Budi95’s monthly limit: How far can 200 litres take you?

Budi95’s monthly fuel allowance of 200 litres has motorists questioning its sufficiency in covering monthly expenses. This limit reduction, effective April 1, 2026, leaves many wondering how far 200 litres can take them. The subsidy for RON95 fuel remains at RM1.99 per litre, but the unsubsidised price for the week of August 20 to 26 was RM3.77 per litre. The Ministry of Finance confirmed that the government bore RM1.78 per litre in subsidies for eligible users during that week.

The impact of 200 litres on monthly travel varies greatly based on the type of vehicle, distance covered, and usage frequency. For a short daily commute, 200 litres may be more than enough, while a vehicle used extensively on the road may run out sooner. Government data reveals that nearly 90 percent of eligible Budi95 users consume less than 200 litres a month, with an average monthly consumption of around 100 litres.

Finance Minister II, Amir Hamzah Azizan, said actual Budi95 usage data from October 2025 to June 2026 showed fewer than one percent of Budi95 users consistently consume more than 200 litres per month.

To illustrate, using manufacturers' published fuel efficiency figures and an illustrative 10km per litre consumption rate in city driving, 200 litres would cover approximately 2,000km. For someone commuting 22 working days a month, assuming a 100km daily work route, 200 litres would cover about 101 litres monthly. However, those who use more than 200 litres annually represent fewer than one percent of Budi95 users, and such consumption varies depending on factors like distance travelled, vehicle type, traffic, and driving habits.

Despite concerns about the 200-litre limit, the government cannot simply make petrol cheaper due to the high costs of subsidies. In January 2026, subsidies for RON95 and diesel totaled about RM700 million, with the bill expected to reach RM4 billion monthly as crude oil prices rose above US$100 (RM402) per barrel. An additional one sen of subsidy per litre would amount to roughly RM180 million annually, assuming unchanged consumption and all 18 billion litres of fuel attracting the additional subsidy.

This demonstrates why even a small change at the pump can translate into substantial fiscal commitments when applied across billions of litres of fuel.