For the first time since 2011, the tax on every litre of petrol and diesel in Britain is going up. Fuel duty rises 1p on 1 September 2026 — the opening stage of a three-step unwind that takes the rate back to where it stood before the 2022 energy crisis.
Quick answer: The temporary 5p fuel duty cut expires on 31 August 2026. Duty rises +1p on 1 September 2026 (to 53.95p), +2p on 1 December 2026 (55.95p) and +2p on 1 March 2027 (57.95p). With VAT, the September stage adds about 1.2p a litre at the pump — roughly 66p on a 55-litre tank. For context, the gap between the cheapest and dearest forecourt in a single town is often 10–15p a litre, so where you fill up still matters far more than the tax change. Compare local prices on the live map.
The confirmed timeline
| Date | Change | Duty rate | Pump impact (inc. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Until 31 Aug 2026 | 5p cut in place | 52.95p | — |
| 1 September 2026 | +1p | 53.95p | ~1.2p/litre |
| 1 December 2026 | +2p | 55.95p | ~2.4p/litre |
| 1 March 2027 | +2p | 57.95p | ~2.4p/litre |
| Total by March 2027 | +5p | 57.95p | ~6p/litre |
By March 2027 the main rate returns to 57.95p per litre — exactly where it sat before the emergency cut of March 2022.
Why the pump rise is bigger than the duty rise
VAT at 20% is charged on the whole pump price, including the duty itself. So every 1p added to duty becomes about 1.2p at the till. Across the full 5p unwind, that is roughly 6p a litre.
What each stage costs you
Based on a 55-litre tank, and 10,000 miles a year at around 40mpg (about 1,135 litres):
| Stage | Per litre | 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 |
Work out your own figure with the fuel cost calculator, or price a specific trip on the journey planner.
It lands on top of an already sharp rise
The timing is uncomfortable. Pump prices had already climbed steeply through the summer before duty entered the picture at all. As of 28 August 2026, UK forecourts averaged 160.9p a litre for E10 petrol and 180.5p for B7 diesel across 8,111 open stations (live figures).
Regional averages vary widely:
| Nation / region | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 153.9p | 173.2p |
| North of England | 160.4p | 180.4p |
| Wales | 160.5p | 180.3p |
| Midlands | 161.6p | 180.6p |
| South of England | 162.1p | 181.7p |
| London | 162.7p | 182.9p |
| Scotland | 163.0p | 182.3p |
Source: UK Fuel Price Report, 28 August 2026.
Northern Ireland remains the cheapest place in the UK to fill up and Scotland the dearest — a spread of 9.1p a litre before duty changes at all.
Should you fill up before 1 September?
If your tank is nearly empty anyway, yes — you will save about 66p. But treat that as a rounding error, not a strategy. A special trip across town to beat the deadline will burn more fuel than it saves.
The number that actually moves your annual bill is the spread between forecourts. Across the UK, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive station in the same town is routinely 10–15p a litre — eight to twelve times the September duty rise. Motorway services typically run 15–30p above nearby forecourts.
On 28 August 2026 the cheapest recorded forecourt in the UK was selling E10 at 126.9p, against a national average of 160.9p — a 34p spread between the best price in the country and the average.
Three things worth more than the duty rise
- Compare before you fill. Check the live map or your town's page — prices refresh every 15 minutes from the official Fuel Finder feed.
- Use supermarkets and warehouse clubs. Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco run consistently below the branded average; Costco is typically 5–10p under.
- Avoid filling on the motorway. The premium there dwarfs every duty change scheduled between now and 2027.
What happens after March 2027
Once the rate reaches 57.95p the cut is fully unwound and duty is back to its long-standing level. Whether it then stays frozen — as it did from 2011 to 2022 — or begins rising with inflation is a decision for future Budgets. The next signal comes at the Autumn Budget.
For the full unwind through to 2027, see our guide to the fuel duty rises through 2027. For how duty, VAT and wholesale costs combine into the price on the sign, see fuel duty explained.
The bottom line
Duty goes up 1p on 1 September 2026, about 1.2p at the pump — the first increase in 15 years, and the first of three stages totalling roughly 6p a litre by March 2027. It is real money: around £67 a year for an average driver once fully phased in.
But it is smaller than the difference between a good forecourt and a bad one on any given day. Check the live map before you fill up and the increase pays for itself.
Duty figures reflect the confirmed HMRC schedule as of 28 August 2026. Pump-price impacts include VAT at 20%. Live pump averages come from the UK Government Fuel Finder scheme via Fuel Near You, refreshed every 15 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does fuel duty go up in 2026?
Fuel duty rises by 1p per litre on 1 September 2026, taking the main rate from 52.95p to 53.95p. It is the first fuel duty increase since 2011. Two further rises follow: 2p on 1 December 2026 and 2p on 1 March 2027, returning the rate to 57.95p per litre.
How much will the 1 September fuel duty rise add to pump prices?
The duty rise is 1p per litre, but VAT at 20% is charged on top of duty, so the pump impact is about 1.2p per litre. On a 55-litre tank that is roughly 66p per fill-up, or about £13 a year for a driver covering 10,000 miles.
Why is the 5p fuel duty cut ending?
The 5p cut was introduced in March 2022 as a temporary emergency measure when pump prices approached £2 a litre. It was extended several times and expires on 31 August 2026. Rather than removing all 5p at once, the government is unwinding it in three stages across September 2026, December 2026 and March 2027.
What is the fuel duty rate in the UK now?
Fuel duty on petrol and diesel is 52.95p per litre until 31 August 2026 — the standard 57.95p rate minus the temporary 5p cut. From 1 September 2026 it becomes 53.95p, from 1 December 2026 it becomes 55.95p, and from 1 March 2027 it returns to 57.95p.
Should I fill up before 1 September 2026?
Filling up before the rise saves about 1.2p per litre, or roughly 66p on a 55-litre tank — worth doing if you were about to fill up anyway, but not worth a special trip. Choosing a cheaper forecourt saves far more: the gap between the cheapest and dearest station in a single UK town is routinely 10 to 15p a litre.
How much of a litre of petrol is tax?
On petrol averaging 160.9p a litre across UK forecourts on 28 August 2026, roughly 52.95p is fuel duty and about 26.8p is VAT — so around 80p of every litre, close to half the pump price, is tax. The rest covers the fuel itself, refining, delivery and the retailer's margin.