Petrol vs Diesel Prices in the UK

Diesel has been consistently more expensive than petrol (E10) since mid-2022. The typical gap is 5–10p per litre, though it has been as high as 20p during the 2022 energy crisis.

This is a reversal from the historical norm. For most of the 2000s and 2010s, diesel was priced similarly to or slightly below petrol. The shift was driven by:

• Reduced global refinery capacity for diesel
• Increased diesel demand for heating, shipping, and freight
• EU sanctions on Russian diesel imports (the UK imported significant volumes)

Check current national price trends →

Despite costing more per litre, diesel cars are typically 15–20% more fuel-efficient than equivalent petrol models. This means:

However, diesel cars often cost more to buy and maintain (DPF servicing, AdBlue), and depreciate faster as the market shifts toward electrification. The total cost of ownership depends heavily on your mileage.

Diesel makes more sense if:

• You drive 15,000+ miles per year
• Most of your driving is motorway (diesel efficiency is best at steady speeds)
• You tow a caravan, trailer, or heavy loads regularly

Petrol makes more sense if:

• You drive under 10,000 miles per year
• Most of your driving is short urban trips
• You want lower purchase price and simpler maintenance
• You're planning to keep the car less than 5 years (better resale value)

PumpCheck tracks three diesel types:

• Diesel B7 — Standard diesel, up to 7% biodiesel (FAME). Most common at UK pumps.
• Premium Diesel — Higher-cetane diesel with cleaning additives. Typically 8–15p more per litre. Benefits are marginal for most cars.
• Diesel B10 — Up to 10% biodiesel. Less common but growing. Check compatibility with your vehicle.

There's also HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), a synthetic diesel alternative that reduces emissions by up to 90%. It's compatible with most diesel engines but currently available at very few UK stations.

Both petrol and diesel prices vary significantly by region. Rural and remote areas tend to be more expensive due to higher delivery costs, while urban areas with more competition are often cheaper.

Northern Ireland, Scotland (rural), and parts of Wales often see higher prices. Urban centres in England (especially around supermarket clusters) tend to have the lowest.

Browse fuel prices by location: view all UK cities and towns →