Each month, we take a quick look at UK fuel prices and what they mean for drivers. Since our last update in August fuel prices have risen again, making every trip to the pumps that even more expensive for families across the UK.
A £2-a-litre diesel sign is enough to make any driver look twice, and with PetrolPrices reporting that 236 UK forecourts were charging more than £2 a litre on 17 September, families are feeling the pinch.
That is not the UK average, but unfortuantely, the average is not far off.
So, with fuel prices continuing to rise, let’s take a quick look at what’s changed, and how the cost of filling up compares with plugging in.
How much have fuel prices risen?
Petrol and diesel prices have climbed to their highest levels of the year. Since March, average UK pump prices have risen by 29.35p per litre for petrol and 32.32p per litre for diesel. Diesel is now approaching the RAC’s daily average record of 199.09p per litre, set in 2022.
The table below shows how much average UK pump prices have increased.
Petrol and diesel prices have climbed to their highest levels of the year. Since March, average UK pump prices have risen by 29.35p per litre for petrol and 32.32p per litre for diesel. Diesel is now approaching the RAC’s daily average record of 199.09p per litre, set in 2022.
The table below shows how much average UK pump prices have increased.
| Fuel Type | 21.03.2026 | 31.03.2026 | 20.04.2026 | 12.05.2026 | 15.06.2026 | 29.07.2026 | 10.08.2026 | 23.09.2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unleaded | 143.35p | 152.01p | 157.97p | 157.78p | 151.40p | 159.05p | 161.64p | 172.85p (+11.21p) |
| Motorway Unleaded | 161.80p | 167.91p | 181.62p | 180.22p | 178.44p | 194.12p (+15.68p) | ||
| Diesel | 163.73p | 181.20p | 190.94p | 182.77p | 176.77p | 177.59p | 181.92 | 196.89p (+14.97p) |
| Motorway Diesel | 175.03p | 183.05p | 202.80p | 199.73p | 198.94 | 214.35p (+15.41p) | ||
How does charging an EV compare to filling up with fuel?
Cost Comparison – September 2026
Real-world example: How much are Lease Electric customers saving by going electric?
For many of our customers, saving money is one of the biggest reasons for making the switch to an EV.
Replacing an existing petrol or diesel lease with an electric vehicle can give drivers access to a range of potential savings, including government incentives such as the Electric Car Grant, more favourable Benefit-in-Kind rates, lower maintenance costs and, in many cases, significantly lower fuel costs.
But what can those savings look like in the real world? Here are some examples of how much Lease Electric customers are saving by making the switch to electric.
Switching from a Volkswagen Golf to a Volkswagen ID.3
For this fuel cost example, The Department for Transport estimates that a car in England covered 7,100 miles in 2025; around 592 miles a month.
| Volkswagen Golf Hatch Life 1.5 TSI 115PS 6-Speed Manual 5 Door | Petrol| 52.3mpg |
Volkswagen ID.3 150kW Match Pro S 79kWh 5dr Auto [5 Seats] |
|
| Average Monthly Mileage of a UK Driver |
592 |
|
|
Petrol September 2026 - 172.85 p per l avearge |
15.02p per mile x 592 = £88.92 |
|
|
Approximate Charging Bill - Home Charging 80% of monthly mileage (473) Home Charging Tariff 5.5p per kWh |
1.24p per mile x 473 = £5.86 |
|
|
Approximate Charging Bill - Rapid Charging 20% of monthly milage (119) Rapid Charging Average - 83.20p per kWh |
18.78p per mile x 119 = £22.34 |
|
|
Approximate Monthly Fuel Bill |
£88.92 |
£28.20 |
|
Monthly Savings |
£60.72 |
|
|
For drivers who charge solely at home, the potential saving is significant. At 1.24p per mile, driving approximately 592 miles a month would cost around £7.34 in electricity. Over 7,100 miles a year, home charging would cost approximately £88, compared with £905 for petrol using the yearly average price of 149.9p per litre and the same petrol car efficiency as the earlier example. That is an estimated saving of £817 a year in energy costs. |
||
Switching from a Nissan Qashqai (Diesel) to a Volkswagen ID.Buzz
For this fuel cost example, we have based figures on Lease Electric's average customer, who completes 10,000 miles a year, around 833 miles a month.
| Nissan Qashqai Acenta Premium 1.5dCi 115 | Diesel | 53.5mpg |
Volkswagen ID.Buzz 86kWh | 291 Miles |
|
| Monthly Mileage |
833 |
|
|
September Diesel 2026 - 194.12p per l avearge |
16.49p per mile x 833 = £137.36 |
|
|
Approximate Charging Bill - Home Charging 80% of annual milage (667) Home Charging Tariff 5.5p per kWh |
1.63p per mile x 667 = £10.87 |
|
|
Approximate Charging Bill - Rapid Charging 20% of annual milage (166) Rapid Charging Average - 83.20p per kWh |
24.59p per mile x 166 = £40.81 |
|
|
Approximate Monthyl Fuel Bill |
£137.36 |
£51.68 |
|
Monthly Savings |
£85.68 |
|
|
For drivers who charge solely at home, the potential saving is significant. At 1.63p per mile, driving 833 miles in a month would cost around £13.58 in electricity. Using your yearly average diesel price of 169.47p per litre and the same petrol car efficiency as the earlier example, driving 10,000 miles would cost approximately £1,440 in petrol, compared with £163 for home charging. That is an estimated saving of £1,277 a year in energy costs. |
||
Ready to switch to an EV?
Lease Electric - EV Leasing Deals.
The figures have been sourced from RAC Fuel Watch and RAC Charge Watch. All information was correct on date of publication - 23.09.2026, pricing of fuel, public charging and home charging tariffs are subject to change.