The average price of diesel in the UK has surpassed 190p per litre, rising by more than a third since the outbreak of the conflict in Iran, new figures show.
Petrol prices have also climbed, with unleaded reaching 157.7p, up 19% since February 28, according to the RAC.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Both fuels are now at their most expensive since late 2022.
“The conditional ceasefire announcement may have taken some heat out of global oil prices, but the outlook for drivers in the UK remains highly uncertain.
“The best hope in the short-term is that pump prices stop rising at the rate they have been and hopefully top out in the coming days.”
He went on: “Much will depend on the stability of the ceasefire, whether oil shipments can move freely through the Strait of Hormuz, and the longer‑term impact on oil production across the Gulf.
“As it is a sustained lower oil price – over several weeks, not just a few days – that is required to bring wholesale fuel costs down meaningfully.
“Drivers should not expect significantly cheaper fuel in the short term, although some smaller independent forecourts buying on a ‘spot’ basis may be quicker to pass on any reductions.”
The AA has warned that in parts of the UK, motorists are facing a “pump-price postcode lottery,” especially in rural areas.
As of Wednesday morning, filling a typical 55-litre family diesel tank costs £104.83—£26 higher than before tensions escalated—marking the first time in over three years the £100 threshold has been breached.
The surge comes amid constrained oil supply from the Middle East, where Iran’s control over tanker transit through the Strait of Hormuz and damage to regional infrastructure have limited exports to importing nations.
However, experts have suggested that the recent US-Iran ceasefire, which includes a temporary reopening of the vital shipping route, could help stabilise prices in the coming days. The announcement also sparked a sharp drop in oil prices and a rebound in global stock markets on Wednesday, reflecting relief over the short-term easing of geopolitical risk.
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