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Fuel for thought: Birmingham one of the cheapest cities for fuel in the UK

  • Top ten cheapest and most expensive cities for petrol and diesel - revealed
  • Diesel cost disparity is controversially larger than that of petrol
  • Asda is both the cheapest and most expensive fuel provider in Britain

As fuel costs in Britain reach record highs, GoCompare Car Insurance reveals the top ten cheapest and most expensive cities to fill up in. 

The comparison site’s research has found that Leicester, York and Liverpool are the top three cheapest places for petrol.[1] Although the ten cheapest cities are all situated north of London, they span separate counties across England, showing that no specific regions are benefiting from consistently lower fuel prices.

Plus, it won’t cost motorists much more to purchase petrol in Leicester than in the 10th cheapest area (Sunderland), as they would save fewer than two pence less per litre -  equal to a grand saving of 63p on the cost of an average car’s full tank.[2] 

In contrast, St Asaph, Britain’s second-smallest city, is the second most expensive place to purchase petrol, only beaten by Truro on top prices. Drivers in this Welsh city will pay over 10 pence more per litre than in neighbouring low-cost Liverpool, despite being only around an hour's drive away.

Diesel costs remain higher than petrol, staying true to the pattern that has emerged in the last couple of decades. Truro took the title for the most expensive diesel prices in Britain, costing motorists a whopping 12.34 pence more per litre than in Leicester, the cheapest city for diesel. Pricier diesel rates in cities with smaller metropolitan areas could be caused by the expense of transporting the fuel further, driving costs upward.

Ryan Fulthorpe, motoring expert at GoCompare, says: “As the cost of living increases in every area of Britain, looking closely at where you can save on everyday costs will make a big difference.

“Although travelling longer distances to fill up your car is likely to burn more fuel than it saves price-wise, assessing your local options is definitely worthwhile, especially if you’re driving a diesel vehicle, as our research shows that this fuel type has a much larger disparity in cost.

“We also found that the most expensive diesel costs almost 15 pence more per litre than the cheapest petrol. These costs should be carefully considered before purchasing a vehicle with a diesel engine.

“By using GoCompare’s new fuel price comparison tool to find the cheapest fuel supplier, you’ll not only benefit from getting the best price for your fuel but will also push suppliers to provide you with more competitive prices.”

Each day, 46 million litres of petrol and 74 million litres of diesel are sold in the UK.[3]  Almost twice as much diesel is distributed in the UK, but remains significantly more expensive to purchase than petrol alternatives Shopping around for diesel will enable drivers to get better deals, but with many HGV drivers relying on this type of fuel, they may have no choice but to inevitably pay extra.

Further research by GoCompare also found that fuel providers are not consistent in their pricing across Britain.[4] In one city, Asda offered the best price for both petrol and diesel. Yet, in other areas, Asda was the most expensive place to purchase fuel. By comparison, Morrisons offered the cheapest fuel most frequently, relative to the location.

For another way to keep vehicle costs low, visit GoCompare Car Insurance. Compare car insurance quotes and save up to £257.[5]

Top 10 Cheapest Cities for Petrol

City Average Price Per Litre (pence) Average Full Tank Cost
Leicester 141.78 £59.55
York 142.24 £59.74
Liverpool 142.36 £59.79
Derby 142.40 £59.81
Leeds 142.56 £59.88
Wolverhampton 142.58 £59.88
Manchester 142.62 £59.90
Birmingham 142.62 £59.90
Peterborough 142.92 £60.03
Sunderland 143.28 £60.18

Top 10 Most Expensive Cities for Petrol

City Average Price Per Litre (pence) Average Full Tank Cost
Truro 153.10 £64.30
St Asaph (Llanelwy) 151.90 £63.80
Wells 151.57 £63.66
Salisbury 150.70 £63.29
Chichester 150.06 £63.03
Winchester 149.30 £62.71
St Davids 148.90 £62.54
Lichfield 148.70 £62.45
Cambridge 148.52 £62.38
Ripon 147.90 £62.12

Top 10 Cheapest Cities for Diesel 

City Average Price Per Litre (pence) Average Fuel Tank Cost
Leicester 144.98 £76.84
London 145.66 £77.20
Manchester 145.82 £77.28
Wolverhampton 146.18 £77.48
Edinburgh 146.66 £77.73
Stoke-on-Trent 146.66 £77.73
Swansea 147.02 £77.92
Nottingham 147.42 £78.13
Birmingham 147.44 £78.14
Sheffield 147.44 £78.14

Top 10 Most Expensive Cities for Diesel

City Average Price Per Litre (pence) Average Fuel Tank Cost
Truro 157.32 £83.38
Wells 154.65 £81.96
Salisbury 154.50 £81.89
St Asaph (Llanelwy) 153.90 £81.57
Ripon 153.23 £81.21
Canterbury 152.82 £80.99
Cambridge 152.32 £80.73
Oxford 152.10 £80.61
Chichester 151.92 £80.52
St Davids 151.90 £80.51