Petrol station drive-offs surge 62% as fuel prices rocket
Fuel thefts, including drive-offs - also known as bilking - have surged by 62% compared with a year ago, new figures show
Fuel thefts have rocketed by 62% compared with a year ago amid a surge in pump prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East, according to new figures. Data from fuel theft recovery company Pay My Fuel, seen by the BBC, reveals the average weekly rate of drive-offs per forecourt jumped from 2.1 in March 2025 to 3.4 during the same month this year.
The firm, which provides services to 1,400 forecourts, reported that the average value of fuel stolen per incident climbed by 46% over the same period.
Since the war in the Middle East began on February 28, the cost of filling a typical 55-litre family car with fuel has risen by £14 for petrol and £27 for diesel.
Drive-offs – also known as bilking – involve someone refuelling with no intention of paying, and then leaving. One forecourt owner revealed the problem is costing him £2,000 per week across five locations.
Ian Wolfenden, director of Pay My Fuel, told the BBC that drive-offs have become "a lot worse".
He said: "An average drive-off for one of our customers used to be £56, and now it's gone up to £67.
"So if you consider they're losing nearly £70 every two days, it's not insignificant."
