How to Save Fuel in 2026: The Hidden Cost of Peak-Time Driving
Published May 11, 2026
Filling up a typical 55-litre diesel car cost around £105 in April 2026, roughly £27 more than just a year earlier. Meanwhile, petrol drivers typically pay around £86 - £13 more per tank than in April 2025.
After 43 consecutive days of price increases between late February and mid-April, fuel has become one of the most visible day-to-day costs facing UK drivers.
New research from webuyanycar, based on a survey of 987 UK motorists, shows how fuel pressure is changing behaviour:
- More than 7 in 10 drivers now adjust when they travel to avoid peak congestion.
- 70% say fuel efficiency is a key priority when choosing their next car.
- When asked why they last sold or replaced a vehicle, just 2% cited fuel costs.
That disconnect is telling. Rather than switching cars or fuel types, most drivers are adapting how and when they drive. For the 28% who never change their travel times, congestion remains a hidden, unavoidable cost built into every journey.
This guide breaks down what is happening to UK fuel prices, why congestion plays a bigger role in fuel spend than many drivers realise, and the practical steps you can take to use less fuel in 2026.
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What the webuyanycar survey reveals
The '20 Years of Data' survey, conducted among 987 UK motorists by webuyanycar, provides a clear picture of how rising fuel costs are changing driver behaviour. Four findings stand out.
Most drivers are adapting their journeys, not their vehicles
1.84% of drivers (18 of 980* respondents) said fuel costs were the main reason they last sold their car.
Compared with the leading reasons for selling, which were upgrade desire (35.20%), lifestyle change (27.14%), and cost of repairs (22.65%), fuel costs rank well below the triggers that actually prompt a vehicle change. The data suggests the vast majority of drivers are managing rising fuel costs through everyday adjustments rather than making a bigger decision about the car itself.
*980 of 987 respondents completed this question.
Source: webuyanycar 20 Years of Data survey, Q6
More than 7 in 10 are changing when they travel
72% of drivers now change when they travel to avoid peak congestion: 40% do so actively, 32% do so occasionally.*
The 28% who never adjust are, in effect, paying an invisible efficiency premium on every peak-time journey. Congestion doesn't just waste time; it wastes fuel. Stop-start traffic, idling at junctions, and repeated acceleration all reduce fuel efficiency compared with smoother driving conditions.
*All 987 respondents answered this question.
Source: webuyanycar 20 Years of Data survey.
Fuel efficiency leads car-buying priorities
Fuel efficiency was the most commonly chosen feature when drivers were asked what they look for in a new car, selected by 70% of respondents.*
The question allowed respondents to select all features that applied, so percentages reflect the proportion of drivers who rated each factor as important, not an exclusive ranking.
On that basis, fuel efficiency (70%) placed ahead of size and space (65%), air conditioning (51%), boot capacity (47%), and parking assistance (47%).
Electric or hybrid capability was selected by just 21%, indicating that most drivers remain focused on maximising efficiency within their current fuel type rather than switching to an electric car.*
*All 987 respondents answered this question.
Source: webuyanycar 20 Years of Data survey, multi-select question.
Weather affects driving decisions and fuel use
43% of drivers continue as normal in heavy rain or storms. Only 24% avoid driving altogether in those conditions.
In ice and snow, the picture shifts: 37% avoid driving entirely, 31% sometimes do, and 32% continue regardless.*
For those on the road in poor conditions, wet or icy surfaces, reduced traction and disrupted traffic flow all make smooth, efficient driving harder. Avoiding these conditions where practical is both safer and cheaper.
*All 987 respondents answered this question.
Source: webuyanycar 20 Years of Data survey
Fuel prices in the UK
Fuel prices rose sharply through late February and March 2026 before beginning to ease slightly in April. According to government data, the average price in the week commencing 20 April 2026 was 157.6p per litre for petrol and 191.2p per litre for diesel.
While still below the record highs of summer 2022, when petrol peaked at around 191.5p and diesel at around 199p, prices remain high enough to make every wasted litre count. At those April 2026 averages, filling a typical 55-litre family car costs around £86.68 for petrol and £105.16 for diesel.
Source: UK government weekly road fuel prices (w/c 20 April 2026) - GOV.UK.
