UK motorists spent more than a BILLION pounds more on fuel in the last 12 months

The last few months for drivers in the UK have generally been a financial nightmare. Rising fuel costs have thrown many off-track – quite literally – with some having to give up driving because of not being able to run their car. However, for those who remain behind the wheel, more money is being spent than ever before. So much so that according to a survey by CarGurus, UK motorists have spent over £1.13billion more on fuel over the last 12 months due to the gas crisis.

CarGurus looked at the UK costs based upon the average monthly mileage of vehicles, alongside the average mpg of petrol and diesel cars.

The research revealed that from June 2021 to April 2022, total combined monthly fuel prices across the UK went from £2,306,451,096 to £2,983,398,946.40 – an incredible 29.35 percent increase in just 10 months.

In June 2021, average petrol costs were £69.03 per month – which even back then was still relatively high in terms of the UK’s fuel price history – whilst the cost of diesel at that time was £65.86 per month for the average driver.

When the cost of fuel shot through the roof in April 2022, it marked arguably the darkest time in fuelling record for the UK.

By June of 2022, prices had gone from £87.03 per month for petrol and £88.67 for diesel in April 2022, to a staggering £101.93 for petrol – the first time this statistic had ever hit a three-figure sum in its lifetime – whilst diesel almost followed suit, with a £99.45 tally.

As such, with the average cost of petrol and diesel being 191.25p and 199.02p respectively come the start of July according to the RAC, findings by CarGurus revealed that fuel consumption is now considered by 57 percent of UK car buyers to be one of their ‘most important considerations’ when it comes to deciding which vehicle to buy next.

Overall, the results show that Brits are now spending over £30 per month extra, on average, on petrol and diesel, marking a 49 percent increase in just 12 months.

Chris Knapman, CarGurus UK editor, said: “Our research further underlines the financial impact the rising cost of petrol and diesel is having on the nation.

“It is no surprise then that fuel economy is now ranked the most important consideration when buying a car. If drivers are in need of a new car, it’s clear choosing one of the most fuel-efficient models could save drivers hundreds of pounds per year at a time when it’s needed most,” he continued.

“For those drivers sticking with their current car, there are still some simple steps you can take to help maximise fuel economy. These include removing unnecessary weight from the vehicle, anticipating what traffic ahead is doing so that you can accelerate and brake more gently, and knowing when it’s best to open a window versus using the car’s air-conditioning,” he advised.

The research also listed the most economical cars on the market, with the Mazda2 1.5 90 Skyactiv-G, Kia Picanto 1.0 and Toyota Aygo X 1.0 VVTi X ranking in as the most cost-efficient petrol cars in that order.

Meanwhile, in the diesel category, the Peugeot 208 1.5 BlueHDi ranked at the top of its class, with a sensational 71.4mpg total.