A recent study by price comparison site WhatPrice.co.uk has reported that not all fuel is created equal. Here we reveal which cities have the cheapest and most expensive fuel prices. Plus, other fuel-saving tips and a comparison of fuel loyalty card programmes
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“Fuel prices vary significantly across regions, all four countries in the UK have at least one city or town among those with the cheapest petrol and diesel prices,” according to David Holmes, CEO at WhatPrice.co.uk. “While some places, such as Cambridge, may rank as the most expensive, this does not mean affordable fuel is unavailable there—you might simply need to search more thoroughly,” says Holmes.
Best cities and towns for petrol and diesel drivers
The study analysed median petrol and diesel prices in the UK’s most populous cities. A seed list of cities was taken from World Population Review. Fuel price data was collected from WhatPrice.co.uk on 15 January 2025.
According to the findings, Belfast is the most affordable city for petrol users, with a median price of £1.32 per litre. This means filling a 50-litre tank costs only £66. Considering the UK’s average price is £1.37 per litre (£68.50 per 50 litres), drivers in Northern Ireland’s capital can save up to £2.50 every time they fill their tank.
Dundee, in Scotland, comes next, as the median price per litre is £1.34—meaning £67 for a 50-litre tank. Since the national average expenditure for a full tank is £68.50, drivers in Dundee can save up to £1.50 when filling their tanks.
Burnley, Blackburn, Bradford, Preston, Huddersfield, Leeds, and Swansea are next, with the median petrol price at £1.35 per litre. This means a 50-litre tank costs £67.50, up to £1 cheaper than the national average of £68.50 per full tank.
Similarly, the study identified the top cities and towns where diesel drivers can benefit from the lowest prices. Belfast again takes the lead, with a median price of £1.35 per litre—which means £67.50 for filling a 50-litre tank.
Considering the average diesel price in the UK is £1.44 per litre (£72 per 50 litres), drivers in Northern Ireland’s capital who use diesel can save up to £4.50 every time they fill their tank.
Swansea comes next, with the median diesel price at £1.41 per litre. This means a 50-litre tank in the city costs £70.50, up to £1.50 less than the national average of £72 per 50 litres.
Burnley, Wigan, Bolton, Stoke-on-Trent, Blackburn, Bradford, Hastings, Preston, Ipswich, Huddersfield, and Dundee are next, with the median diesel price at £1.42 per litre. This means a 50-litre tank costs £71, up to £1 cheaper than the national average of £72 per 50 litres.
Most expensive places to fill up your vehicle
On the other hand, Cambridge, Crawley, Poole and Bournemouth, all in England, are the spots with the most expensive petrol. The median price for a litre is £1.40, and drivers pay £70 every time they fill their tanks, £1.50 higher than the national average of £68.50.
London, Slough, Woking, Watford, Southampton, Swindon, Bedford, Northampton, Oxford, Portsmouth, and Plymouth, all in England, are next, with petrol costing £1.39 per litre. This means that filling a 50-litre tank in these places costs £69.50, £1 more than the national average of £68.50.
When it comes to diesel prices, Cambridge takes the lead again as the most expensive place for filling your tank with diesel, with the price at £1.47 per litre. A 50-litre tank in the city costs £73.50, £1.50 more than the national average of £72.
Crawley, London, Slough, Woking, Brighton, Gillingham, and Maidstone, all in England, are next, with diesel costing £1.46 per litre. This means that filling a 50-litre tank in these places costs £73, £1 more than the national average of £72.
This is where a little knowledge and planning can make a big difference. Here are some practical tips to help freelancers and small business owners navigate the fuel price maze:
Get the most out of every trip
Think of your vehicle as a tool for maximising efficiency. Before hitting the road, plan your routes strategically. Combine errands and client visits to minimise mileage and avoid unnecessary trips.
- Embrace technology: Download fuel price comparison apps like WhatPrice.co.uk or PetrolPrices to find the cheapest stations in your area and on your route.
- Do your food and fuel shop at the same time: Supermarkets often offer competitive fuel prices, so factor them into your journeys and your weekly shops.
- Think local: Independent petrol stations can sometimes surprise you with lower prices, so don’t overlook them.
Easy on the accelerator
Aggressive acceleration and braking are not only bad for your vehicle for wear and tear but also for your wallet. When accelerating change up early, usually by around 2,000rpm and from there on keep to a smoother driving style. Gentle acceleration and gradual braking can significantly improve your fuel efficiency and save you money in the long run.
Maintain your ride and save on fuel
Keeping your vehicle in top shape is crucial for optimal fuel efficiency. Ensure your tyres are properly inflated and your engine is well-maintained. You will notice extreme changes in tyre pressure in the winter and whenever the UK gets a hot spell. Often you will see this first in the morning. Regular maintenance can prevent costly repairs and improve your vehicle’s overall performance, leading to better fuel economy. Also, avoid areas with construction and backcountry roads that are not maintained. You will be more at risk of getting nails in your tyres and hitting potholes.
Explore alternatives
Consider transport options to reduce your reliance on traditional fuel. If feasible, explore switching to an electric vehicle to escape the volatility of fuel prices (yet electricity prices are not brilliant at the moment either). Alternatively, team up with other freelancers or small business owners in your area to carpool and share journey costs.
