Guide

How much tax is in a litre of petrol and diesel?

How each grade's price splits into fuel duty, VAT and the rest, and how tax's share changes with the price, by region and by type of retailer.

By Forecourt Prices Published Updated

On our latest figures, the average litre of petrol (E10) costs 168.5p. Of that, 81.04p is tax: 52.95p fuel duty and 28.09p VAT, or 48.1% of the price. Diesel (B7) averages 197.3p, of which 85.83p, or 43.5%, is tax.

Tax in a litre of petrol and diesel

Fuel duty is the same 52.95p on every litre of every grade[1]. VAT at 20% is then charged on the fuel and the duty together[2], so a dearer grade pays more VAT.

The UK average price a litre of each grade split into fuel duty and VAT, and tax's share of it.
Per litre UK average Fuel duty VAT Tax Tax share
Petrol (E10) 168.5p 52.95p 28.09p 81.04p 48.1%
Diesel (B7)† 197.3p 52.95p 32.88p 85.83p 43.5%
Super unleaded (E5)† 186.7p 52.95p 31.12p 84.07p 45.0%
Super diesel† 215.8p 52.95p 35.97p 88.92p 41.2%

Tax takes the biggest share of petrol, at 48.1%, and the smallest of super diesel, at 41.2%.

These UK averages come from 7,417 forecourts with an E10 price, 6,782 with a B7 price, 5,497 with an E5 price and 2,432 with a super diesel price in our price data. We update it every 15 minutes. See how we work them out.

Figures marked † are mostly from prices over 3 days old.

Updated 10:05am on 10 November.

Where the rest of the price goes

Take duty and VAT off the latest average petrol price and 87.46p is left for the fuel and the retailer. That is 51.9% of the price. For diesel it is 111.47p, or 56.5%.

What is left of the UK average price a litre once fuel duty and VAT are taken off, and its share of the price.
Per litre UK average Fuel and retailer Share of price
Petrol (E10) 168.5p 87.46p 51.9%
Diesel (B7) 197.3p 111.47p 56.5%
Super unleaded (E5) 186.7p 102.63p 55.0%
Super diesel 215.8p 126.88p 58.8%

UK averages from our price data, with the duty in force that day. We don't work out margins from our prices.

What's left pays for the fuel itself and the retailer's spread. The CMA says that spread covers the retailer's costs as well as its profit. It names transport, wages and utilities among those costs[3].

The CMA collects data from 11 large retailers, with about 40% of petrol stations and 60% of the fuel sold. It could assess margins for 10 of them[4].

Across those it assessed, the average fuel margin was 11.2p a litre in June 2026. Supermarket retailers averaged 10.4p and non-supermarket retailers 12.0p[4].

How VAT works on fuel

Road fuel pays VAT at the standard rate of 20%. Domestic heating fuel pays the reduced rate of 5%[1].

HMRC's notice on VAT for fuel says "VAT is due on the total value, including any excise duty"[2].

So VAT is charged on the duty too. At 52.95p a litre, that is 10.59p of VAT on the duty alone.

Because VAT is added on top, it makes up a sixth of the pump price, not 20% of it. On the latest average petrol price of 168.5p, that is 28.09p.

Why the tax share rises when prices fall

Fuel duty is a fixed amount on every litre, so it is a bigger share of a cheap litre than of a dear one.

Tax is under half the latest average petrol price, at 48.1%.

The lowest E10 price in our data is 144.9p, and tax is 53.2% of it. The highest is 209.0p, where tax is 42.0%.

Tax's share of the average petrol (E10) and diesel (B7) price across UK forecourts each day since 7 February 2026.

Tax's share of the average petrol (E10) and diesel (B7) price across UK forecourts each day since 7 February 2026. The sentences under the chart say what it shows.
  • On 10 November, tax was 48.1% of the average petrol price and 43.5% of diesel.
  • For petrol, the highest share was 56.8%, on 9 February. The lowest was 46.9%, on 4 October.
  • For diesel, the highest share was 54.2%, on 7 February. The lowest was 43.1%, on 4 October.

