Driving home for Christmas? Here are the cheapest cities to fill up with petrol

With millions of Brits set to hit the road over the coming weeks as they travel home for the holiday season, it is helpful for drivers to know the most budget-friendly places to fill up their petrol tanks.

As the current cost-of-living crisis continues to hit many motorists hard, the car insurance experts at Tiger.co.uk have compared petrol prices at cities across Great Britain in a bid to save drivers money on their upcoming festive journeys.

The good news for motorists is that Christmas fuel prices are currently at a four-year low, according to new data, with the average national petrol costs sitting at 136.23p per litre.*

Tiger.co.uk looked at petrol costs across every city in GB** and ranked the top 10 cheapest locations to fill up. So, if you find yourself driving near any of these cities on your way home this Christmas, it may be financially worthwhile stopping off to take advantage of the lower forecourt prices.***

Top 10 UK cities with the Cheapest Petrol Costs

Ian Wilson, Managing Director and car insurance expert at Tiger.co.uk said: “It is fantastic news for motorists that this is set to be the cheapest Christmas at the pumps since 2020. As households across the UK continue to deal with the challenges of soaring bills, any opportunity to save money can make a big difference, especially in the weeks leading up to Christmas when financial pressures can be even higher.

“With our roads becoming busier every day as people travel home for the holidays, we’ve compiled this useful list of the most cost-effective cities to refuel your vehicle. While it may be tempting to fill up at a motorway service area due to the convenience factor, motorists should be aware that they could be paying a significant mark-up compared to using supermarket forecourts.

“That is why, if you are preparing for a long road trip to spend Christmas with family or friends, it pays to plan ahead and find out now which locations offer the best value for money at the pumps.

“You can also save fuel by making sure the tyres are fully inflated, you’re not carrying any more weight than is necessary and by driving as economically as possible – climbing the gears quickly and watching the queues ahead to try and minimise stop start braking.  Even these simple changes can help save valuable funds on fuel.”

For other Tiger tips on how to help cut down on car expenses and insurance, see Tiger’s latest research on fuel costs and how to save over £400 a year.

References:

Petrol prices over Christmas period at 4-year low – https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/weekly-road-fuel-prices#full-publication-update-history

**Full list of GB cities taken from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-cities/list-of-cities-html

*** Fuel prices calculated using ‘Fuel Finder’ tool via the myRAC app. The app uses data from the UK Government, Road Fuel Price Open Data Scheme – to find the cheapest fuel.  

Petrol stations were limited to within a 5-mile radius of each city listed. Prices accurate as of December 12, 2024.

This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.