Fuel Cost Calculator United Kingdom 2026-27
Planning a trip or commute? See what the fuel will cost you.
Calculate fuel cost for any UK road trip. Enter distance, fuel efficiency and price per litre. Split costs between passengers.
Fuel cost = (miles ÷ mpg) × 4.55 × price/L. Check your car's official WLTP figure.
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Use this calculator to plan and model your financial situation.
Compare scenarios by adjusting inputs. Use the precision bar to reveal more detail. Results update in real time as you type.
Not professional financial advice, not a guarantee of any specific outcome, and not a substitute for qualified advice for significant decisions.
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The inputs that most influence this result are shown in the breakdown above. Even small changes to key variables can have a significant compound effect over time.
Longer periods amplify both growth and cost. Starting one year earlier or later can change a financial outcome by more than you expect.
Even a 1% change in rate can materially change the outcome over a long period. Use Standard or Advanced mode to model rate sensitivity.
Most financial variables have a non-linear relationship with the result — they compound. The sensitivity table in Advanced mode shows this clearly.
To improve this result, focus on the inputs with the highest leverage. Small changes to the right variable often produce much larger outcomes than large changes to less important ones.
Adjust inputs one at a time. The one that moves the result most is your binding constraint — focus effort there first.
Use the Scenario A/B feature in Advanced mode to compare two situations side by side.
Many financial decisions benefit from timing. Starting earlier, fixing a rate at the right moment, or clearing a debt before applying for new credit can each produce significant improvements.
Depending on what you are planning, these are the natural next steps after reviewing this result.
This calculator shows one part of a financial decision. The related calculators below help you model adjacent factors.
Switch to Standard or Advanced mode and use the scenario comparison tool to model best, expected, and worst case.
For decisions involving significant amounts of money, use this result as a starting point for a conversation with a qualified financial advisor.
How annual fuel costs are calculated
The fuel cost formula
Annual fuel cost = (Annual miles ÷ MPG) × 4.55 × Fuel price (£/litre). The 4.55 converts imperial gallons to litres — a UK quirk, because economy is quoted in miles per gallon but fuel is sold by the litre. For a car doing 45 mpg, driven 8,000 miles/year at £1.51/L: (8,000 ÷ 45) × 4.55 × £1.51 = £1,220/year.
| Annual miles | Economy (mpg) | Price/L | Annual cost | Weekly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,000 | 55 | £1.51 | £998 | £19 |
| 8,000 | 45 | £1.51 | £1,220 | £23 |
| 12,000 | 45 | £1.51 | £1,831 | £35 |
| 8,000 | 38 | £1.51 | £1,445 | £28 |
| 12,000 | 30 | £1.67 | £3,037 | £58 |
Fuel cost examples by vehicle type — United Kingdom 2026-27
Based on average UK pump prices of roughly £1.51/L for petrol and £1.67/L for diesel (mid-2026).
| Vehicle type | Typical mpg | 8,000 miles/year cost | 12,000 miles/year cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small car (e.g. Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta) | 55–65 | £845–£998 | £1,268–£1,498 |
| Medium car (e.g. VW Golf, Ford Focus) | 45–52 | £1,056–£1,220 | £1,584–£1,831 |
| Medium SUV (e.g. Nissan Qashqai) | 38–45 | £1,220–£1,445 | £1,831–£2,168 |
| Large SUV/4x4 (e.g. Land Rover Discovery) | 28–35 | £1,569–£1,961 | £2,353–£2,942 |
| Hybrid (e.g. Toyota Prius) | 60–70 | £785–£915 | £1,177–£1,373 |
| EV (e.g. Tesla Model 3) | 3.5–4.2 mi/kWh | £171–£206* | £257–£309* |
*EV cost on a 9p/kWh overnight EV tariff. Standard-rate home charging (~28p/kWh) is roughly 3× that, and public rapid charging (~80p/kWh) can cost more than petrol.
Electric vehicle vs petrol — true running cost comparison
Energy cost comparison
A petrol car at 40 mpg and £1.51/L costs about £172 per 1,000 miles. An EV at 3.5 mi/kWh charged overnight on an EV tariff (9p/kWh) costs about £26 per 1,000 miles — over 80% less. On the standard electricity rate (~28p/kWh) it's about £80 per 1,000 miles; on public rapid chargers (~80p/kWh) about £229, which can exceed the petrol cost.
Total cost of ownership
EVs have lower running and servicing costs but higher purchase prices. The break-even point depends on the price premium and annual mileage. For a £6,000-premium EV: at a £1,000/year fuel saving, payback is roughly 6 years; at a £1,600/year saving (higher-mileage driver), about 4 years. Falling EV prices are narrowing this gap.
