Find out exactly how much you spend on petrol or diesel each year — and how much you could save by switching to the cheapest local station.
Find the cheapest fuel near you right now — updated every hour
🗺️ Find Cheap Fuel Near MeThe average UK driver covers around 7,400 miles per year according to Department for Transport data. At current petrol prices of around 161p per litre, and assuming an average fuel efficiency of 40 MPG, that works out to approximately £1,270 per year on petrol alone.
However actual fuel costs vary enormously depending on your mileage, your car's efficiency, what fuel type you use, and — crucially — where you fill up.
The calculation is straightforward:
For example: 40 MPG = 0.1136 litres per mile. At 8,000 miles per year that's 909 litres. At 161p per litre that's £1,464 per year.
In most UK areas, prices vary by 8-12p per litre between the most and least expensive nearby stations. On 909 litres per year, a saving of 10p per litre is worth £90.90 per year — just by choosing where you fill up.
Use our live fuel price map to find the cheapest station near you, updated every hour from official Government data.
Yes. E5 Super Unleaded is typically 10-15p per litre more expensive than standard E10 petrol. On 909 litres per year, that's an extra £90-135 per year if your car requires E5. Check whether your car is compatible with E10 using our E10 compatibility checker — most cars made after 2011 can use the cheaper E10 grade.
The quickest way to use this fuel calculator is to enter your registration plate. We query the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service in real time to identify your car's make, year of manufacture, fuel type and engine size. From those details, we estimate your real-world MPG — which is then pre-filled in the calculator alongside the current national average fuel price for your fuel type.
You can adjust both the MPG and the fuel price to reflect your specific car's performance and your local prices. Our live fuel price map shows the current price at your nearest stations — enter that figure for the most accurate annual cost calculation.
Whether you call it a petrol calculator, fuel cost calculator, fuel expense calculator or petrol cost estimator, they all do the same thing: convert your driving into pounds. The core formula is:
Example: a 35 MPG diesel car covering 10,000 miles per year uses 1,299 litres. At the current diesel average of 182p per litre, that costs £2,364 per year — or £197 per month.
There are three levers that directly affect your annual fuel bill:
The most effective way to cut fuel costs is to drive less — consolidating trips, working from home where possible, or cycling short journeys. Our cycling vs driving cost comparison shows how much switching some journeys to a bike can save annually.
Smoother driving, correct tyre pressures and removing unnecessary weight can improve real-world MPG by 10-15%. On 1,000 litres per year, a 10% improvement saves 100 litres — worth around £161 at current prices. Our MPG improvement guide covers 15 proven techniques.
In most UK areas, prices vary by 8-15p per litre between nearby stations. On 1,000 litres per year, consistently saving 10p per litre saves £100 annually with no change to your driving habits. Use our live fuel price map to find the cheapest station near you, updated every hour from Government Fuel Finder data.
UK petrol averaged 161.6p per litre and diesel 181.9p as of 10 August 2026, according to the Government Fuel Finder scheme covering over 8,000 stations. Prices have risen significantly since June following the collapse of the US-Iran ceasefire and Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The fuel duty freeze remains in place at 52.95p per litre until the end of 2026, after which duty begins rising from January 2027.
Northern Ireland remains the cheapest region at around 154p for petrol, while the South East is the most expensive at around 163p. See our UK regional fuel prices page for a full breakdown, and our July 2026 fuel price update for the latest analysis.
At 161.6p per litre, a 45-litre tank costs approximately £72.72. A 55-litre tank costs £88.88 and a 70-litre tank costs £113.12. These are based on the national average — your local price may be higher or lower. Use our live map to find your nearest cheapest station before you fill up.
This depends on your mileage and MPG. The average UK driver covers 7,400 miles per year. At 40 MPG, that uses approximately 840 litres. At 30 MPG, it uses 1,120 litres. At 50 MPG, it uses 672 litres. Enter your figures above for a personalised calculation.
At 161.6p per litre and 40 MPG, petrol costs approximately 18.3p per mile. At 35 MPG it costs 20.9p per mile. At 50 MPG it costs 14.6p per mile. For diesel at 181.9p per litre and 44 MPG, the cost is approximately 18.8p per mile.
At the national average of 161.6p per litre, 10 litres costs £16.16. At 20 litres it's £32.32 and at 40 litres it's £64.64. Prices vary by location — the cheapest UK stations are currently around 141p per litre and the most expensive over 180p.
At home charging rates of 26.11p per kWh (July 2026 energy price cap), a typical electric car costs approximately 6-8p per mile — around half the cost of a petrol car. See our electric vs petrol cost comparison for the full analysis.