Figures to 10 November 2026.

Daily UK averages from our price data, split with the duty in force each day.

Tax by region

Petrol in Northern Ireland averages 159.1p, so tax is 49.9% of it, the highest share of any region. In the South East it averages 170.3p and tax is 47.8%. Across the UK it is 48.1%.

Each UK region's average petrol and diesel price, and tax's share of each, highest petrol share first.
Region Petrol Tax share Diesel Tax share
Northern Ireland† 159.1p 49.9% 188.9p 44.7%
North East† 166.6p 48.4% 196.9p 43.6%
Yorkshire† 167.6p 48.3% 196.8p 43.6%
Wales† 167.8p 48.2% 197.0p 43.5%
North West† 168.7p 48.1% 196.6p 43.6%
Scotland† 169.2p 48.0% 198.9p 43.3%
London† 169.3p 47.9% 198.8p 43.3%
East of England† 169.6p 47.9% 198.2p 43.4%
East Midlands† 169.8p 47.9% 197.6p 43.5%
South West† 169.8p 47.9% 198.5p 43.3%
West Midlands† 170.1p 47.8% 198.3p 43.4%
South East† 170.3p 47.8% 199.1p 43.3%

Regional averages from our price data, across every forecourt in each region, split with the duty in force that day.

Figures marked † are mostly from prices over 3 days old.

Regional averages updated 10:05am on 10 November.

Supermarkets, motorway services and other forecourts

Petrol is cheapest at supermarkets, at 166.7p, where tax is 48.4% of the price. It is dearest at motorway services, at 188.4p, where tax is 44.8%.

Each grade's average price a litre at supermarkets, other forecourts and motorway services, tax's share of it, and how many forecourts it is from.
Per litre Supermarkets Other forecourts Motorway services
Petrol (E10) 166.7p 48.4% tax 1,477 forecourts 168.5p 48.1% tax 5,800 forecourts 188.4p 44.8% tax 140 forecourts
Diesel (B7) 195.2p† 43.8% tax 1,311 forecourts 197.4p† 43.5% tax 5,337 forecourts 213.9p† 41.4% tax 134 forecourts
Super unleaded (E5) 181.0p† 45.9% tax 1,079 forecourts 187.6p† 44.9% tax 4,292 forecourts 207.2p 42.2% tax 125 forecourts
Super diesel Too few forecourts 215.4p† 41.3% tax 2,241 forecourts 232.5p 39.4% tax 106 forecourts

Supermarkets are Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons forecourts. Asda Express and Morrisons Daily forecourts count as other forecourts. Motorway services are forecourts at a motorway service area.

Averages from our price data, over each forecourt's latest price. A figure from fewer than 100 forecourts is left out.

Figures marked † are mostly from prices over 3 days old.

Tax on a fill-up and a gallon

On a 55-litre fill at the latest averages, tax comes to £44.57 for petrol, £47.21 for diesel, £46.24 for super unleaded and £48.91 for super diesel.

A gallon of petrol carries £3.69 of tax: £2.41 of duty and £1.28 of VAT.

UK averages from our price data, with the duty in force that day.

Work out what a journey costs in fuel.

What a gallon of each fuel costs.

What changes on 1 July 2027

Duty goes from 52.95p to 60.59p a litre on 1 July 2027[5], when the 5p cut ends and the rate rises with RPI[6].

With VAT, that adds 9.17p to every litre and £5.04 to a 55-litre fill.

What the Budget changed, and fuel duty's rates over time.

How the UK compares

The European Commission's Weekly Oil Bulletin covers EU countries only, so the UK isn't in it[7].

Its sheet of 5 November 2026 lists excise on petrol of €690.20 per 1,000 litres in France and €840.00 in the Netherlands[7].

