The outbreak of war in Iran has led to ‘unprecedented’ increases in the prices of petrol and diesel during March, according to the RAC.
Since the war started at the end of February, average diesel prices have increased from 142.38p per litre (ppl) to 182.77p. This is almost double the previous monthly record rise of 22p when Russia invaded Ukraine in March 2022.
A litre of unleaded, meanwhile, rose by 20p from 132.83p on March 1, to 152.83ppl by the end of the month, beating the previous biggest monthly jump of 16.6p in June 2022.
“March has been truly unprecedented,” said RAC head of policy Simon Williams. “Fuel prices have never risen this fast in a single month. But, while this is the biggest pence-per-litre increase ever in a month, it’s not as great in real terms as those seen during the 1973 oil crisis when the price of a barrel quadrupled.”
Despite the record rises seen in March, average fuel prices are also still some way off the all-time highs of summer 2022, when petrol peaked at an average of 191.5p and diesel at 199p a litre.
“The increases drivers have had to endure in March 2026 far exceed those seen in the early days of the war in Ukraine,” added Williams.
“While the monthly rise in a litre of petrol is bad enough, the jump in the cost of diesel is even harder to swallow at 40p a litre – 18p more than the previous monthly record. With long-term RAC research showing eight-in-10 people are dependent on their vehicles, these costs must really be taking their toll on both households as well as businesses.”
The Road Haulage Association is also putting pressure on the government to reverse its decision to increase fuel duty in September and again in March next year.
