Scotland Drivers Pay 5.6p More Than Northern Ireland for Petrol
Published: 17 May 2026
Scotland Drivers Pay 5.6p More Than Northern Ireland for Petrol
UK fuel prices held steady this week, with petrol averaging 158.8p/litre - a change of just 0.4p compared to last week. The national average only tells part of the story: drivers in Scotland are paying 5.6p more per litre for petrol than those in Northern Ireland.
UK Fuel Prices at a Glance
Petrol (E10)
- National average: 158.8p/litre (0.4p vs last week)
- Cheapest station nationally: 136.9p/litre
- Most expensive station nationally: 239.9p/litre
- Spread (cheapest to most expensive): 103.0p
- Stations included: 5,475 with prices confirmed in the last 11.89 days
Diesel (B7)
- National average: 185.4p/litre (−2.5p vs last week)
- Cheapest station nationally: 153.9p/litre
- Most expensive station nationally: 229.9p/litre
- Spread (cheapest to most expensive): 76.0p
- Stations included: 5,931 with prices confirmed in the last 11.89 days
Where are Drivers Paying the Most and Least?
Regional prices reveal significant differences in what UK drivers pay at the forecourt. Here are all regions ranked cheapest to most expensive for petrol this week:
| Region | Avg Petrol (E10) |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 155.3p |
| North East | 157.1p |
| Yorkshire | 157.5p |
| Wales | 157.8p |
| North West | 158.4p |
| West Midlands | 158.6p |
| East Midlands | 158.9p |
| South West | 159.1p |
| East of England | 159.3p |
| South East | 159.7p |
| London | 159.9p |
| Scotland | 160.9p |
Drivers in Scotland pay 5.6p/litre more than those in Northern Ireland. On a 50-litre fill-up, that is £2.80 per tank, and for someone filling up once a week, around £146 extra per year.
Diesel drivers face a similar regional divide:
| Region | Avg Diesel (B7) |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 174.7p |
| Wales | 184.5p |
| North East | 185.1p |
| North West | 185.1p |
| Yorkshire | 185.1p |
| East Midlands | 185.9p |
| Scotland | 186.3p |
| West Midlands | 186.4p |
| East of England | 186.5p |
| South West | 186.6p |
| London | 187.3p |
| South East | 187.7p |
Supermarkets vs. The Rest
Supermarket forecourts remain the go-to for value-conscious drivers. This week, the average supermarket petrol price is 155.5p/litre, 4.0p cheaper than the average non-supermarket station at 159.5p.
On a 50-litre fill that translates to a £1.99 saving at the supermarket pump.
For diesel, supermarkets offer an average saving of 3.1p/litre (183.3p vs 186.5p elsewhere).
Petrol (E10) Prices by Brand
Average petrol prices ranked cheapest first, for brands with at least 15 stations reporting:
| Brand | Avg Petrol (E10) | #Stations |
|---|---|---|
| MAXOL | 154.7p | 57 |
| ASDA | 155.0p | 236 |
| SAINSBURY’S | 155.5p | 170 |
| CIRCLE K | 155.7p | 29 |
| MORRISONS | 155.7p | 301 |
| TESCO | 155.9p | 256 |
| EG ON THE MOVE | 156.0p | 47 |
| SOLO | 156.0p | 16 |
| ASDA EXPRESS | 156.4p | 66 |
| TOTAL HARVEST ENERGY | 156.5p | 21 |
Is That Cheaper Station Actually Worth the Drive?
This is where WorthTheDrive differs from every other fuel price tracker. Knowing the cheapest price nearby is only half the story; you also need to know whether the cost of getting there wipes out your saving before you even reach the pump.
At this week’s national average petrol price of 158.8p/litre, here is the maximum round-trip worth making for a typical driver (50-litre tank, a quarter full, 40 MPG):
| Saving vs. your nearest station | Max distance worth driving |
|---|---|
| 1p/litre cheaper | 2.1 miles |
| 2p/litre cheaper | 4.2 miles |
| 3p/litre cheaper | 6.2 miles |
| 5p/litre cheaper | 10.4 miles |
| 10p/litre cheaper | 20.8 miles |
In other words, if you spot a station at 153.8p/litre (5p below the national average), it is worth driving up to 10.4 miles out of your way to get there. Any further and the fuel you burn on the drive costs more than you save.
Diesel drivers: at 185.4p/litre, a 5p/litre saving is worth driving up to 8.9 miles.
These thresholds shift every time prices move, which is why WorthTheDrive recalculates them live using real-time station prices. Enter your postcode at https://worththedrive.co.uk to see exactly which stations near you are genuinely worth the drive.
About This Data
All statistics in this report are calculated from 6,827 UK fuel stations (86% of the 7,901 open stations tracked by WorthTheDrive) with prices confirmed within the last 11.89 days. Stations with missing, invalid, stale, or out-of-range prices are excluded. Permanently and temporarily closed stations are excluded. Week-on-week comparisons use price changes recorded 7–14 days prior. Prices are sourced from the UK Government Fuel Finder dataset.