Motorway drivers paying up to 34p a litre more than at a forecourt two miles away

Drivers filling up at motorway services are paying up to 34p a litre more for petrol than at an ordinary forecourt a couple of miles away, according to an analysis of the government's own fuel price data by British Fuel Prices.

Across the UK, petrol at motorway services averages 193.4p a litre against 173.9p at other forecourts, a premium of 19.5p. Diesel averages 214.5p on the motorway against 199.2p elsewhere, a premium of 15.3p.

At 108 of the 121 motorway service areas, an ordinary forecourt is within 3 miles, typically 2 miles away. Driving to it saves a typical 26.1p a litre on petrol, £14.36 on a 55-litre tank, and 21.0p a litre on diesel, £11.55 a tank. At 84 service areas the saving on petrol is 20p a litre or more.

The biggest gaps

• Gloucester services (M5, Esso): petrol 197.9p. Tesco Quedgeley, 2.3 miles away: 163.9p. A 34p gap, £18.70 a tank.
• Birch services (M62, BP): petrol 199.9p. Tesco Middleton, 1.9 miles away: 167.9p. A 32p gap.
• Trowell services (M1, BP): petrol 199.9p. Tesco Ilkeston, 1.9 miles away: 167.9p. A 32p gap.
• Hartshead Moor services (M62, Welcome Break): petrol 198.9p. Tesco Brighouse, 1.4 miles away: 166.9p. A 32p gap.
• Bridgwater services (M5, BP): petrol 199.9p. Taunton Road Service Station, 0.7 miles away: 169.9p. A 30p gap.
• Heston services (M4, BP): petrol 199.9p. Tesco Osterley, 2.5 miles away: 169.9p. A 30p gap.

Diesel at several BP-run service areas, including Birch, Trowell, Heston and Hilton Park, is 219.9p a litre.

Sam Allcock, editor of British Fuel Prices, said: "Most drivers know motorway fuel is dear, but not many realise how close the alternative is. At almost nine in ten service areas there is an ordinary forecourt within 3 miles, and at Gloucester it is 34p a litre cheaper. If you have enough fuel to get off at the next junction, it is worth doing."

Every service area, its prices and the nearest cheaper forecourt are listed at britishfuelprices.co.uk/motorway-services.

Notes to editors

• Source. All prices come from the UK government's Fuel Finder scheme, published under the Open Government Licence. Forecourts are legally required to report a price change within 30 minutes.
• Measure. Averages are simple averages across forecourts reporting a current price, not weighted by volume. Petrol means E10 unleaded; diesel means standard B7. A tank is 55 litres.
• Distances are straight-line distances from the service area to the forecourt, not driving distances. Some service areas are listed separately for each carriageway; each appears once above.
• Dates. Prices reported up to 29 September 2026.
• Data. Every service area as a spreadsheet.
• Credit. Source: British Fuel Prices analysis of official Fuel Finder data (britishfuelprices.co.uk). Online, please link to the page the figure came from.
• About British Fuel Prices. An independent site published by Domain Farm Ltd (company number 13544286). No fuel retailer pays for or sees its figures before publication.
• Contact: Sam Allcock, editor, editor@britishfuelprices.co.uk