DRIVERS were hit by the highest EVER monthly petrol and diesel rises in March as a result of the war in Iran.
The cost of diesel rose by up to 40p in a month, around 18p more than the previous record set four years ago, according to the RAC.
A litre of unleaded also rose by 20p from 132.83p on March 2 to 152.83p by the end.
This surpassed the previous all-time biggest monthly jump of 16.6p seen at the end of June 2022 when petrol went up from 174.84p to 191.43p following concerns over supply because of the Ukraine war.
The painful hikes have added £11 to the cost of filling a 55-litre family car, which now stands at nearly £84 (£84.06).
Meanwhile, diesel drivers have seen £22 added with a tank topping £100 (£100.52).
Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said the month had been “truly unprecedented”, with fuel prices never rising this fast in a single month.
“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,” he added.
Motorists have been battling high prices at the pump since conflict between Iran and the US kicked off last month.
Several petrol stations have reported fuel shortages as a result of the conflict.
Oil is traded globally and when crude prices rise the price of wholesale diesel and petrol also increase.
The conflict in the Middle East has raised concerns about the production of oil and shipping.
Concerns about blockages to the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route which lies between Oman and Iran, are also driving prices higher.
On Wednesday afternoon, reports emerged that Iran had asked for a ceasefire, but president Donald Trump said it would continue to blitz the country until the shipping passage is freed.
Drivers are not the only ones being rattled by the crisis, as Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary warned jet fuel supplies could be disrupted in May as the war chokes off global oil routes.
Energy bills are also forecast to soar by £288 a year from July due to the conflict in the Middle East, experts warned this week.
How can I find cheap petrol
Fuel price rises can be daunting if you need your car to travel to work or pick your kids up from school.
But there are still ways you can find cheap fuel in your area.
One way is to use The Sun’s exclusive online tool that shows you the best priced forecourts in your area. Prices are updated every hour.
You can find the tool here.
All you have to do is select your fuel type (Unleaded E10, Super Unleaded E5, Diesel B7S or Premium Diesel B&P) and the distance you are willing to travel.
Then select use my location or enter your postcode and you’ll be shown a list of the cheapest forecourts near you.
You can also look at the Government’s Fuel Finder tool.
Meanwhile, check the RAC’s Fuel Watch for the latest petrol and diesel prices.
The RAC also tracks the cheapest supermarket petrol stations to buy fuel.
