How Much More Does Motorway Fuel Cost? About 20p a Litre

Published 5 November 2026 · Updated 6 November 2026 · 2 min read · Petrol Prices Today team

If you have ever winced at the price board at a motorway service station, you were right to. We compared prices at 168 motorway stations with the rest of the UK, using Fuel Finder data on 6 November 2026.

The motorway premium

Fuel	Motorway average	Supermarket average	Other forecourts
E10 petrol	190.0p	167.2p	170.0p
Diesel (B7)	216.1p	194.7p	198.1p

Motorway services were about 23p a litre (petrol) and 21p (diesel) dearer than supermarkets, and about 20p (petrol) and 18p (diesel) dearer than ordinary forecourts.

What that costs on a tank

Filling a 55-litre tank at the average motorway price instead of the average supermarket price costs roughly:

Petrol: about £12.54 more
Diesel: about £11.77 more

On a family trip with two fills, that is a premium of about £24 to £25 for the convenience.

Why is motorway fuel so dear?

There is usually no competitor for miles, so drivers will pay more. Operating costs at motorway sites are also higher. Whatever the reason, you are paying for the location, not for better fuel.

How to avoid the premium

Fill up before you join the motorway. Check prices near home with a postcode search and top up there.
Leave at the junction before the services. Many stations are within a mile or two of a junction and far cheaper. Look at a map to see what is nearby.
Plan the trip. Work out roughly how much fuel you need. Our guide to how much it costs to fill a tank helps.
Only stop at services for a break, not for fuel, unless you really have to.

What if I must buy at services?

Put in only what you need to reach a cheaper station, not a full tank. If you are close to empty, it is still worth buying the minimum and finding a normal forecourt after you leave.

Remember the full cost of a detour

Leaving the motorway adds miles and time. For a long trip it is usually worth it, because the saving is large. For a short trip with a nearly full tank, it may not be. We explain how to work it out in is it worth driving further for cheaper fuel?

Planning a long journey this winter? See Christmas road trip fuel costs.

Compare prices in your city: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, or see petrol prices by city.