February’s fuel price rise: where to find lower costs
March 05, 2025 by Siobhan Doyle
Car changing is a big deal
As fuel prices hit a six-month high, now is the time to compare and find the best deals before prices drop.
The average price of petrol has reached its highest level since last September, with drivers facing five consecutive months of price hikes, new data from RAC Fuel Watch has found.
The cost of a litre of unleaded rose by 0.65p in February to reach 139.65p. The last time petrol was this expensive was on 6 September 2024 when it was 139.81p. Average diesel prices also went up last month by 0.73p to 146.48p, a price last seen in late August.
Filling up a family-sized petrol car now costs £76.81, nearly £3 more than it did in October, when it was £73.88. Diesel prices have also risen, with the average cost now at £80.56, up more than £4 from £76.45 in October.
Why have fuel prices gone up?
Fuel prices have gone up because the cost of oil rose to $82 a barrel in mid-January. This happened because more oil was needed during a cold weather spell, and there were worries about possible supply problems with the change of leadership in the US. However, oil prices have started to drop recently, so fuel prices should start coming down too.
RAC spokesperson, Simon Williams, said: “It’s frustrating to see fuel prices rise again in February, with costs at their highest since last summer. January’s spike in wholesale prices, driven by oil hitting $82 a barrel, impacted drivers.”
So, where is best to fill up your tank?
Supermarkets are offering slightly cheaper fuel, with unleaded costing 2.3p less per litre and diesel 2.6p less. Some supermarkets, especially in areas like Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, are even offering unleaded for as low as 127.7p per litre.
Independent stations are offering even better deals in some places, with one in Shropshire selling petrol for just 126.9p per litre and diesel at 135.9p per litre. Drivers filling up here could save around £7 compared to the average UK price, paying only £69.80 for petrol.
Meanwhile, drivers in Northern Ireland are enjoying the lowest fuel prices in the UK, with unleaded at an average of 132.9p per litre and diesel at 138.9p. That’s nearly 7p less for petrol and over 6p less for diesel compared to the rest of the UK.
With wholesale prices falling in February, there’s hope prices will drop soon. But in the meantime, it’s worth shopping around, as supermarket prices can vary by up to 13p per litre.
To save a couple pence on your fuel with this fuel rise, keep an eye on our handy fuel price checker. You can enter your postcode and the type of fuel you need and instantly see prices in your area.
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