Rising fuel prices push UK van drivers’ annual costs above £1, 965

Key takeaways

• Fuel prices have climbed to some of their highest levels since 2022, pushing diesel to £1.97 per litre and increasing costs for the UK’s 4.5 million van drivers.

• MoneySuperMarket data shows van drivers are travelling more miles than in previous years, compounding the impact of higher pump prices on annual fuel bills.

• Rising running costs are squeezing tradespeople and small businesses, but money can still be saved comparing fuel prices.

Van drivers across the UK are facing higher running costs, as fuel prices rise to some of the highest levels since 2022. 

UK government fuel price data, for the week commencing 21st September 2026, shows diesel costs on average £1.97 per litre and petrol £1.73 per litre. But according to current figures on UK Fuel Prices Live, some forecourts are charging up to £2.38 per litre for diesel.   

For the UK’s estimated 4.5 million van drivers, the majority of whom rely on fuel for their work, paying £2.38 per litre equates to an estimated annual bill of around £1,965 for a typical diesel van, based on average mileage of van insurance policies bought with MoneySuperMarket between 2022 and 2026. 

Average mileage for van drivers has also increased in recent years, as MoneySuperMarket data (based on all domestic and personally insured van policies sold through MoneySuperMarket) reveals van drivers covered an average 8,107 miles so far this year (January to June), up 16% from 6,964 miles in 2022.

The combination of more miles and higher pump prices means fuel costs are now significantly higher than they were previously. 

Save money by comparing fuel prices online

Use MoneySuperMarket's fuel price checker to get up-to-date fuel prices and see how much you could save.

Alicia Hempsted
Insurance Expert

Saving pennies at the pump can add up over time

Van drivers are currently dealing with a combination of rising fuel prices and increased mileage, both of which are pushing up overall running costs.

For many tradespeople and small business owners, this has a direct impact on profitability, making it more important than ever to manage expenses carefully.

Using tools such as the fuel cost calculator can help drivers better understand how changes in pump prices affect spending on fuel.

Even small price differences between local petrol stations can add up over time, so comparing fuel prices before filling up is a simple but effective way to reduce costs.

^Sources

^{MoneySuperMarket internal data on van driver mileage for policies purchased between 2022 to the first half of 2026 (January 1st to June 30th).
Average cost estimates are based on annual mileage, fuel prices and typical van fuel efficiency (40mpg for diesel engine).
Government fuel costs collected using live data from MoneySuperMarket fuel finder. Data is correct as of 21st September 2026 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/weekly-road-fuel-prices}