Drivers have seen the cost of filling up their cars rise again in January, confirming a fourth consecutive month of increasing fuel bills, analysis shows.
Petrol went up 2p a litre in January to a UK average of 139p and diesel by nearly 3p to 145.7p (from 142.9p).
Since the start of October, the price per litre has increased by 5p for petrol and 6p for diesel, the RAC said.
This means filling up a 55-litre family petrol car is more than £2 more expensive than it was four months ago (£76.44, compared to £74.25 when a litre was 135p) and diesel more than £3 more expensive (£80.15 a tank, compared to £76.70 when a litre was 139.5p).
The rise has been partly attributed to a spike in oil prices in mid-January, which saw the cost of a barrel exceed $80 for several days.
A slight weakening of the pound against the dollar has also made wholesale fuel more expensive for retailers.
Motorists are paying around £2 more today than they were in October when filling up with petrol – and £3 for diesel – as fuel costs rose for four consecutive months
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: ‘It’s not been a good start to 2025 for drivers at the pumps with prices going up for the fourth month in a row.
‘Sadly, filling up is now nearly £3 more expensive than it was at the start of October.
‘We hope this trend won’t continue and that prices drop back down again.
‘Much depends on global oil supply and demand.
‘While the price of oil can be notoriously volatile, there’s reason to think forecourt fuel prices may get cheaper in the coming months as some analysts are predicting an average oil price nearer to $70 this year.’
The AA has estimated that the four month increase in petrol prices is generating a VAT bonus for the Treasury of more than £13.3million a month.
Luke Bosdet, its spokesman on road fuel prices, warned: ‘With trade wars threatening between the US, its neighbours and China, their impact on global commodity and currency markets leaves pump prices very uncertain.’
