesel looks likely to break the 180p-a-litre mark in the next week or so, and if it goes on to reach 182p the price of a tank for a family car would breach £100,” Williams said. “If petrol climbs to 150p, as seems inevitable, it will take the cost of a fill-up to £82.50.”
The rapid rise comes as diesel has already hit a three-year high in recent days, with analysts linking the pressure to geopolitical developments in the Middle East that have pushed oil prices higher.
For many households, the extra £8–£15 per fill-up compared to just a few weeks ago adds noticeable strain to monthly budgets, especially for families who rely on their car for school runs, commuting, and weekend activities.
While supermarket forecourts often offer slightly lower prices, the national averages show that even budget-conscious drivers are paying significantly more than they were at the start of the year.
Motorists are advised to shop around using fuel price comparison tools and fill up at the cheapest local stations to mitigate the impact.
However, with further rises widely expected in the coming days, the cost of transport looks set to remain a major concern for UK households through the spring.
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