UK drivers warned of ‘nasty surprise’ when buying fuel at supermarkets

According to RAC Fuel Watch, a litre of diesel went up from 180.37p to 190.51p – the third biggest monthly increase on record. This was second only to the ones seen earlier this year in March (155.23p to 177.29p) and June (183.43p to 199.05p) which gave rise to the new all-time high of 199.09p (June 25).

This means it now costs almost £105 (£104.87) to fill up a 55-litre diesel car.

For many businesses, who rely on driving, they may see their bills begin to rocket again, with the price of filling an 80-litre van reaching £152.40.

The price of petrol also increased, but only by 4p (3.71p) a litre from 162.67p to 166.38p which means a full tank costs £2 more at £91.51. 

October also saw the gap between the forecourt prices of diesel and unleaded reach an all-time high of 24p a litre.

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The RAC says the price hikes began at the start of the month when oil producer group OPEC+ agreed to cut production by two million barrels a day. 

This led to the barrel price going up seven percent, hitting a high of $97 (£86.47) on October 27.

Simon Williams, fuel spokesperson for the RAC, said: “After three months of falling pump prices October was a severe shock to the system for drivers with the unwelcome return of some scary numbers on forecourt totems. 

“Those with diesel vehicles suffered most with 10p being added to the cost of a litre in what was the third worst monthly increase on record, but petrol car drivers also saw a 4p-a-litre increase across the country.

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Alex Kindred, car insurance expert at Confused.com, said: “As the rising cost of living continues, motoring costs are one of the many outgoings at the forefront of people’s minds. 

“With diesel prices rising by 10p a litre to an average of 190.5p in October, diesel drivers will undoubtedly be feeling the pinch.

“Our research found that less than one in 10, would consider choosing diesel as the fuel type for their next vehicle. In comparison, almost one in three (31 percent) would still consider buying a petrol car. 

“However, it seems more are thinking of going electric as nearly half (45 percent) would consider purchasing a hybrid or electric vehicle. 

“With the internal combustion engine (ICE) ban coming into action in 2030, it’s encouraging to see that more are already steering away from both diesel and petrol, towards a greener future.

“But if you are still having to top up your tank with diesel, it’s worth trying to find the best deal near you.”