UK Diesel Price History by Year, 2003 to October 2026
UK diesel reached its highest weekly price on record, 200.04p a litre, in the week of 12 October 2026. The previous high was 199.22p in the week of 4 July 2022. This page gives the average for every year since 2003, the 2022 spike, the duty changes and what each 1p costs a fleet.
What is the highest diesel price in the UK?
The highest weekly diesel price since the series began in June 2003 is 200.04p a litre, in the week of 12 October 2026. That comes from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) weekly road fuel prices, which we read on 28 October 2026. The series has 1,221 weekly prices, from 9 June 2003 to 26 October 2026.
| Rank | Week | Diesel, p a litre |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 October 2026 | 200.04 |
| 2 | 5 October 2026 | 199.52 |
| 3 | 19 October 2026 | 199.33 |
| 4= | 4 July 2022 | 199.22 |
| 4= | 26 October 2026 | 199.22 |
The week of 26 October 2026 matches the 2022 peak to the penny. All three weeks above the 2022 peak are in October 2026. The lowest week in the series was 76.41p, on 14 July 2003.
What was the average diesel price each year?
The yearly average has risen from 77.3p in 2003 to 177.8p in 2022. The table below is the simple average of the weekly prices in each calendar year, with the highest week of that year. We computed it from the DESNZ weekly series: add up the weekly diesel prices for the year and divide by the number of weeks. It is not weighted by the litres sold.
| Year | Weeks | Average, p a litre | Highest week, p a litre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 30 | 77.3 | 77.68 (26 Aug 2003) |
| 2004 | 52 | 81.9 | 86.54 (8 Nov 2004) |
| 2005 | 52 | 90.8 | 97.89 (12 Sep 2005) |
| 2006 | 52 | 95.2 | 99.57 (7 Aug 2006) |
| 2007 | 53 | 97.1 | 107.61 (31 Dec 2007) |
| 2008 | 52 | 117.6 | 132.89 (21 Jul 2008) |
| 2009 | 52 | 104.2 | 109.99 (30 Nov 2009) |
| 2010 | 52 | 119.2 | 127.68 (27 Dec 2010) |
| 2011 | 52 | 138.8 | 143.06 (9 May 2011) |
| 2012 | 53 | 142.2 | 148.04 (16 Apr 2012) |
| 2013 | 52 | 140.6 | 146.71 (11 Mar 2013) |
| 2014 | 52 | 133.5 | 138.34 (13 Jan 2014) |
| 2015 | 52 | 115.0 | 121.34 (8 Jun 2015) |
| 2016 | 52 | 110.4 | 119.03 (7 Nov 2016) |
| 2017 | 52 | 120.2 | 123.81 (18 Dec 2017) |
| 2018 | 53 | 130.0 | 137.08 (12 Nov 2018) |
| 2019 | 52 | 131.7 | 136.45 (27 May 2019) |
| 2020 | 52 | 119.5 | 132.88 (27 Jan 2020) |
| 2021 | 52 | 135.0 | 151.31 (29 Nov 2021) |
| 2022 | 52 | 177.8 | 199.22 (4 Jul 2022) |
| 2023 | 52 | 158.1 | 174.16 (2 Jan 2023) |
| 2024 | 53 | 148.4 | 157.98 (22 Apr 2024) |
| 2025 | 52 | 142.7 | 146.88 (3 Mar 2025) |
| 2026 (to 26 Oct) | 43 | 173.7 | 200.04 (12 Oct 2026) |
2003 starts in June, so it is a part year. 2026 is a part year too, and its average will move as the weeks are added. Dates are the Monday that each weekly price is stamped with.
What happened to diesel prices in 2022?
Diesel rose 50.57p, or 34.0%, between January and July 2022. The week of 10 January 2022 was the low for the year at 148.65p. The week of 4 July 2022 was the peak at 199.22p. The average for 2022, 177.8p, was 42.8p higher than 2021’s 135.0p, a rise of 31.7%.
There was a duty cut in the middle of it. The duty column in the DESNZ series drops from 57.95p to 52.95p a litre in the week of 28 March 2022, a 5p cut. Pump prices kept climbing after the cut. Diesel fell back to an average of 158.1p in 2023, 148.4p in 2024 and 142.7p in 2025.
How has fuel duty on diesel changed?
