North v South petrol pump price gap approaches 3p a litre
A North-South divide between what drivers pay on average for petrol is leaving motorists in the South East paying 2.7p a litre more than in the North East. That is £1.49 extra to fill the typical 55-litre fuel tank (£95.48 in the North East versus £96.97 in the South East).
Diesel drivers in the South are paying as much as 1.7p a litre more on average than in the North. For drivers and businesses operating vans with 80-litre fuel tanks, that is an extra £1.36 to fill up in the South East (£159.44 in Yorkshire and the Humber versus £160.80 in the South East).
Week ending 11 October 2026
| Region | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 167.0 | 192.6 |
| Scotland | 175.5 | 200.9 |
| Wales | 174.1 | 199.3 |
| North East | 173.6 | 199.4 |
| North West | 174.6 | 199.4 |
| Yorkshire and Humber | 173.4 | 199.3 |
| West Midlands | 175.4 | 200.1 |
| East Midlands | 175.0 | 199.8 |
| East of England | 175.3 | 200.2 |
| London | 175.1 | 200.8 |
| South East | 176.3 | 201.0 |
| South West | 175.2 | 200.3 |
Source: Oil Market Journal
Higher pump prices in the South continue to hold back falls in average UK pump prices that, on Saturday, stood at 174.5p a litre for petrol and 199.6p for diesel.
“Diesel wholesale costs that feed through to the pump remain at least 4p a litre below where they were in mid September. Yet, those potential savings are barely showing in parts of the UK,” says Luke Bosdet, the AA’s fuel expert.
“Rampant price-matching, particularly in the South, is holding back lower fuel prices for drivers. We see a large number of areas in the North with competitive pricing, much less so in the more populated South East.
“AA analysis of pump-prices listed on Fuel Finder this morning shows that twice as many fuel stations cut their petrol price over the weekend (732 v 357) but remain too few to lower the UK average more significantly. Diesel saw more fuel stations increase their price than lower it (823 v 753), a contradiction that raises a big question about the pricing of such an important fuel.”
Questions and Answers
How much more are drivers in the South paying for petrol than those in the North?
Drivers in the South East are paying an average of 2.7p per litre more for petrol than motorists in the North East, according to figures for the week ending 11 October 2026. This means filling a typical 55-litre petrol tank costs £96.97 in the South East, compared with £95.48 in the North East, a difference of £1.49.
Which UK regions have the cheapest and most expensive petrol?
Excluding Northern Ireland, Yorkshire and the Humber has the cheapest average petrol price at 173.4p per litre, followed by the North East at 173.6p. The South East is the most expensive region at 176.3p per litre. Northern Ireland has the lowest average petrol price across the UK at 167.0p per litre, according to Oil Market Journal figures for the week ending 11 October 2026.
Where is diesel most expensive in the UK?
The South East has the highest average diesel price at 201.0p per litre, followed by Scotland at 200.9p and London at 200.8p. Yorkshire and the Humber and Wales have the lowest average diesel prices in Great Britain at 199.3p per litre. Northern Ireland is considerably cheaper at 192.6p per litre.
How much more does it cost to fill a diesel van in the South East?
Filling an 80-litre diesel van costs approximately £160.80 in the South East, compared with £159.44 in Yorkshire and the Humber. That represents an additional £1.36 per tank, based on average regional diesel prices for the week ending 11 October 2026. The AA says higher diesel prices particularly affect drivers and businesses operating vans.
What are the average UK petrol and diesel prices in October 2026?
On Saturday 10 October 2026, the average UK petrol price was 174.5p per litre, while diesel averaged 199.6p per litre. The AA says higher pump prices in southern England are holding back more significant reductions in national averages, despite lower wholesale diesel costs.
Why are petrol and diesel prices higher in southern England?
The AA believes widespread price-matching between fuel retailers, particularly in southern England, is restricting competition and preventing drivers from benefiting fully from lower fuel costs. The AA says many areas in northern England have more competitive pricing, while competition appears weaker in the more populated South East.
Are UK petrol and diesel prices starting to fall?
AA analysis of Fuel Finder data on 12 October 2026 found that 732 filling stations had reduced their petrol prices over the weekend, compared with 357 that increased them. However, diesel showed the opposite trend, with 823 stations increasing prices against 753 making reductions. The AA says the number of petrol price cuts remains insufficient to bring down the national average significantly.
Why does The AA believe diesel prices should be falling?
The AA says wholesale diesel costs remain at least 4p per litre below their levels in mid-September 2026, creating scope for lower pump prices. However, these potential savings are not being fully reflected at filling stations across parts of the UK. The AA has questioned why more retailers increased diesel prices than reduced them over the weekend preceding 12 October.
