Fuel duty: every value since 1989
The excise duty charged on each litre of road fuel, in pence, from each date the rate changed (VAT is charged on top). HMRC's table lists unleaded petrol and diesel, and from 1997 to 2008 separate lower rates for ultra low sulphur fuels, which most road fuel sold in those years was.
HM Revenue and Customs gives 38 values for the unleaded petrol, from 17.72p on 14 March 1989 to 52.95p on 23 March 2022. Each row is a date on which the rate was set; between the first and the latest it went up 23 times and down four times, and 10 rows repeat the previous value. The largest rise from one value to the next was +15.0%, on 19 March 1991 (from 19.49p to 22.41p). The largest fall was -8.6%, on 23 March 2022, from 57.95p to 52.95p. Across the whole series the cash value changed by +198.8%. The value on 23 March 2022 was -8.6% on the one before; ONS CPI inflation for calendar year 2022 was 9.1%. Fuel duties receipts were £24.6 billion in 2025 to 2026, according to HMRC.
From 23 March 2022 fuel duty on petrol and diesel was cut by 5p a litre. HMRC's page says the Budget 2025 extended the cut until the end of August 2026; changes after the date of HMRC's table are not shown until HMRC adds them.
Unleaded petrol
| From | Unleaded petrol (a litre) | Change on previous value | CPI inflation that calendar year (ONS, D7G7) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 March 2022 | 52.95p | -8.6% | 9.1% |
| 1 January 2021 | 57.95p | – | 2.6% |
| 23 March 2011 | 57.95p | -1.7% | 4.5% |
| 1 January 2011 | 58.95p | +1.3% | 4.5% |
| 1 October 2010 | 58.19p | +1.7% | 3.3% |
| 1 April 2010 | 57.19p | +1.8% | 3.3% |
| 1 September 2009 | 56.19p | +3.7% | 2.2% |
| 1 May 2009 | 54.19p | – | 2.2% |
| 1 April 2009 | 54.19p | +3.5% | 2.2% |
| 1 December 2008 | 52.35p | +4.0% | 3.6% |
| 1 April 2008 | 50.35p | -6.2% | 3.6% |
| 1 October 2007 | 53.65p | +4.1% | 2.3% |
| 7 December 2006 | 51.52p | +2.6% | 2.3% |
| 6 December 2005 | 50.19p | – | 2.1% |
| 1 January 2005 | 50.19p | – | 2.1% |
| 3 December 2004 | 50.19p | – | 1.3% |
| 1 October 2003 | 50.19p | +2.8% | 1.4% |
| 9 April 2003 | 48.82p | – | 1.4% |
| 17 April 2002 | 48.82p | – | 1.3% |
| 15 June 2001 | 48.82p | +4.3% | 1.2% |
| 7 March 2001 | 46.82p | -4.1% | 1.2% |
| 1 October 2000 | 48.82p | – | 0.8% |
| 21 March 2000 | 48.82p | +3.4% | 0.8% |
| 9 March 1999 | 47.21p | +7.3% | 1.3% |
| 17 March 1998 | 43.99p | +9.2% | 1.6% |
| 15 August 1997 | 40.28p | – | 1.8% |
| 2 July 1997 | 40.28p | +9.3% | 1.8% |
| 26 November 1996 | 36.86p | +7.5% | 2.4% |
| 15 May 1996 | 34.30p | – | 2.4% |
| 28 November 1995 | 34.30p | +9.5% | 2.6% |
| 1 January 1995 | 31.32p | +2.9% | 2.6% |
| 29 November 1994 | 30.44p | +7.5% | 2.0% |
| 30 November 1993 | 28.32p | +9.9% | 2.5% |
| 16 March 1993 | 25.76p | +10.0% | 2.5% |
| 10 March 1992 | 23.42p | +4.5% | 4.2% |
| 19 March 1991 | 22.41p | +15.0% | 7.5% |
| 20 March 1990 | 19.49p | +10.0% | 7.0% |
| 14 March 1989 | 17.72p | 5.2% |
Source: HMRC oils duty rates.
Diesel
HM Revenue and Customs gives 38 values for the diesel, from 17.29p on 14 March 1989 to 52.95p on 23 March 2022. Each row is a date on which the rate was set; between the first and the latest it went up 22 times and down three times, and 12 rows repeat the previous value.