The duty column shows duty on a litre of diesel moving from 45.82p in 2003 to 52.95p today, with a peak of 58.95p in early 2011. The figures below are the dates on which the duty column in the DESNZ weekly series changes. They are the first week the new figure shows up, not the date the Treasury announced it.
| Week | Duty, p a litre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 9 June 2003 | 45.82 | start of series |
| 6 Oct 2003 | 47.10 | +1.28 |
| 11 Dec 2006 | 48.35 | +1.25 |
| 1 Oct 2007 | 50.35 | +2.00 |
| 1 Dec 2008 | 52.35 | +2.00 |
| 6 Apr 2009 | 54.19 | +1.84 |
| 7 Sep 2009 | 56.19 | +2.00 |
| 5 Apr 2010 | 57.19 | +1.00 |
| 4 Oct 2010 | 58.19 | +1.00 |
| 3 Jan 2011 | 58.95 | +0.76 |
| 28 Mar 2011 | 57.95 | -1.00 |
| 28 Mar 2022 | 52.95 | -5.00 |
The VAT column moves too: 17.5% to 15% in the week of 1 December 2008, back to 17.5% in January 2010, and to 20% in January 2011. Duty and VAT make up a large part of the price. At 199.22p a litre, VAT is 33.20p (16.7%) and duty is 52.95p (26.6%). That leaves 113.07p, or 56.8% of the pump price, for everything else.
What does each 1p on diesel cost a fleet?
For 50 vans doing 18,000 miles a year at 36 mpg, each 1p a litre is worth about £1,137 a year. This is our arithmetic.
- 18,000 miles divided by 36 mpg is 500 gallons a van.
- 500 gallons times 4.54609 litres is 2,273 litres a van.
- 50 vans times 2,273 litres is 113,652 litres a year.
- 113,652 litres at 1p a litre is £1,136.52. Round it to £1,137.
That is at the pump price including VAT. If you reclaim the VAT, 1p at the pump is 0.83p before VAT, so £947 a year.
| Change in diesel price | Extra cost a year, 50 vans |
|---|---|
| 1p a litre | £1,137 |
| 5p a litre | £5,683 |
| 10p a litre | £11,365 |
| 56.84p a litre (27 Oct 2025 to 26 Oct 2026) | about £64,600 |
A year ago, in the week of 27 October 2025, diesel was 142.38p. This week it is 199.22p, 56.84p or 39.9% higher. Over a year, the same 50 vans would pay about £64,600 more at the pump. Our UK fuel prices page tracks the weekly figure, and the fleet cost index puts it against your running costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest diesel price in the UK?
The highest weekly diesel price since the series began in 2003 is 200.04p a litre, in the week of 12 October 2026. The previous high was 199.22p in the week of 4 July 2022. The source is the DESNZ weekly road fuel prices series.
What was the average diesel price in 2022?
The average was 177.8p a litre, the mean of 52 weekly prices. The peak was 199.22p in the week of 4 July 2022.
How much has diesel gone up in a year?
Diesel was 142.38p a litre in the week of 27 October 2025 and 199.22p in the week of 26 October 2026. That is 56.84p, or 39.9%, higher.
What is fuel duty on diesel?
The duty column in the DESNZ series shows 52.95p a litre, and it has been at that level since the week of 28 March 2022. VAT is 20% on top.
How much is 1p on diesel worth to a fleet?
For 50 vans doing 18,000 miles a year at 36 mpg, each 1p a litre is about £1,137 a year. That is 113,652 litres at 1p a litre.
Cut your fleet’s fuel bill
You cannot change the price at the pump, but you can change the litres. Put your own mileage and vehicles through the speed and fuel calculator to see what a lower cap is worth at this week’s price. For the longer view, read what diesel at £2 a litre means for fleet fuel costs.
A speed cap saves fuel on every mile driven above it. The Department for Transport’s fuel consumption curves show a diesel van using 14.5% less fuel per mile at 60 mph than at 68 mph. How much reaches your bill depends on how many of your miles are driven above the cap.
Talk to us. AutoKontrol has made speed limiters in Britain since 1985, with nationwide installation where we come to you. Book a free consultation or get a quote.
Related Products
DBW Speed Limiter for Cars, Vans, HGVs and Buses 
GeoKontrol 2 GPS Speed Limiter with Geofenced Zones 
SENT Speed Limiter for Euro VI Trucks and Vans 
AutoKontrol Technical Team
World leaders in speed limiter technology with 41+ years of experience. Trusted by fleet operators, logistics companies, and vehicle manufacturers worldwide.
ISO 9001 • UTAC • TÜV • VCA Approved • British manufactured since 1985