THE cheapest petrol station in the UK has been revealed – and it can save motorists a whopping £200 per year.
Amid this rising cost of fuel, choosing the right pump has never been more important – and could save you some extra cash.
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Number 1 Plates, one of the UK’s leading motoring experts, is encouraging motorists to rethink where they fill up.
A new study from the motor experts highlights how simple decisions at the pump could save drivers hundreds of pounds annually.
After analysing data from 100 Shell and 100 BP stations across the UK, they found that these brands tend to sit at the higher end of the pricing scale compared to supermarkets and some independent providers.
A difference of £3.69 was found between BP and supermarkets like Tesco.
Over 50 tanks per year, drivers could be spending up to £184.50 more by not shopping around.
The motoring expert firm said that products like Shell V-Power and BP Ultimate include advanced additives, adding cost for drivers who opt for them.
Many Shell and BP stations are in high-rent, high-footfall areas like city centres and motorways, which increases the costs.
Meanwhile, supermarkets like Tesco and Morrisons operate high-volume sites and can pass savings on to consumers.
The research reflects average fuel prices from January to 9 May 2025.
A spokesperson from the company said: “We analysed 100 Shell and 100 BP stations, and while both are well-established brands, the price differences can be significant depending on where and how often you fill up.
“Drivers don’t need to switch brands entirely — but they should stay informed. Using fuel comparison tools can lead to consistent savings over time.”
Details of the study
Number 1 Plates gathered pricing data from 200 forecourts — 100 Shell and 100 BP — across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Using PetrolPrices.com and other verified trackers, they compared prices to Morrisons, Tesco, and independent brand Gulf, to give a clear national overview.
Average Unleaded Prices (Jan–9 May 2025)
BP – 143.7p per litre
Shell – 141.78p per litre
Gulf – 139.5p per litre
Morrisons – 138.8p per litre
Tesco – 137.0p per litre
What That Means at the Pump
Filling a standard 55-litre tank at:
BP costs around £79.04
Shell: £77.98
Tesco: £75.35
Meanwhile, drivers can fill up for free using a clever fuel trick at Tesco and Esso.
Petrol and diesel prices fell in March for the first time since last summer, giving drivers a bit of a breather ahead of the busy Easter getaway.
New data from RAC Fuel Watch shows petrol dropped by nearly 4p a litre in March, down to 136.03p, while diesel fell to 142.51p — saving motorists around £2 a tank.
But with prices varying by as much as 10p a litre, experts are urging Brits to shop around — and clever motorists are slashing even more off with a Tesco Clubcard fuel trick.
Shoppers earn points every time they spend at Tesco — and those points can be turned into money-off fuel vouchers.
They work at Tesco petrol stations and selected Esso forecourts that have a Tesco Express store inside.
You can even earn them by sending parcels with Evri or shopping with Tesco’s reward partners.
To find a participating Esso garage, use the “Find a Station” tool and select the Clubcard filter.
Simon Williams from the RAC said: “Drivers are finally seeing some relief from high pump prices, which has come at a good time with the start of the Easter school holidays and one of the biggest bank holidays of the year for travel.
“It’s a shame prices on forecourts haven’t fallen further and faster, but this reflects the higher margins many retailers are now choosing to take.
“We urge drivers not to presume the forecourt they’ve visited for years is necessarily the cheapest anymore.”
He also warned the cheaper prices may not last, adding: “Crude oil prices are starting to edge up again. If that continues, wholesale fuel costs will rise — and pump prices could follow.”
Last month, TopCashBack was offering new customers to the site £5 free fuel until March 31.
The money saving deal meant that punters got a fiver’s cash back if they fill their car with at least £10 worth of petrol.
OTHER WAYS TO SAVE FUEL
If you never shop at Tesco, there are other schemes that can help.
For instance, if you have a Nectar card, you can use your Nectar points to get 5p off every litre of fuel bought at Esso when you swap 300 points.
You can also spend Nectar points at Sainsbury’s to buy fuel.
However, you cannot use Pay at Pump to redeem the points, instead you need to swipe your card at the kiosk.
If you regularly fill up at Shell garages, consider becoming a Shell Go+ member.
Every 10th visit you will get a fuel reward worth between £1 and £50 off.
The discount you get depends on your average spend over the last nine visits, so someone who spent £100 every time would get a bigger reward than someone who spent just a tenner.
BP also has a BPme scheme, where you earn points for money spent on fuel or in service station shops.
You get 1 point for each £1 spent in-store, 1 point for every
litre of regular fuel, or 2 points for every litre of Ultimate fuel.
Every 100 points you earn can be redeemed for £1 off your fuel or shop spend.