Fuel Duty Increase Postponed For Rest of Year

The phased fuel duty increase that was duty to start on 01 September 2026 would have seen an increase of 1p added to the cost of petrol and diesel, with a further 2p added on 01 December 2026. The last increase was planned for 01 March 2027 and it would have added a further 2p, culminating in a 5p rise in fuel duty phased in over a 6 month period.

That plan has been postponed for the rest of the year with no fuel duty increases planned in 2026 following an announcement in Parliament today by the Prime Minister, Kier Starmer.

The current rate of duty, that has effectively been frozen since 2011, is set at 52.95p excluding VAT. The Prime Minister said that the Government wanted to protect people from increased costs.

Although this is welcome news, and it means costs will not increase through taxation - at least for the next 6 months - there are no cuts proposed, so savings will not be realised by motorists, but the status quo continues, at least.

For those concerned about rising fuel prices, there was no mention of any tax cuts planned by the Prime Minister, or Chancellor of the Exchequer. However, if you are look at ways to save money on fuel, you can find some guidance here.

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About the Author

Graeme Cobb is a lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for writing about cars, EVs, industry updates and more.

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