UK duty of 52.95p a litre is £529.50 per 1,000 litres, on petrol and diesel alike.

More on how other countries tax fuel.

Common questions about tax on fuel

What percentage of fuel prices go to the government?

On our latest figures, tax is 48.1% of the average petrol price: fuel duty and VAT together. For diesel it is 43.5%.

How much does the government get from a litre of petrol?

On our latest figures, the average litre of petrol costs 168.5p. Of that, 81.04p is tax: 52.95p of duty and 28.09p of VAT.

Is there 20% VAT on fuel?

Yes. Road fuel pays VAT at 20%, and domestic heating fuel 5%[1]. Because VAT is added on top of the price, it makes up a sixth of what you pay.

Is VAT charged on fuel duty?

Yes. HMRC says "VAT is due on the total value, including any excise duty"[2]. At 52.95p a litre, that is 10.59p of VAT on the duty alone.

Is the tax the same on diesel?

The duty is the same, 52.95p a litre[1]. Diesel costs more, so it pays more VAT: 32.88p a litre against 28.09p. Tax is a smaller share of its price, 43.5% against 48.1%.

How much profit is made on a litre of petrol?

We can't say for any one retailer. The CMA measures fuel margins at the large retailers it assessed, and their average was 11.2p a litre in June 2026[4]. It says that spread covers costs such as transport, wages and utilities as well as profit[3].

Why is petrol so expensive in the UK?

On our latest figures, the average litre of petrol costs 168.5p. Of that, 81.04p is duty and VAT, and 87.46p is the fuel and the retailer's share. See today's UK prices and how they have moved.

Why is UK fuel tax so high?

Fuel tax is two taxes. Fuel duty is a set amount on every litre[1]. VAT at 20% is then charged on the fuel and the duty together[2]. On our latest figures, the two make up 48.1% of the average petrol price.

Why is fuel cheaper in Northern Ireland?

Petrol in Northern Ireland averages 159.1p, 9.4p less than the UK average. The duty is the same, so tax is a bigger share there: 49.9% against 48.1%, the highest of any region. Our data doesn't show why.

How much tax is on a gallon of petrol?

At the average petrol price of 168.5p, a gallon carries £3.69 of tax: £2.41 of duty and £1.28 of VAT.

What are the fuel VAT changes for May 2026?

New VAT road fuel scale charges apply from 1 May 2026. A business uses them to account for VAT on fuel for private use of a business vehicle[8]. For a car with CO2 of 120g/km or less, the 12-month charge is £657, of which £109.50 is VAT[8].

What does fuel duty pay for?

It isn't kept for roads. HMRC pays what it collects into the Consolidated Fund, the government's general account[9]. More on fuel duty.

Sources and method

  1. GOV.UK: Tax on shopping and services, Fuel Duty, checked 6 November 2026.
  2. GOV.UK: VAT on fuel and power (VAT Notice 701/19), section 6.2.2, checked 6 November 2026.
  3. CMA: Road fuel review, checked 13 October 2026.
  4. GOV.UK (CMA): Enhanced road fuel monitoring report: August 2026, paragraphs 1.5 and 1.6, checked 6 November 2026.
  5. GOV.UK: Budget 2026, overview of tax legislation and rates, Annex A: rates and allowances, checked 6 November 2026.
  6. GOV.UK: Budget 2026, overview of tax legislation and rates, checked 6 November 2026.
  7. European Commission: Weekly Oil Bulletin, duties and taxes, 5 November 2026, checked 6 November 2026.
  8. GOV.UK: VAT road fuel scale charges from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2027, checked 6 November 2026.
  9. legislation.gov.uk: Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, section 44, checked 13 October 2026.

Our figures: each average is over every forecourt's latest price reported in the last 30 days, leaving out prices far from what the rest of the UK charges. A figure from fewer than 100 forecourts is left out. Each split uses the duty rate in force on the day of the prices, and VAT at 20%. How we work out the figures