Motorists face a "costly Christmas" according to the RAC, following fresh figures revealing petrol and diesel prices have surged at their sharpest rate since April 2024. The statistics emerged from RAC Fuel Watch.
The data showed petrol forecourt costs climbed by 2.17p throughout November, pushing the average litre price to 137.17p – the steepest level witnessed since mid-March 2025. Diesel jumped by 3.84p during the same period, with the average litre now costing 146.57p, "a figure that drivers haven't seen since late August 2024", according to the RAC.
The motoring organisation noted this marked the most dramatic monthly fuel price increase since April 2024. Supermarket forecourts also saw rises, with unleaded climbing 2.46p to 134.48p and diesel increasing 3.6p to 143.08p, though these remained considerably below national averages.
The RAC calculated that filling up a typical family petrol vehicle now costs £75.44 - a £1.19 increase from October's £74.25 - whilst supermarket customers pay £73.69. Those requiring a complete diesel tank face an average bill of £80.61, representing a £2.11 rise since the month began, or £78.69 at supermarket pumps.
Motorists in Northern Ireland enjoy lower costs than their counterparts across the rest of the UK, with unleaded averaging 129.6p per litre and diesel at 137.7p. With festive season expenses looming, the RAC warned the forecourt price hikes would prove unwelcome news for drivers.
Year-on-year comparisons show petrol approximately 0.5p per litre higher, whilst diesel has become more than 4p costlier. The recent hikes come on the heels of last week's Budget announcement that fuel duty will start to climb from 52.95p next September, putting an end to the current 5p fuel duty discount introduced in spring 2022. This will result in higher taxes for drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles.
Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said: "Drivers will be disappointed to see prices at the pumps rise so sharply in the run-up to festive period. Not only is it one of the most expensive times of the year, it's also a time when many of us drive hundreds of miles to celebrate with family and friends over the extended break, making it a costly Christmas on the roads.
"But it's not all gloom, as filling up in the right place could save drivers a lot of money. The best way to locate the cheapest possible petrol or diesel is to download the myRAC app and use the fuel finder feature to locate the lowest prices near you. Every penny really does count, as each 1p less per litre saves around 55p a tank for an average family-size car."
A spokesperson for Petrolprices.com, which has also analysed recent trends, said: "Unleaded and diesel prices continued to climb throughout November, with the average cost of a tank of diesel now around £2.80 higher than it was at the start of the month. Across November, diesel rose by 4.7ppl, while unleaded increased by nearly 3ppl. This happened despite crude oil becoming slightly cheaper. Brent closed the month at $63/bbl, down from $64.30/bbl on November 1.
"Drone attacks targeting Russia's refining infrastructure sent global refining margins sharply higher, while attacks near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk disrupted crude loadings. Reducing refining capacity reduces both the demand for crude oil and the supply of refined products.
"According to data from Portland Pricing, wholesale diesel rose by $70/tonne by mid-November, with unleaded up $40/tonne. These higher wholesale costs squeezed retailers' margins and ultimately forced pump prices higher.
"There is some good news for motorists. Pricing pressures have started to ease, at least for now. On November 30, the number of stations reducing prices on both unleaded and diesel outnumbered those increasing them. This is the first time this has happened in more than three weeks.
"If this trend continues, we should see the pace of price rises slow, with the possibility of actual price reductions in the coming weeks. Retail margins are currently above the six-month average, suggesting there is room for pump prices to soften if wholesale costs continue to stabilise. This will be a welcome relief after a month of steady increases."
