Drivers will secure cheaper fuel at supermarket petrol stations compared to other retailers, according to experts at the RAC. Those filling up at major brands such as Asda, Aldi, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s could save on fuel fees compared to those heading to fuel retailers or independent garages.
According to the experts, supermarkets “dominate the market” with major stores able to “take advantage of wholesale price dips” to offer the most competitive fees. As a general rule, petrol and diesel prices tend to be as much as 4p per litre cheaper, meaning taking a detour to visit a store may pay for itself. The news comes at a perfect time, with Unleaded petrol and diesel fees beginning to climb in August.
Petrol costs have risen from 132p per litre in June to 135p in August, while diesel has soared 7p to 142.92p per litre over the past two months.
Speaking to the Express, RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams, said: “Fuel is generally 3-4p cheaper at supermarkets compared to the UK average.
“Over the years, the supermarkets have built a reputation for selling good-value fuel, and as a result they dominate the market. As they sell so much fuel, they are also better placed to take advantage of wholesale price dips than other retailers who don’t buy new supply as often.”
According to data from RAC Fuel Watch, the average price of Unleaded petrol at supermarkets across the UK was 131.5p per litre. This is considerably lower than the UK average of 135.36p and a whopping 27p cheaper than average costs at motorway service stations (158.59p).
UK supermarket diesel prices were recorded at 139.3p per litre, also down on the UK average of almost 143 pence. However, Simon admitted there was not one particular supermarket brand that stood out from its competitors.
He told Express.co.uk: “There is very little difference between the supermarkets on average although drivers can find significant differences from area to area, particularly if there’s strong competition from independent retailers.”
Despite this, RAC Fuel Watch indicates Asda could be the best bet with average petrol fees at 131p per litre. This was between 0.5p and 0.8p lower than their high-street rivals.