Average cost to fill a 55-litre car: April 2025 vs April 2026
The table below compares the average cost of a typical 55-litre fill using UK government data for the weeks commencing 21 April 2025 and 20 April 2026.
| Category | April 2025 (w/c 21 Apr) | April 2026 (w/c 20 Apr) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (p/litre) | 134.3p | 157.6p | +23.3p (+17.4%) |
| Diesel (p/litre) | 141.4p | 191.2p | +49.8p (+35.2%) |
| Full tank of petrol (55L) | £73.87 | £86.68 | +£12.81 |
| Full tank of diesel (55L) | £77.77 | £105.16 | +£27.39 |
Source: UK Government weekly road fuel prices data, GOV.UK.
Even small price changes compound quickly. A 5p-per-litre rise adds £2.75 to a 55-litre fill, or roughly £143 over a year for a driver filling up weekly.
Looking at the April 2025 to April 2026 comparison, a petrol driver filling up weekly would pay around £666 more per year, while a diesel driver would face a rise of around £1,424, if those price differences were sustained for 12 months.
Source: Calculations based on GOV.UK weekly road fuel prices.
Are fuel prices going up or down?
Prices began edging down in mid-April 2026 after rising for 43 consecutive days, with petrol climbing from around 133p to over 158p - and diesel from 142p to nearly 192p since late February.
The increase coincided with disruption to key global oil supply routes, which pushed up wholesale fuel costs. With tensions easing, wholesale costs started to fall and pump prices are expected to follow, though they remain well above where they started the year.
Short-term relief at the pump does not automatically translate into lower running costs, particularly for drivers who spend a significant portion of their journeys in traffic.
A domestic pressure also looms: the government's 5p-per-litre fuel-duty reduction ends on 31 August 2026, with rates then rising in stages through to March 2027. According to the GOV.UK website, fuel duty will increase prices by 1p from 1 September 2026, a further 2p from 1 December 2026, and a final 2p from 1 March 2027.
Source: GOV.UK fuel duty rates 2026 to 2027, BBC.
Will fuel prices fall in 2026?
Richard Evans, webuyanycar's Head of Technical Services, said:
“Pump prices have moved in both directions over the past year, and while some forecasters expect periods of softening in 2026, there is no clear consensus; global market conditions mean the picture can change quickly.”
“What drivers are likely to see is that prices will keep moving, which is why managing consumption often matters more than waiting for a better day to fill up.”
“Switching off your engine when stationary for more than a minute saves fuel; idling is never free. Checking tyre pressures regularly reduces rolling resistance and eases the load on your engine. Planning journeys to combine trips and avoid peak congestion cuts down on cold starts and stop-start driving, which are among the least efficient ways to use fuel.”
“Small habits, consistently applied, can make a genuine difference to running costs over time.”
The hidden cost of driving at peak times
The price per litre covers only part of what a journey costs. A car burning more fuel per mile, because of congestion, stop-start conditions or inefficient driving, costs more to run even if the driver pays exactly the same at the forecourt as someone on a quieter route.
Our survey found that 28% of drivers never adjust when they travel, meaning this invisible premium is a daily reality for a significant share of UK motorists.
Why congestion increases fuel consumption
Cars are most efficient when driven smoothly at steady speeds. Even on a clear motorway, a modest increase in speed can reduce efficiency. According to the Vehicle Certification Agency, driving at 75mph instead of 60mph uses around 18% more fuel.
In congested traffic, the efficiency loss runs in the opposite direction: lower speeds combine with repeated stopping and starting to produce worse consumption than smooth motorway driving.
In stop-start conditions, fuel use rises for three practical reasons: engines keep consuming fuel while stationary, pulling away after stopping uses significantly more fuel than maintaining a steady speed, and braking discards kinetic energy that the engine then has to rebuild through additional fuel use.
Source: Vehicle Certification Agency, Fuel Consumption Guide.
How much fuel does congestion waste?
Stop-start driving can increase fuel use by around 10-15% compared with free-flow conditions. A significant portion of this comes from idling alone, which can account for 5-8% of total vehicle fuel use.
| Vehicle type | Estimated fuel use while idling (per hour) |
|---|---|
| Compact petrol car | 0.6 litres |
| Compact diesel car | 0.6-0.7 litres |
| Large petrol car | 1.5 litres |
Source: U.S. Argonne National Laboratory, Right Fuel Card, Radius, Cornwall Council
While exact figures vary by vehicle type and engine, the principle is consistent: time spent stationary or crawling in traffic directly increases the cost of a journey, regardless of what was paid at the pump.
When is traffic at its heaviest?
According to INRIX's 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard, UK drivers lost an average of 59 hours to congestion in 2025, at a cost of £822 per driver. The most consistently heavy periods are weekday mornings, weekday late afternoons, and the start of major holiday getaways when leisure traffic collides with normal commuting patterns.
