UK premium unleaded petrol price excluding VAT and duty
UK premium unleaded petrol price excluding VAT and duty stood at 81.35 Pence per litre in Aug 2026, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Domestic energy prices table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1990 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Domestic energy prices table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road fuel: price excluding VAT and fuel duty | |||||||||||
| Premium unleaded petrol (ULSP) | 81.35 | 72.69 | 76.71 | 78.38 | 79 | 64.1 | 56.54 | 58.05 | 60.84 | 59.54 | |
| Diesel (ULSD) | 98.29 | 84.2 | 94.22 | 102.23 | 107.38 | 79.43 | 64.73 | 65.73 | 68.65 | 67 |
Understanding UK premium unleaded petrol price excluding VAT and duty
Retail fuel cost tracking for the United Kingdom relies on separating underlying commodity expenses from mandatory government levies, isolating the net value of premium unleaded petrol before Value Added Tax and fuel duty are applied. Fuel retailers submit pricing data that reflect pure refining, distribution, and wholesale margins without distortion from shifting fiscal policies. By stripping away indirect taxes, analysts evaluate how global crude oil fluctuations and domestic retail competition directly alter the cost of standard light-duty motoring fuel across the United Kingdom.
Interpreting these net cost figures requires careful attention to the timing of fiscal adjustments, as duty freezes or rate changes immediately alter the gap between pre-tax and pump-inclusive figures. Comparing this series directly with total retail prices can obscure underlying market shifts if tax rates change mid-period. Analysts should use period-on-period comparisons to spot immediate refinery margin adjustments, while keeping in mind that regional filling station price competition can create localised variations masked by national averages.
Frequently asked questions
- What expenses are removed from premium unleaded petrol to create this series?
- Value Added Tax and government fuel duty are completely stripped out, leaving only the underlying retail and wholesale supply cost.
- Why analyse fuel prices without taxes included?
- Excluding duties and tax allows researchers to isolate how global crude oil markets and refining margins influence pump costs independently of government policy changes.
- Does this series include diesel or other fuel types?
- No, this metric isolates standard premium unleaded petrol exclusively, separating it from diesel, gas oil, and higher-octane variants.