Fuel duty sat at 52.95p a litre from March 2022, held down by a temporary 5p cut. That cut has now expired — and across three stages the tax on every litre climbs back to where it started. Here is the confirmed timeline, what it adds to a tank, and the one thing that more than offsets it.
Quick answer: The 5p fuel duty cut expired on 31 August 2026. Duty rose +1p on 1 September 2026 (53.95p), rises +2p on 1 December 2026 (55.95p) and +2p on 1 March 2027, returning the main rate to 57.95p a litre. That adds roughly 6p a litre at the pump once VAT is included — about £3.30 on a typical tank and around £67 a year. Comparing local forecourts (often a 10–15p spread) on the live map more than covers it.
The fuel duty timeline
| Date | Change | Duty rate (petrol & diesel) |
|---|---|---|
| Until 31 Aug 2026 | 5p cut in place | 52.95p |
| 1 September 2026 | +1p per litre | 53.95p |
| 1 December 2026 | +2p per litre | 55.95p |
| 1 March 2027 | +2p per litre | 57.95p |
After March 2027 the main rate returns to 57.95p per litre — exactly the level it held before the March 2022 emergency cut. On top of duty you still pay for the fuel itself, and then 20% VAT is charged on the whole lot (fuel + duty), which is why a 5p duty rise becomes closer to 6p at the pump.
The September stage was significant beyond its size: at 1p, it was the first increase in UK fuel duty since 2011. Duty was frozen for eleven years, then cut, and has now started moving upward again for the first time in a generation of drivers. Full detail in our September 2026 fuel duty guide.
What it actually costs you
The rise is small per litre but it compounds over a year:
| Stage | Per litre (inc. VAT) | Per 55L tank | Per year (10,000 miles) |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 (+1p) | ~1.2p | ~66p | ~£13 |
| December 2026 (+2p) | ~2.4p | ~£1.32 | ~£27 |
| March 2027 (+2p) | ~2.4p | ~£1.32 | ~£27 |
| Full unwind | ~6p | ~£3.30 | ~£67 |
- Higher-mileage drivers (20,000 miles) could pay £130+ a year more once fully phased in.
- For businesses running vans or fleets, multiply that across every vehicle — which is why the change has drawn attention well ahead of the final stage.
Work out your own figure with the fuel cost calculator.
Why the cut ended
The 5p reduction was never meant to be permanent. It was introduced at the height of the 2022 energy crisis, when pump prices were pushing toward £2 a litre, and it was rolled over several times. Unwinding it in stages across 2026 and 2027 restores the long-standing 57.95p rate while spreading the impact on drivers over eighteen months rather than landing it in one hit.
The number that matters more than 5p
Here's the part most coverage misses: the duty rise is dwarfed by where you choose to fill up.
Across the UK the gap between the cheapest and most expensive forecourts in a single town is routinely 10–15p a litre — two to three times the entire duty unwind. Motorway services run 15–30p over nearby forecourts. So a driver who compares local prices before filling up doesn't just absorb the rise — they come out ahead.
- Check your town first on the live map or your city page — the cheapest station near you today is usually pence below the average.
- Track the national picture on the UK Fuel Price Report and today's live averages.
- See which brands lead on price — supermarkets and Costco typically undercut oil brands by 5–6p: brands compared.
- Never buy motorway fuel unless the alternative is an empty tank — the journey planner finds cheaper stops just off-route.
What comes after March 2027
Once duty reaches 57.95p the cut is fully unwound. Whether the rate then stays frozen — as it did from 2011 to 2022 — or begins rising with inflation is a decision for future Budgets, with the next signal at the Autumn Budget.
Longer term, the pressure runs the other way: as the fleet electrifies, fuel duty revenue falls. That is the reasoning behind the pay-per-mile EV tax planned for April 2028.
The bottom line
The schedule is confirmed: 52.95p → 53.95p in September 2026 → 55.95p in December → 57.95p by March 2027. That's about 6p a litre at the pump and £67 or so a year for an average car.
It's real money — but it's less than you'd save on a single well-chosen fill-up versus a bad one. Bookmark the live map and let the cheapest local price do the offsetting for you.
Updated 28 August 2026 to reflect the confirmed three-stage schedule (5p cut expired 31 August 2026; +1p September 2026, +2p December 2026, +2p March 2027). An earlier version of this article described a two-stage rise beginning in January 2027. Pump-price impacts include 20% VAT. For today's live UK averages see the fuel prices today page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does UK fuel duty go up?
In three steps. The temporary 5p-per-litre cut expired on 31 August 2026. Duty rose by 1p on 1 September 2026, rises by a further 2p on 1 December 2026, and by another 2p on 1 March 2027 — returning the main rate to 57.95p per litre, where it stood before the March 2022 emergency cut.
How much is UK fuel duty now, and what will it become?
Fuel duty on petrol and diesel was 52.95p per litre until 31 August 2026 (the standard 57.95p rate minus the 5p temporary cut). It became 53.95p on 1 September 2026, becomes 55.95p on 1 December 2026, and returns to 57.95p on 1 March 2027. VAT at 20% is then charged on top of duty and the fuel itself.
How much will the fuel duty rise cost me?
The full 5p unwind adds 5p per litre plus 20% VAT — about 6p per litre at the pump. On a 55-litre tank that is roughly £3.30 more per fill-up. A typical 10,000-mile-a-year car using about 1,135 litres would pay roughly £67 more per year once all three stages have landed.
Why is fuel duty going up?
The 5p cut was introduced in March 2022 as a temporary emergency measure when pump prices neared £2 a litre, and it was extended several times. Rather than removing all 5p at once, the government is unwinding it in three stages across September 2026, December 2026 and March 2027, restoring the long-standing 57.95p rate.
Was this the first fuel duty rise in years?
Yes. The 1p increase on 1 September 2026 was the first rise in UK fuel duty since 2011. Duty was frozen from 2011 to 2022, then cut by 5p in March 2022 and held there until the cut expired in August 2026.
How can I offset the fuel duty increase?
The gap between the cheapest and dearest forecourts in a single town is often 10 to 15p a litre — far more than the whole 5p duty unwind. Comparing local prices before you fill up on the free Fuel Near You map more than cancels out the increase. Supermarket and Costco forecourts, and avoiding motorway services, save the most.