British motorists faced unprecedented surges in fuel costs last month, with new analysis revealing record monthly increases driven by the Iran oil crisis.
The RAC reported that the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts jumped by 20p, from 132.8p on 1 March to 152.8p by the end of the month.
Diesel drivers experienced an even steeper rise, with the average cost per litre soaring by 40p, from 142.4p to 182.8p, over the same period.
These significant hikes eclipsed previous monthly records of 17p for petrol in June 2022 and 22p for diesel in March 2022, which occurred in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Despite last month’s record rises, average fuel prices are still below the all-time highs of summer 2022 when petrol peaked at 191.5p per litre and diesel at 199.0p per litre.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “March has been truly unprecedented – fuel prices have never risen this fast in a single month.
“The increases drivers have had to endure in March 2026 far exceed those seen in the early days of the war in Ukraine.
“While the monthly rise in a litre of petrol is bad enough, the jump in the cost of diesel is even harder to swallow at 40p a litre.
“With long-term RAC research showing eight-in-10 people are dependent on their vehicles, these costs must really be taking their toll on households as well as businesses.”
Motorists are being urged to reduce their speed by 10 per cent in a bid to “improve fuel efficiency” while still “keeping up with the flow of traffic”.
Drivers were also advised to anticipate road conditions, such as traffic lights and roundabouts, to avoid “continuous harsh braking”.
AA president Edmund King said: “It is well worth drivers adapting their driving style and speed both to save money and enhance safety.
“We estimate that diesel drivers can save £10 per tank by changing their driving style.”
