Petrol and diesel prices have both hit the highest levels since 2022 as the war in the Middle East rages on
The price of petrol and diesel continues to rise. (Image: Getty)
Fuel prices are rising again in the UK due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The latest data from forecourts across the UK show that an additional 100 fuel stations started charging over £2 a litre for diesel on Friday (September 18).
That means that some 381 garages have now breached the £2-a-litre threshold for standard diesel in the last week. At five of those garages, the price of standard unleaded now stands at 199.9p-a-litre. Meanwhile, the latest statistics from the RAC show that UK-wide average price for diesel is currently 195.32p while unleaded is 172.02p per litre. Both figures are expected to rise once again in the coming days.
It was reported earlier this week that petrol and diesel prices have both hit the highest levels since 2022 as the war in the Middle East rages on. The US-Israel conflict with Iran has disrupted the production and transportation of oil, which has caused prices to surge.
The cost of wholesale oil has returned back over $100 a barrel. Simon Williams, head of policy at motoring organisation RAC, warned “there’s no end in sight to high pump prices” for drivers.
At £2 a litre, it will cost motorists £110 to fill up a standard family car, which is at least £30 more than the average price of filling up the same car at the start of 2026.
You can see all the garages charging £2 a litre for diesel on this interactive map.
A third of the petrol stations charging £2 a litre are motorway service stations, but the high prices are also being charged in many suburban and rural forecourts.
The prices are based on data supplied by retailers and updated daily as part of the government’s Fuel Finder service, set up to help motorists get a better deal from fuel companies.
The average price of diesel across all UK forecourts is now 195.3p a litre, with standard unleaded standing at 172p a litre. Both are at their highest levels since the spike in prices at the end of 2022 caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
You can find the cheapest petrol and diesel near you by searching our postcode checker here.
Petrol and diesel prices shot up after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. Although they dropped to 150.59p and 164.52p per litre respectively in July, they have since rebounded.
The war has had a big impact on oil prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is the world’s key water transport route for oil and other commodities. An estimated 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes through the waterway.