For most everyday cars, premium petrol is not worth the extra money. It costs more per litre and gives little measurable benefit unless your car is specifically designed for higher-octane fuel.
Quick answer: Stick with standard 95-octane E10 unless your handbook recommends super unleaded. The price gap usually outweighs any small economy or performance gain. Want to see what you'd actually pay today? Find the cheapest fuel near you.
What is premium petrol?
"Premium" petrol is a catch-all term for higher-octane fuels sold under names like Shell V-Power, BP Ultimate, Esso Synergy Supreme+ and Tesco Momentum. They come in two related forms:
- Super unleaded — higher octane (usually 97-99 RON) compared with standard 95 RON.
- Performance/cleaning fuels — the same higher octane plus a stronger additive package that's marketed to clean the engine.
The octane number measures how well the fuel resists "knock" (premature combustion). A higher number helps engines that run high compression or boost, but it does nothing extra for an engine tuned around 95 octane.
Super unleaded vs regular: the real difference
The headline difference is octane and additives, not raw energy. A litre of super unleaded has roughly the same energy content as a litre of regular, so you don't automatically get more miles per gallon.
| Feature | Regular unleaded (E10) | Super unleaded / premium |
|---|---|---|
| Octane (RON) | 95 | 97-99 |
| Ethanol content | Up to 10% | Usually up to 5% (E5) |
| Cleaning additives | Standard | Enhanced |
| Typical price gap | Baseline | Often 10-20p/litre dearer |
| Best for | Most everyday cars | High-performance / turbo engines |
That price gap is the crux. Premium is commonly 10-20p per litre more than regular. On a 50-litre fill, that's an extra £5-£10 every time you brim the tank.
E5 vs E10: what changed and why it matters
Since 2021, standard 95-octane petrol in the UK has been E10, containing up to 10% renewable ethanol to cut emissions. Super unleaded largely remained E5, with up to 5% ethanol.
A few practical points:
- Almost every petrol car built from 2011 onwards runs perfectly on E10.
- E10 has very slightly lower energy than E5, so you may see a tiny dip in mpg — usually too small to notice or to justify paying more for E5.
- Some classic cars, motorbikes and older models should avoid E10. The government's E10 compatibility checker can confirm yours.
If you own an older or classic vehicle that isn't E10-compatible, buying super unleaded (E5) isn't about performance — it's about protecting the engine.
Is Shell V-Power or BP Ultimate worth it?
These are the best-known premium fuels, and the honest answer is: it depends on your car.
You'll likely benefit if:
- Your handbook specifies 97/98 octane or higher.
- You drive a turbocharged, high-compression or performance engine.
- You want to keep deposits down over many years of ownership.
You probably won't benefit if:
- You drive an ordinary petrol hatchback, saloon or small SUV.
- Your engine is mapped for 95 octane (the vast majority are).
- You mostly do short urban trips and steady commuting.
Independent testing has shown premium fuels can keep injectors and valves cleaner over time and, in the right engine, recover a little power. But the fuel-economy improvement for a typical car is small — often a few percent at best — and rarely enough to cover a 10-20p premium per litre.
Doing the maths
The simplest way to decide is to run the numbers for your own car. Say you do 10,000 miles a year at 45mpg:
- That's roughly 1,010 litres a year.
- A 15p/litre premium adds about £150 a year.
- To break even, premium fuel would need to improve your economy by enough to save 150 litres — a near 15% gain, which an ordinary engine simply won't deliver.
Use our fuel cost calculator to plug in your real mpg and mileage and see the annual difference for yourself.
When premium petrol genuinely makes sense
There are sensible reasons to buy it occasionally even in a standard car:
- Pre-MOT or long-trip clean-up — an occasional tank of premium can help shift light deposits.
- Manufacturer recommendation — if the handbook says "minimum 95, recommended 98", you may get the best of the engine on higher octane.
- Older/classic engines needing E5 to avoid ethanol issues.
For most people, though, the money is better spent simply finding a cheaper forecourt for standard fuel.
How to actually save money on petrol
The biggest savings come from where you buy, not which grade you pick:
- Compare local stations. Prices vary by 10p or more across town. Find the cheapest fuel near you before you fill up.
- Check different areas. If you're driving across regions, compare two areas to plan where to refuel.
- Track your spend. Log your fills in your garage to see your real mpg and whether premium is making any difference.
| Saving tactic | Typical impact |
|---|---|
| Switching to a cheaper local station | Up to 10-15p/litre |
| Choosing regular over premium | 10-20p/litre |
| Keeping tyres correctly inflated | A few % on mpg |
| Smoother driving | Several % on mpg |
The verdict
For the average UK motorist, premium petrol is a nice-to-have rather than a must-have. Unless your car is built for it or your handbook asks for it, you'll save more by sticking with standard E10 and shopping around for the lowest price.
Ready to cut your fuel bill the easy way? Find the cheapest fuel near you and check today's live prices before your next fill-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is premium petrol worth the extra money?
For most ordinary cars, no. Premium petrol costs noticeably more per litre and delivers little or no benefit unless your car is tuned for higher-octane fuel or your handbook recommends it.
What is the difference between super unleaded and regular petrol?
Regular unleaded is 95 octane (E10) and super unleaded is typically 97-99 octane with extra cleaning additives. Higher octane resists knock better but only helps engines designed to use it.
Is Shell V-Power or BP Ultimate worth it?
These premium fuels can keep an engine cleaner over time, but for everyday cars the fuel-economy gain rarely covers the extra cost. They make most sense in high-performance or turbocharged engines.
What is the difference between E5 and E10 petrol?
E10 contains up to 10% ethanol and is the standard 95-octane grade, while E5 contains up to 5% ethanol and is now mostly sold as super unleaded. Almost all petrol cars built since 2011 run fine on E10.
Can I mix premium and regular petrol?
Yes, you can freely mix grades in the same tank. There is no harm in topping up with regular after using premium, or vice versa.