The price on the pump already includes fuel duty and VAT. Fuel Finder lets you see those amounts alongside the price at the station you are considering, with the remainder covering the fuel, its supply and retail costs. Here is how to find the breakdown and understand what it tells you.
See the breakdown for a nearby station
- Open Fuel Finder and search for a town or postcode, or use your location.
- Choose petrol or diesel, then select a station from the map or results.
- Look below its displayed price for What makes up this price? You will see fuel duty, VAT and the remaining fuel, supply and retail amount per litre.
- Tap How is this calculated? to read the explanation and follow the government source links.
The figures use the station price already on screen, so there is no need to type it into a separate calculator. On a phone, they appear in the station details. On a larger screen, they appear in the station's map popup.
Screenshots captured on 24 September 2026. The displayed station price is an example and may have changed.
How much of the pump price is VAT?
Standard VAT on petrol and diesel is 20%, but the VAT included in the final price is one sixth of that price. This is because VAT is added to the amount before VAT: £100 plus £20 VAT makes £120. The £20 is one sixth of the £120 total.
For a VAT-inclusive fuel price, the calculation is:
VAT included = pump price × 20 ÷ 120 = pump price ÷ 6.
A £60 petrol or diesel purchase therefore contains £10 of VAT. Taking 20% of £60 would give £12, which overstates the VAT already included. VAT also applies to the fuel duty within the price.
A worked example at 168.7p per litre
At an illustrative pump price of 168.7p per litre, the breakdown is:
- VAT: 28.12p, calculated as 168.7 ÷ 6 and rounded.
- Fuel duty: 52.95p, the current standard rate per litre.
- Fuel, supply and retail: 87.63p, the amount remaining after those taxes.
Those displayed amounts add up to 168.70p. Fuel duty and VAT together account for 81.07p of this example. The example explains the calculation; it is not a claim about today's national average or the price at every station.
The breakdown rounds to one hundredth of a penny per litre. Multiplying the rounded figures by a full tank can produce a small difference from VAT calculated and rounded on the final transaction.
The remainder is not the station's profit
The 87.63p left in this example covers the fuel itself, transport, operating costs, and supplier and retailer margins. The pump price alone cannot tell us how much profit an individual forecourt makes. That is why Fuel Finder labels this part Fuel, supply & retail.
Use the breakdown alongside a price comparison
Understanding tax helps explain a price, but the total pump price still matters when deciding where to fill up. Compare nearby stations selling the fuel you need and check the reported price timestamp. A recently reported price is more useful than an old one, although prices can change before you arrive.
A station charging 5p less per litre would save £2.50 on 50 litres, before any extra travel costs. Consider the distance, fuel used and time involved in a detour, especially for a smaller fill. A convenient station already on your route may be the better choice.
Compare nearby fuel prices and open a station to see its breakdown.
Rates and sources
Checked on 24 September 2026. GOV.UK's fuel tax guidance confirms standard VAT of 20% and petrol and diesel duty of 52.95p per litre. The amended 2026 to 2027 duty schedule keeps that duty rate through 31 December 2026. This is an indicative price explanation, not a VAT receipt.