Key peak periods to be aware of:
- Weekdays 8-9am: The morning commute, where school-run and work traffic overlap.
- Weekdays 3-6pm: School pick-up merges with the evening commute, pushing average speeds down.
- Fridays before bank holidays: Among the busiest motorway periods of the year, with delays regularly building on routes such as the M25 and M5.
- Half-term periods: Sharp congestion spikes, particularly when half-term coincides with a bank holiday.
- Summer holiday departures: Around 27 million leisure trips were made in 2024, with delays exceeding two hours on key routes. Peak travel is typically midday to late afternoon.
The most congested cities in the UK
TomTom's Traffic Index, based on 2025 data, shows congestion remains high across major UK cities. The index measures actual journey times against free-flow conditions: a congestion level of 50% means a 30-minute trip takes around 45 minutes in real traffic.
| City | Congestion level (TomTom Traffic Index 2025) |
|---|---|
| Belfast | 58.4% |
| Edinburgh | 57.9% |
| Cambridge | 54.1% |
| Brighton and Hove | 52.5% |
| London | 51.6% |
The average London driver lost 141 hours to rush-hour traffic in 2025, equivalent to more than 17 working days. For fuel-conscious drivers, those are hours of stop-start running that could largely be avoided by choosing off-peak travel times where circumstances allow.
Source: TomTom Traffic Index 2025
When is the best time to drive to save fuel?
Richard Evans, webuyanycar's Head of Technical Services, said:
“The most fuel-efficient windows are generally mid-morning after the commute has cleared, early afternoon, and late evening. Roads are quieter at those times, speeds are more consistent, and stop-start conditions are less frequent, all of which reduce fuel consumption.”
“On bank holidays and summer-getaway weekends, travelling in the early morning or late evening helps avoid the worst congestion. Traffic on key leisure routes is typically heaviest from late morning to mid-afternoon on those days, and timing a departure around that window can meaningfully reduce both journey time and fuel spend.”
Where you fill up makes a difference
Prices vary considerably between forecourts, and the gap can be larger than most drivers expect.
- A March 2024 RAC investigation for ITV's Tonight show found a 27p-per-litre gap between two petrol stations a short distance apart, a difference of more than £14 on a 55-litre fill.
- AA analysis published in March 2026 found an average petrol price gap of 7.55p per litre between supermarket forecourts and non-supermarket rivals.
- Motorway service stations are typically the most expensive places to refuel. RAC data suggests prices at motorway services can run 15–20p per litre above the UK average, making them worth avoiding for routine fill-ups wherever possible.
The government's Fuel Finder scheme, launched in February 2026, requires forecourts to submit price updates within 30 minutes. That feeds more current data into apps and comparison tools, making it easier to find the cheapest local price before setting off.
For more information on Fuel Finder and the apps and loyalty schemes that can help reduce the cost of every tank, see our fuel saving apps guide.
Source: RAC Fuel Watch, AA fuel price analysis, RAC Foundation
Which driving techniques actually save the most fuel?
| Technique | Saves fuel? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coasting in neutral | No (for modern cars) | In modern fuel-injected cars, lifting off the accelerator while staying in gear is typically more efficient. The engine can cut fuel delivery on the overrun, whereas in neutral it must continue idling. |
| Cruise control | Yes, on flat roads | Cruise control reduces unnecessary acceleration on steady, flatter roads, and can improve economy. On hilly or variable routes, it is less useful, as the system may apply extra throttle to maintain speed. |
| Stop-start systems | Yes | Shutting the engine when stationary cuts fuel wasted idling. American Automobile Association (AAA) testing found a 5-7% improvement in fuel economy with stop-start enabled compared with disabled. The benefit is greatest in dense urban traffic. |
| Eco mode | Can help | Eco or ECON modes soften throttle response and may adjust transmission and climate-control behaviour to favour efficiency. Gains vary by vehicle and conditions. |
| Smooth driving | Yes | Gentle acceleration, anticipating traffic ahead, and avoiding unnecessary braking are among the most consistent fuel-saving habits in everyday driving. |
| Hypermiling techniques | Some help; others are unsafe | Certain habits from hypermiling, such as smooth acceleration, momentum maintenance and early anticipation, are genuinely useful. Extreme tactics such as slipstreaming other vehicles or coasting with the engine off can be dangerous, reduce vehicle control and may breach Highway Code guidance on safe following distances. |
Source: RAC, American Automobile Association (AAA), Progressive, Sky News, UK Highway Code
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