Diesel hits record UK price of 199.18p a litre as West London drivers feel the pinch

The average price of diesel in the UK has reached its highest level on record, at 199.18p a litre, according to the RAC.

The figure was recorded on Monday 28 September 2026. It passes the previous record of 199.09p a litre, set in June 2022 in the months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

At that price, filling a typical family diesel car costs close to £100. The RAC says this is about £31 more per tank than before the Iran conflict began.

What is pushing prices up

The RAC blames the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran, along with the war in Ukraine. It says diesel has risen by 56.8p a litre, or nearly 40%, since the Iran conflict began in late February.

Prices eased for a while after a ceasefire, but the House of Commons Library notes that they rose again when the ceasefire collapsed in July 2026.

Petrol has gone up too, although not as sharply. The RAC put the average price of unleaded at 174.13p a litre this month.

Why it matters beyond the pump

Diesel fuels the lorries and vans that carry almost everything sold in shops. The RAC says the extra cost to hauliers and delivery firms will be passed on to customers.

That matters a great deal in West London. Park Royal, the warehouses and logistics firms around Heathrow, and the industrial estates in Hayes, Southall and Greenford all depend on diesel vans and lorries. Many black cabs and private hire vehicles also still run on diesel.

Builders have warned of more cost pressure as well, because much construction machinery and many trade vans run on diesel.

The government-backed Money and Pensions Service has urged drivers to shop around. Prices can vary a lot between forecourts, even ones close together, and supermarket filling stations are often cheaper than motorway services.

More rises could follow

The RAC warns that a further 5p a litre could be added by the spring if the temporary cut in fuel duty is reversed as planned.

Fuel duty was cut by 5p a litre, from 57.95p to 52.95p, in March 2022, in response to high oil prices after Russia invaded Ukraine. The cut has been extended several times. Ending it would mean the first rise in fuel duty since 2011.

Drivers and businesses will be watching the government's upcoming Budget for any change to those plans.