The weak pound means that UK motorists driving in Europe this summer can expect to pay more for fuel than a year ago, according to the seventh annual Post Office Motoring on the Continent report.
With almost half the adult population (47 per cent) having driven abroad – most often in France (55 per cent) and Spain (42 per cent) – the report reveals that UK drivers visiting these countries are likely to be hit hard: unleaded pump prices are up 9p per litre year-on-year in Spain and 7p in France.
The main reason for the difference was the pound falling against the Euro – pump prices in the UK have remained stable for the last 12 months.
The report revealed that the cost of unleaded petrol had fallen in over half of the 18 countries it surveyed, while diesel was cheaper in more than 80 per cent of the holiday motoring destinations. However, once the sterling exchange rate was factored in, drivers face forking out up to £19 extra for every 1,000 miles of unleaded motoring, and up to £11 more to drive 1,000 miles in a diesel car.
The biggest burden will fall on motorists driving cars that use unleaded petrol because the Post Office found price increases of up to 12p per litre in 13 of the 18 countries surveyed, once the sterling exchange rate was applied.
The greatest pain is likely to be felt in Spain. Although the country still emerges as fifth cheapest, UK motorists face a 7.4 per cent increase – highest in the Eurozone – and will pay £13.32 more for each 1,000 miles of motoring (£197.14).
The same number of motoring miles will also cost more than last year – £10.66 – in France. Furthermore, at a cost of £236.10 for 1,000 miles, holidaymakers driving through France will pay £38.96 (20 per cent) more than in Spain because of the higher price per litre – £1.56 compared with £1.30.
For the second year running, the cheapest fuel will be found in Andorra and Luxembourg. Despite a 4p rise in the cost of unleaded petrol in Andorra, one litre costs just £1.17 – 35 per cent less than in Norway. At £1.05 for a litre of diesel – up 2p – Andorra also comes closest to the £1 litre. Luxembourg is a close runner-up, costing £1.23 for a litre of unleaded petrol and £1.11 for diesel fuel.
Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: “The disparity between what motorists pay for diesel and for unleaded petrol in Europe is in marked contrast to the UK, where diesel has long been more expensive. This was just one of the anomalies we picked up in this year’s survey, another being a difference of up 48p a litre in fuel costs across the eurozone.
“It may not make sense for holidaymakers to plan big detours just a save a few pounds, but the higher price of motoring on the Continent this year means they should plan their routes carefully before setting out so they keep costs down.
See postoffice.co.uk for more