| From | Diesel (a litre) | Change on previous value | CPI inflation that calendar year (ONS, D7G7) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 March 2022 | 52.95p | -8.6% | 9.1% |
| 1 January 2021 | 57.95p | – | 2.6% |
| 23 March 2011 | 57.95p | -1.7% | 4.5% |
| 1 January 2011 | 58.95p | +1.3% | 4.5% |
| 1 October 2010 | 58.19p | +1.7% | 3.3% |
| 1 April 2010 | 57.19p | +1.8% | 3.3% |
| 1 September 2009 | 56.19p | +3.7% | 2.2% |
| 1 May 2009 | 54.19p | – | 2.2% |
| 1 April 2009 | 54.19p | +3.5% | 2.2% |
| 1 December 2008 | 52.35p | +4.0% | 3.6% |
| 1 April 2008 | 50.35p | -11.6% | 3.6% |
| 1 October 2007 | 56.94p | +4.1% | 2.3% |
| 7 December 2006 | 54.68p | +2.6% | 2.3% |
| 6 December 2005 | 53.27p | – | 2.1% |
| 1 January 2005 | 53.27p | – | 2.1% |
| 3 December 2004 | 53.27p | – | 1.3% |
| 1 October 2003 | 53.27p | +2.8% | 1.4% |
| 9 April 2003 | 51.82p | – | 1.4% |
| 17 April 2002 | 51.82p | – | 1.3% |
| 15 June 2001 | 51.82p | – | 1.2% |
| 7 March 2001 | 51.82p | – | 1.2% |
| 1 October 2000 | 51.82p | – | 0.8% |
| 21 March 2000 | 51.82p | +3.2% | 0.8% |
| 9 March 1999 | 50.21p | +11.6% | 1.3% |
| 17 March 1998 | 44.99p | +11.7% | 1.6% |
| 15 August 1997 | 40.28p | – | 1.8% |
| 2 July 1997 | 40.28p | +9.3% | 1.8% |
| 26 November 1996 | 36.86p | +7.5% | 2.4% |
| 15 May 1996 | 34.30p | – | 2.4% |
| 28 November 1995 | 34.30p | +9.5% | 2.6% |
| 1 January 1995 | 31.32p | +2.9% | 2.6% |
| 29 November 1994 | 30.44p | +9.9% | 2.0% |
| 30 November 1993 | 27.70p | +10.2% | 2.5% |
| 16 March 1993 | 25.14p | +10.0% | 2.5% |
| 10 March 1992 | 22.85p | +4.5% | 4.2% |
| 19 March 1991 | 21.87p | +15.0% | 7.5% |
| 20 March 1990 | 19.02p | +10.0% | 7.0% |
| 14 March 1989 | 17.29p | 5.2% |
Source: HMRC oils duty rates.
Ultra low sulphur petrol
HM Revenue and Customs gives 11 values for the ultra low sulphur petrol, from 47.82p on 1 October 2000 to 50.35p on 1 October 2007. Each row is a date on which the rate was set; between the first and the latest it went up three times and down once, and 6 rows repeat the previous value.
| From | Ultra low sulphur petrol (a litre) | Change on previous value | CPI inflation that calendar year (ONS, D7G7) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October 2007 | 50.35p | +4.1% | 2.3% |
| 7 December 2006 | 48.35p | +2.7% | 2.3% |
| 6 December 2005 | 47.10p | – | 2.1% |
| 1 January 2005 | 47.10p | – | 2.1% |
| 3 December 2004 | 47.10p | – | 1.3% |
| 1 October 2003 | 47.10p | +2.8% | 1.4% |
| 9 April 2003 | 45.82p | – | 1.4% |
| 17 April 2002 | 45.82p | – | 1.3% |
| 15 June 2001 | 45.82p | – | 1.2% |
| 7 March 2001 | 45.82p | -4.2% | 1.2% |
| 1 October 2000 | 47.82p | 0.8% |
Source: HMRC oils duty rates.
Ultra low sulphur diesel
HM Revenue and Customs gives 15 values for the ultra low sulphur diesel, from 39.28p on 15 August 1997 to 50.35p on 1 October 2007. Each row is a date on which the rate was set; between the first and the latest it went up six times and down once, and 7 rows repeat the previous value.
| From | Ultra low sulphur diesel (a litre) | Change on previous value | CPI inflation that calendar year (ONS, D7G7) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October 2007 | 50.35p | +4.1% | 2.3% |
| 7 December 2006 | 48.35p | +2.7% | 2.3% |
| 6 December 2005 | 47.10p | – | 2.1% |
| 1 January 2005 | 47.10p | – | 2.1% |
| 3 December 2004 | 47.10p | – | 1.3% |
| 1 October 2003 | 47.10p | +2.8% | 1.4% |
| 9 April 2003 | 45.82p | – | 1.4% |
| 17 April 2002 | 45.82p | – | 1.3% |
| 15 June 2001 | 45.82p | – | 1.2% |
| 7 March 2001 | 45.82p | -6.1% | 1.2% |
| 1 October 2000 | 48.82p | – | 0.8% |
| 21 March 2000 | 48.82p | +3.4% | 0.8% |
| 9 March 1999 | 47.21p | +9.8% | 1.3% |
| 17 March 1998 | 42.99p | +9.4% | 1.6% |
| 15 August 1997 | 39.28p | 1.8% |
Source: HMRC oils duty rates.
CPI: ONS series D7G7, for the calendar year the period starts in. About these tables · CSV
Related pages
- Average UK petrol and diesel price
- Average price of unleaded petrol
- Fuel duties receipts
- Inflation calculator
Sources and receipts
- Historical hydrocarbon oils duty rates, HM Revenue and Customs.
Read 2026-10-15. SHA-256
f800b64c0a4a35dc3240d69d7ba5e338dd95a7c2a032d6da98510a82d192c9a5 - Consumer price inflation time series (MM23), Office for National Statistics.
File: mm23.csv. Read 2026-10-15. SHA-256
1b78749ea634755b83064d88f4fc6f7dd177e0c41d8b573c9d8172b8d3fff641