Soaring diesel prices mean low mileage drivers should opt for petrol cars
The cost of diesel has soared to a record high prompting warnings to low mileage drivers that buying an oil-burner could be false economy.
The AA says that average fuel prices in the UK are now 106.9p a litre for petrol and 114.8p a litre for diesel. The 7.9p a litre differential between the two is now at an all-time high.
Diesel prices have soared because rocketing sales of diesel cars - due to their fuel economy and low emissions - has meant the refineries have failed to keep pace with production levels.
Now, the AA says that with diesel prices so far above those of petrol running a diesel car represents a false economy for low mileage drivers.
With the price of a diesel car on average £1,400 more than a petrol-engined equivalent, a driver must clock up 46,243 miles before the benefits of greater fuel efficiency take effect. At the start of this year to break even with a petrol-engined car a diesel had to travel 45,000 miles.
AA president Edmund King said: “Buying a diesel is not an automatic switch to cut-price motoring, particularly at current prices.”
As a result of ever-rising fuel prices, the AA calculates that the average two-car family will spend more than £400 extra on petrol this year.
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