Motorists filling up at England's motorway service stations are being hit with a hefty premium, paying an average of 23 pence more per litre for petrol compared to the national average, new data reveals.
The Cost of Convenience on the Motorway
The latest figures show that while the UK-wide average for unleaded petrol stands at 134p per litre, the typical price at a motorway service station forecourt is 157p. The disparity is even starker for diesel drivers. Across the country, diesel averages 142p per litre, but on the motorway network, drivers face a punishing 167p per litre.
This significant price gap means a driver topping up a 55-litre family car with petrol on the motorway could be spending over £12 more than necessary. For diesel vehicles, the extra cost exceeds £13 for a full tank.
RAC Urges Drivers to Shop Around
The RAC is warning that fuel prices can vary dramatically, even over short distances. To help combat these high costs, the motoring organisation is promoting its free fuel price comparison tool.
All registered users of the free myRAC app, whether they are members or not, can use the Fuel Finder feature. This allows drivers to search for the cheapest fuel within a two, five, or ten-mile radius before they need to fill up.
Simon Williams, the RAC's head of policy, commented on the broader fuel price trends. "After prices at the pumps fell by 2p a litre in December, drivers are starting the new year paying 1.5p less than they were a year ago," he said.
However, he expressed disappointment that recent falls in oil prices were not fully reflected at forecourts. "With oil tumbling below $60 a barrel in mid-December and recording its lowest monthly price in six years, it's a shame drivers aren’t seeing even lower prices up and down the UK," Williams stated.
Annual Fuel Price Trends and Future Hopes
Detailed statistics from the RAC's Fuel Watch resource show that petrol decreased by 1.8p last month to 135.37p, while diesel dropped 2.3p to 144.27p. This meant both fuels ended 2025 approximately 1.5p lower than they started the year.
Throughout 2025, petrol averaged 135.69p and diesel 142.96p. This represents a significant decrease of 6.5p and 5.7p respectively compared to the 2024 averages. The year's lowest prices were recorded on 9 June 2025, with petrol at 132.03p and diesel at 138.14p.
Looking ahead, the RAC hopes for more competitive pricing in 2026, partly due to the Government's national fuel finder scheme launching at the start of February. "We hope that 2026 will see more competitive pump prices on the back of the Government’s fuel finder scheme going live and increasing competition," Williams added.
For drivers, the message is clear: planning ahead and using comparison tools can lead to substantial savings, especially when avoiding the premium prices charged at motorway service stations.
