UK van drivers face extra £2.5bn in diesel costs this year, figures show
Summary
British van drivers will face an extra £2.5 billion in diesel costs this year because of higher fuel prices caused by global supply problems and geopolitical conflicts. This increase has led to calls for the UK government to cancel planned fuel tax hikes to avoid pushing up costs for businesses and consumers.Key Facts
- Diesel prices in the UK have reached record highs, partly due to refinery disruptions in the Middle East and Russia.
- Van owners in the UK are expected to spend nearly £8.5 billion on diesel in 2024, up from £5.95 billion in 2023.
- The average fuel bill for a van driver could rise from £1,294 to £1,965 this year.
- About 95% of light commercial vehicles in the UK still use diesel fuel.
- Fuel costs rose partly because of the US-Israel conflict affecting oil supplies from the Gulf region.
- The UK government plans to increase fuel duty by 3p per litre in January and another 2p in March 2025.
- The Road Haulage Association warns that fuel duty increases will hurt firms with small profit margins and could raise food and goods prices.
- Other European countries like Spain, France, and Italy offer fuel rebates for commercial vehicles, which UK groups want here as well.
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