Motorists in South missing out on lower petrol prices

DRIVERS in London and southern England are missing out on lower pump prices as price wars in other parts of the country fail to materialise.

Average petrol and diesel prices in the region are about 2p more expensive than across the UK, research by the AA has found. It means drivers who fill up in London and the South could be paying roughly £1 more for petrol each time they fill up a 55-litre car.

The difference is even starker compared to individual parts of the UK, with drivers in Wales paying 6p per litre less for diesel than those in London.

Price wars have broken out in some parts of the country helping to lessen pressure on motorists – but not all regions are equal.

The AA, which researched prices on Jan 16, said: “Supermarkets are once again engaging in pump price wars but only for the lucky few – primarily in Wales, northern England and Northern Ireland. Very rarely, southern towns will show glimpses of more competitive supermarket pump prices, such as around the Medway area, but not on the scale further north.”

Drivers have endured a turbulent year at the pumps, with prices leaping following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Both petrol and diesel climbed above 190p in July, with some forecourts selling diesel at 200p per litre.

Prices have since fallen back down, with petrol averaging 148.8p per litre on Jan 16 and diesel 171.1p. At those prices it costs £81.84 to fill up a 55-litre petrol car, and £94.10 a diesel model.

However, in London petrol on Jan 16 cost an average 151.3p per litre and diesel cost 174.1p per litre, the AA research shows. In the South East, petrol was 150.7p per litre and diesel 173.6p per litre, while in the South West petrol cost 150.1p per litre and diesel 172.5p.

The AA urged the Government to make it easier for motorists to compare prices, encouraging more competition.