UK Diesel Reaches Record £1.99 a Litre: What Drivers Need To Know About Rationing

UK diesel has hit a record RAC average of 199.18p a litre, pushing the cost of filling a typical 55-litre tank to almost £110, yet there are currently no plans for nationwide fuel rationing.

The UK has not introduced national fuel purchase limits, which remain reserved for a severe and sustained shortage under emergency plans.

Diesel Price Breaks RAC Record

The RAC said the 28 September price passed its previous record of 199.09p set in June 2022. The figure is a record in cash terms and is not adjusted for inflation. Diesel stood at 142.38p a litre on 28 February. By 25 September, it had climbed to 198.32p. Petrol averaged 173.60p that day and remained below its 2022 record.

By 28 September, diesel was 56.8p a litre higher than on 28 February, according to RAC data. The increase added about £31 to the cost of filling a typical 55-litre diesel car.

The RAC linked the rise to high oil and wholesale fuel costs. Global supplies have also faced disruption through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude settled at about $104 a barrel on 25 September.

Official government data also shows a steep rise, although it uses a separate weekly measure. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero put diesel at 195.53p a litre for the week beginning 21 September.

The Competition and Markets Authority said in August that it found no evidence retailers had changed pricing strategies to take advantage of the crisis. However, it warned that passive pricing was helping keep margins high. It also said some retailers were slow to pass on lower wholesale diesel costs and plans a more detailed review this autumn.

Is Diesel Rationing Happening in the UK?

The government's National Emergency Plan for Fuel includes measures for serious supply disruption. These would only be activated during a severe and sustained national fuel shortage.

One option is a Maximum Purchase Scheme, which could limit the amount of fuel motorists can buy per visit. The government could also restrict fuel-selling hours if supplies became critically tight.

Selected filling stations could give priority to emergency and critical-service vehicles. Diesel could also be prioritised for commercial vehicles supporting essential supply chains. In April, DESNZ told Parliament that the measures were precautionary. It said the UK was not at, or approaching, the threshold for using them.

The UK must also hold emergency oil stocks under International Energy Agency rules. The obligation is equal to at least 90 days of net oil imports. Britain meets the requirement mainly by directing industry to hold minimum stocks.

The UK contributed 13.5 million barrels to an IEA-coordinated emergency stock release in March. In July, the government confirmed that it does not hold a separate state-owned strategic reserve of petrol or diesel.

What Drivers Should Watch Next

Fuel duty on standard petrol and diesel remains 52.95p a litre until 31 December 2026. The government announced the extension of the temporary 5p cut on 20 May.

Under current policy, duty is due to rise by 3p a litre on 1 January 2027. A further 2p rise is scheduled for 1 March, fully reversing the temporary cut. The government says final rates will be confirmed at Budget 2026.

Motorists can reduce costs by checking forecourt prices before filling up. Prices can still vary widely between retailers and locations.

Around 97 per cent of UK petrol stations are registered with Fuel Finder, the CMA estimates. Those sites account for about 99 per cent of road fuel sold in the UK, giving drivers broad coverage when comparing nearby prices.