Diesel prices near £2 a litre as Asda brings back 5p fuel offer

Diesel drivers are facing near-record pump prices, with the UK average reaching 197.75p a litre on 24 September 2026.

Asda has brought back a 5p-a-litre fuel discount for Rewards users who spend £40 in store, but it is only worth using if you were already planning to spend that much.

The discount could help if you already shop at Asda, although it is still worth checking local fuel prices before filling up.

How much is diesel now?

The average price of diesel reached 197.75p a litre on 24 September 2026, according to the latest RAC data.

That’s just 1.34p below the record of 199.09p a litre, which was set on 25 June 2022. Some filling stations are already charging more than £2 a litre.

The RAC’s latest warning on diesel prices said that on 23 September a 55-litre family car cost £108.52 to fill with diesel when the average price was 197.31p a litre.

At 197.75p a litre, the same 55-litre tank would cost around £108.76 to fill from empty.

That’s a huge expense for households that rely on their car for getting to work, school runs and everyday journeys.

How does the Asda 5p fuel offer work?

Asda has brought back a deal that gives eligible Asda Rewards users 5p off every litre of fuel.

To qualify, you need to spend £40 or more in a single transaction in an Asda store between 23 September and 14 October 2026.

The fuel coupon is then automatically added to your Asda Rewards app.

It can be used on one fuel purchase until 31 October 2026 at 262 participating Asda and Asda Express filling stations selling Asda-branded fuel.

Asda says someone filling a typical 60-litre family car could save up to £3. If you put in 55 litres, the saving would be £2.75.

You can read the full Asda fuel offer announcement here.

Is the Asda fuel offer actually worth it?

It can be, but don’t spend £40 on shopping you don’t need just to get the fuel discount.

Spending an extra £10 or £20 to qualify for a coupon that saves you around £3 wouldn’t leave you better off.

The offer makes more sense if you were already planning to spend at least £40 on your normal Asda shop.

It’s also worth comparing the price of fuel nearby before using the coupon.

For example, if another filling station is already more than 5p a litre cheaper than your local Asda, you could still pay less there without needing the discount.

Look at the final price you’ll actually pay rather than assuming a fuel offer automatically makes somewhere the cheapest place to fill up.

The government’s Fuel Finder scheme makes up-to-date fuel price data available through apps and comparison websites, which can help you compare nearby filling stations before setting off. Petrol stations are required to report price changes within 30 minutes.

Why are diesel prices getting so high?

The RAC says concerns about the global supply of wholesale diesel are putting pressure on pump prices.

On 23 September, its figures showed the average diesel price had risen by almost 55p a litre since 28 February, from 142.38p to 197.31p.

That means filling a 55-litre diesel car was costing just over £30 more than it did at the end of February.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams warned that diesel was continuing to move towards a new all-time high.

Fuel prices can change quickly, so the amount you pay will depend on when and where you fill up.

What can drivers do to cut fuel costs?

Don’t assume the nearest filling station is the cheapest.

Compare prices around where you live or along journeys you’re already making. Driving several miles out of your way to save a tiny amount per litre can wipe out the saving.

Loyalty offers such as Asda’s can help too, but only when you would have met the spending requirements anyway.

You can use services displaying government Fuel Finder data to compare petrol and diesel prices near you.

You can also reduce how much fuel you use by keeping your tyres at the correct pressure, removing unnecessary weight from the car and combining shorter journeys where possible.

With diesel approaching £2 a litre on average, even small savings can start to make a difference to the monthly household budget.