UK drivers issued warning over panic buying fuel amid Middle East conflict
Despite concerns that fuel prices may increase due to increasing conflicts in the Middle East, drivers are urged not to panic when buying gasoline.
Oil prices have already risen as the regional war enters its fourth day; analysts predict the impact will reach the preliminary courts within a few weeks.
However, given the delay before higher wholesale costs often hit the pump, drivers are advised not to change their fueling habits.
AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said: “Pump prices are rising; wholesale costs were rising even before the attacks on Iran at the weekend.
“But pump averages today are still below where they were at the beginning of the year, and petrol is almost 6.5pa a liter cheaper than this time last year. This makes a tank of petrol more than £3.50 cheaper than at the beginning of March 2025.”
“The fuel trade has reported a higher-than-expected increase in demand, but drivers are generally heeding advice to stick to their usual refueling routines.
“There’s no point in wasting time, fuel and money waiting in queues when drivers don’t need it.”
The automobile body said the increased demand did not cause queues on the roads.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said the impact of oil price increases should not be felt for at least a week.
Mr Williams said: “We really shouldn’t see a shock increase in pump prices as wholesale fuel costs have been rising gradually in recent weeks.
“Although the price of Brent crude oil futures increased by $5 per barrel yesterday to $78, its impact should not be felt for more than a week.”
He encouraged retailers not to increase the price of fuel currently in forecourt tanks.
“Knowing the tendency for price increases to be passed through much more quickly than cuts, we urge retailers on behalf of motorists not to increase the price of fuel they already hold in forecourt tanks and to pass on any increases in wholesale fuel fairly to the forecourt,” Mr Williams said.
Meanwhile, Gordon Balmer, chief executive of the Petroleum Retailers Association, said pump prices “will have to rise”.
“The conflict in the Middle East has increased the wholesale cost of gasoline and diesel, which will mean prices at the pump will have to rise,” he said.
“Rising fuel prices are harming the economy in the form of higher inflation and affecting household budgets that are already under pressure.
“To help motorists and businesses, I am writing to the Chancellor today urging him to abandon planned fuel duty increases.”
The Treasury was contacted to get an opinion on the issue.
