Petrol drivers warned not to fill up from 10am to 2pm

Drivers are being warned not to fill up between 10am and 2pm in the grip of the ongoing fuel crisis.

With the average cost of a litre of petrol now hitting an eye-watering 157.97p and diesel at 190.94p according to the latest RAC figures, motorists are doing absolutely everything possible to keep the cost of refuelling down.

And according to a fuel expert, the time of day actually does make a difference in pump prices.

This isn’t due to the weather or the fuel economy or anything like that; it’s just a simple price issue, according to Gordon Wallis of Interfuels.

He explains: “Fuel prices at forecourts can change multiple times throughout the day.

“These shifts are driven by wholesale market movements, local competition and patterns in consumer demand.”

According to Wallis, the most expensive time to refuel is typically between 10am and 2pm. “By late morning, many retailers have already adjusted their prices to reflect overnight changes in wholesale costs,” he said. “That means drivers filling up around midday are often paying a premium.”

He added that consumer behaviour also plays a role. “Late morning and early afternoon tend to be busy periods, with people stopping during errands, commutes or lunch breaks,” he said. “When demand is steady, there is less pressure on retailers to keep prices low.”

Fuel deliveries can further reinforce this pattern. “Many stations receive deliveries around the middle of the day,” Wallis said. “Those supplies are priced against current market rates, which can contribute to higher pump prices during that window.”

For drivers looking to save money, earlier is generally better. “Filling up before 9am can sometimes mean benefiting from the previous day’s pricing,” he said. “Retailers do not always update their boards immediately, so there can be a short window where prices are slightly lower.”

Wallis noted that small changes in routine can add up over time. “For someone filling up regularly, choosing the right time of day could save over £100 a year,” he said. “It is not a dramatic difference on a single visit, but the cumulative effect is meaningful.”

Beyond pricing, temperature can also have a minor impact. “Fuel is stored underground, but cooler morning conditions can result in slightly denser fuel,” Wallis explained. “That means you may get marginally more energy per litre compared to warmer periods later in the day.”

Avoiding peak hours can also make the experience easier. “Midday is often one of the busiest times at service stations,” he said. “Refuelling earlier or later can mean shorter queues and a smoother visit overall.”

Oil prices rose on Monday after the US seizure of an Iranian cargo ship threw the peace process into chaos.

Hopes of a breakthrough and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial oil and gas shipping route, have receded following the US attack on the Touska.

The prolonged uncertainty, with the US-Iran ceasefire due to end on Wednesday, is likely to further impact households in the UK, facing higher petrol and diesel costs at fuel pumps now and the prospect of rising energy bills later in the year.

Oil benchmark Brent crude jumped 5% higher to 94.72 US dollars a barrel in Monday morning trading as a result of the fragile situation in Iran and the fresh closure of the Strait of Hormuz.