Compare loyalty cards
Keep a close eye on your fuel expenses. Track your spending to identify areas where you can save. Joining fuel loyalty programmes can also help you earn points and rewards. You can always have more than one loyalty card based on your weekly schedules and client locations. Always ask the card programme if you can earn points as a family, which can be handy of there are two or more drivers in the family.
It’s tricky to give a definitive “best” as it depends on your individual needs and spending habits. However, here’s a breakdown of some of the UK petrol service station loyalty programmes, with pros and cons to help you choose:
Texaco Star Rewards
Pros:
- Arguably the most straightforward. You can start to get vouchers in a couple of weeks.
- Points easily translate to direct savings on fuel (1p off per litre).
- Can also redeem for Love2shop vouchers for use at other retailers.
- Often have bonus point promotions.
500 Points can be spent in-store for £5 off your fuel transaction. 500 Points can also be redeemed for a £5 Love2shop Reward Code. Love2shop Reward Codes are available which can be redeemed for e-codes and gift cards for many high-street brands. 250 Points can be redeemed for a £5 donation to Texaco Star’s chosen charities which include The Trussell Trust, Age UK, FareShare, The East End Community Foundation and Action for Children and Texaco Star will match your donation.
Cons:
Rewards are decent, but not the highest value compared to some.
Nectar (Esso):
Pros:
- Nectar is widely accepted, so you can collect points elsewhere and use them on fuel, or vice versa.
- Flexibility on how to use points (fuel discounts or other rewards).
- How many points you collect depends on the partner you buy with. At the top of their page, each brand tells you clearly how much you can collect:
- At most partner online shops, you’ll collect 2 points for each £1 you spend.
- For memberships or contracts, you’ll collect a fixed rate of points, for example, 1,000 points when you sign up for a mobile phone contract.
- Nectar also have weekly bonus points for you. Just select the offer and they will send you straight to the right shop.
Cons:
- Can be less rewarding for fuel specifically compared to dedicated programmes.
- Redemption process can be a bit fiddly.
Tesco Clubcard (Esso):
You can collect Tesco Clubcard points when you purchase petrol or diesel at Esso branded service stations with a Tesco Express shop. Find your closest service station using the Clubcard points filter in the Esso Fuel Finder. You can collect points each time you tap your Clubcard or scan your key fob when you pay at participating Esso branded service stations, including at the PayatPump terminals.
You’ll collect one Clubcard point for every £3 spent on fuel. You can claim Clubcard points on the first 100 litres of each fuel purchase.
For shop purchases at Tesco Alliance service stations (an Esso forecourt with a Tesco branded shop), any Tesco Clubcard points are awarded by Tesco Stores Limited. Please refer to the Tesco Clubcard General Terms & Conditions at www.tesco.com/clubcard/help/terms-and-conditions for more information.
Keep on top of your clubcard points, vouchers and any expiry dates to get maximum benefit.
Pros:
- Good if you already shop at Tesco, as you’ll be collecting points anyway.
- Vouchers can be used on fuel or groceries.
Cons:
- Less appealing if you’re not a regular Tesco shopper.
- Points value can fluctuate.
Shell Go+:
Pros:
Offers a wider range of rewards beyond fuel discounts (e.g., free coffee, car washes). Shell Go has special weekly offers. For example, this week you can get 5 points per litre with Shell V-Power* Usually that would be 3 more points than normal. It’s a limited-time offer, but the good news is you can fill up as many times as you want, just don’t forget to scan your Shell App, card or key fob.* Offer ends 2nd February 2025.
There are also electric charging rewards and an app that is available across the UK and parts of Europe. This includes Shell Recharge branded charge points at convenient locations like:
- shell forecourts
- supermarkets such as Waitrose and Aldi
- on-street
The app also provides access to charge points from our integrated network of partners. Simply, use one account to unlock a charge point and manage it all with a single monthly bill.
Cons:
- Can be more complex to understand the different reward options.
- Points expire if you’re inactive for 12 months.
BPme Rewards:
Pros:
- Good for regular BP users, with decent points accumulation on fuel and shop purchases.
- Can convert points to Avios for flights.
- App is user-friendly.
How much are BPme Rewards points worth?
- 1L Ultimate fuel = 2 points
- 1L Regular fuel = 1 point
- £1 spent in store (including car wash) = 1 point
You can redeem your points in-store too, on fuel or shop purchases or swap your points online for digital vouchers to spend with BP’s partners. You must earn at least 25 base points before you start redeeming your BPme Reward Points on eligible purchases. Base points are points earned outside of any promotional points given, by you purchasing 25 litres of Regular fuel, 12.5 litres of Ultimate fuel or by you spending £25 on qualifying sales.
Cons:
- Rewards are mainly focused on BP’s own ecosystem.
- You can only apply one offer for any fuel purchases. This can be combined with other offers in different categories of shop purchases, wild bean, and car wash. If there are 2 eligible category offers that are loaded into your cart, the one with the closest expiry date will be used. Individual terms and conditions per offer may apply.
To make the best choice, consider these factors:
- Where you usually buy petrol: If you have a preferred brand, their programme is likely the most convenient.
- How much petrol you buy: Higher spenders benefit more from programmes with good points accumulation rates.
- How you want to use rewards: Do you want fuel discounts, or are you interested in other options like vouchers or flights?
- It’s also worth checking if your local supermarket has a partnership with a petrol brand, as you might be able to collect points there too.
- Ultimately, the “best” programme is the one that gives you the most value based on your individual circumstances.