{
  "id": 13895307,
  "title": "UK van drivers face extra £2.5bn in diesel costs this year, figures show",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/uk-van-drivers-face-extra-2-5bn-in-diesel-costs-this-year-figures-show",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-12T06:00:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/oct/12/uk-van-drivers-diesel-costs-fuel-duty"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "British van drivers are set to face a significant increase in their fuel costs this year, with the total bill potentially reaching £2.5 billion, according to recent analysis. The average fuel bill for these drivers is projected to rise from £1,294 last year to £1,965 this year, a jump of about £671. This cost surge is attributed to the global shortage of diesel fuel, which has driven prices to record highs due to disruptions in Middle Eastern and Russian refineries. The majority of light commercial vehicles on British roads are still powered by diesel, and the number of vans on the road has increased due to factors such as the growth of online shopping and home deliveries.\n\nAnalysts at Moneysupermarket estimate that the combined expenditure of van drivers on diesel fuel will amount to nearly £8.5 billion this year, compared to £5.95 billion spent in the previous year. This price hike could lead to a rise in the cost of food and goods transported by road, as retailers pass on the increased logistics costs to consumers. About 95% of light commercial vehicles in Britain are still powered by diesel, and the average pump price has climbed to over £2 per litre, a 40% increase since late February.\n\nThe Road Haulage Association (RHA) has called for the government to scrap its planned fuel duty rise, arguing that it would be a \"hammer blow\" to costs for firms and households. Richard Smith, the RHA's managing director, stated that many van operators have thin margins and would suffer significant financial strain if the duty increase is implemented. The planned fuel duty rise, postponed from September, will add 3p per litre in January and another 2p in March.\n\nThe fuel duty hike has been met with criticism from both the RHA and the RAC, a motoring group. Simon Williams, the head of policy at the RAC, warned that the fuel duty rise would make prices at the pump even more expensive and that the current year is already set to be the second most expensive on record for drivers. The government has the power to alleviate the impact of higher fuel costs through measures such as extending and increasing the fuel duty cut or reducing VAT, as they have done with domestic electricity.",
  "summary": "Calls for planned fuel duty rise to be scrapped as analysis finds average fuel bill could hit £1,965, up from £1,294 Millions of British van drivers face a combined £2.5bn cost to cover the rising price of diesel this year, according to figures, fuelling calls for the government to scrap its planned fuel duty rise. The owners of diesel vans and pickups can expect to collectively spend almost…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}