UK EV tax perks
Electric company cars are taxed at just 4% Benefit-in-Kind for 2026/27 (rising one point a year), versus 25%+ for most petrol and diesel cars. That low rate makes an EV taken through a workplace salary-sacrifice scheme far cheaper than a petrol equivalent, because the lease comes out of gross (pre-tax) pay. EVs also pay reduced Vehicle Excise Duty in their first year. Check GOV.UK for the current company-car tax rates.
How to reduce your fuel bill — practical strategies
Driving habits (save 10–20%)
Smooth acceleration and braking, holding a steady speed on the motorway, cutting motorway speed by 10 mph (saves roughly 10% fuel), switching the engine off when stationary for more than 30 seconds, and keeping tyres inflated to the recommended pressure.
Vehicle choice (save 30–60%)
Switching from a 30 mpg car to a 55 mpg one saves about £830/year at 8,000 miles. Economy varies more between models than between brands — check the official WLTP mpg on the manufacturer's spec sheet or the GOV.UK vehicle enquiry service.
Finding the cheapest fuel
Supermarket forecourts (Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons) are usually a few pence per litre cheaper than motorway services, which are the most expensive place to fill up. Apps like PetrolPrices, Waze, or confused.com's fuel-price tool show live prices at stations near you.
True cost of commuting by car vs public transport
Full cost of car commuting
Fuel is only one cost of driving. The full cost per mile also includes depreciation, insurance, VED (car tax), servicing and parking. HMRC's Approved Mileage Allowance for 2026/27 is 55p/mile for the first 10,000 business miles (25p thereafter) — a tax-free figure meant to reflect total running costs.
| Commute distance | Fuel only (40 mpg) | Full cost (55p/mile) | Commuter type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 miles each way | £395/year | £1,265/year | Short local commute |
| 10 miles each way | £790/year | £2,530/year | Typical town commute |
| 20 miles each way | £1,579/year | £5,060/year | Long-distance commuter |
Assumes about 230 commuting days a year. Fuel-only figures use 40 mpg at £1.51/L.
Public transport comparison
Annual season tickets vary widely by route — a typical medium-distance commuter rail season ticket runs around £2,000–£4,000/year. Against the ~£5,060/year full cost of a 20-mile-each-way car commute, switching to rail can save several thousand pounds a year — before parking. Use the National Rail season ticket calculator to price your own route.
Frequently asked Frequently asked questions
How is annual fuel cost calculated?
Fuel cost = (Miles ÷ MPG) × 4.55 × price per litre. The 4.55 converts imperial gallons to litres. For 8,000 miles/year in a car doing 45 mpg at £1.51/L: (8,000 ÷ 45) × 4.55 × 1.51 = £1,220.
What is the average fuel economy of a UK car?
The average car on UK roads returns roughly 38–42 mpg in real-world driving. Modern petrol cars typically manage 40–50 mpg, diesels 50–60 mpg, and hybrids 55–70 mpg. EVs are measured differently — usually 3.5–4.2 miles per kWh.
How much does an EV cost to run compared to petrol?
On an overnight EV tariff (~9p/kWh) an EV costs about £26 per 1,000 miles versus roughly £170 for a petrol car — over 80% less. On the standard electricity rate (~28p/kWh) the saving is around 50%; public rapid charging (~80p/kWh) can cost as much as petrol.
Can I claim fuel costs against tax?
If you use your own car for business journeys (not ordinary commuting to a permanent workplace), you can claim HMRC's Approved Mileage Allowance — 55p/mile for the first 10,000 business miles and 25p/mile thereafter in 2026/27. This tax-free rate covers fuel plus running costs, so you don't claim actual fuel separately.
Where is the cheapest place to buy fuel in the UK?
Supermarket forecourts are usually a few pence per litre cheaper than motorway service stations, which are the most expensive. Prices vary locally, so apps like PetrolPrices, Waze or confused.com's fuel finder help you spot the cheapest pump nearby.
Where these figures come from
Business figures on this page are drawn from HM Revenue & Customs (corporation tax, VAT, PAYE), Companies House (company registrations), and GOV.UK (statutory employer and business obligations).
- Corporation Tax rates — GOV.UK — Corporation Tax rates and reliefs.
- VAT rates (standard 20%) — GOV.UK — VAT rates.
- PAYE & employer obligations — GOV.UK — PAYE and payroll for employers.
- Company registration & filing — Companies House — GOV.UK.
- Business rates — GOV.UK — Business rates.
Last checked: April 2026. Rates and thresholds are reviewed against the source of record each November, when annual adjustments for the following tax year are published.