Fuel Cost Calculator UK

At average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026 (174.57p a litre for petrol, 199.33p for diesel), our estimates put fuel at about 14p a mile for a 1.0L petrol car, 19p for a 1.6L petrol and 28p for a 3.0L petrol. Charging an electric car at home costs roughly 7.5p a mile at the Ofgem price cap rate.

Based on the UK average of 7,400 miles per year, a typical 1.6L petrol car uses around 801 litres of fuel annually. A diesel of the same size uses closer to 612 litres thanks to better fuel economy. Electric vehicles use no fuel at all, relying on electricity instead.

Diesel engines are generally more fuel-efficient than petrol engines, meaning they use fewer litres per mile. However, diesel costs more per litre (199.33p against 174.57p for petrol, UK averages for the week of 19 October 2026). Diesel tends to suit drivers who cover a lot of miles; at lower mileages the higher purchase price often makes petrol the cheaper choice.

Our calculator uses 7.5p a mile for charging at home, which is about £555 a year at 7,400 miles, compared with about £1,398 of fuel for a 1.6L petrol car. That is the Ofgem price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh (1 October to 31 December 2026) for a car that does 3.5 miles per kWh, the efficiency the RAC uses for its charging costs, so a less efficient car or a dearer tariff costs more and an off-peak EV tariff costs less. Public rapid chargers cost considerably more per mile than charging at home.

Small engines (1.0L to 1.2L) are the cheapest to run on fuel. We estimate a 1.0L petrol engine at 55 MPG, costing around £1,068 a year at 7,400 miles at average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026. An electric car charged at home costs roughly £555 a year for the same mileage at the price cap rate.