UK Drivers Risk £100 Fine and Penalty Points by Running Low on Fuel While Chasing Cheaper Prices

British motorists hunting for cheaper petrol and diesel amid rising pump prices risk £100 fines and three penalty points for running out of fuel on the motorway, industry experts have warned. The caution comes as crude oil prices surge following renewed tensions in the Middle East, pushing wholesale fuel costs higher for UK retailers.

The Legal Risk of Running on Empty

Rule 97 of the Highway Code requires drivers to carry adequate fuel or charge for their journey, with particular emphasis on motorway travel. Breaching this rule by running out of fuel on a motorway can constitute careless driving, triggering a £100 fixed penalty and three points on a licence — on top of any vehicle recovery costs.

Lee Puffett, managing director of breakdown provider Start Rescue, said all motorists were “feeling the pinch” of elevated fuel costs but warned that chasing savings could prove counterproductive. “Driving several miles out of your way or making a dedicated trip to fill up could mean paying more overall and possibly running out of fuel altogether, especially as more drivers run their cars to near empty due to high costs,” he said.

Puffett added that a breakdown caused by fuel starvation could be particularly costly for drivers without breakdown cover. He advised motorists to monitor local forecourts and fill up when the gauge reaches roughly a quarter tank, rather than making dedicated detours.

Pump Prices: Petrol Rising, Diesel Falling

The RAC’s head of policy, Simon Williams, described the crude oil price spike as “a setback for drivers.” Unleaded petrol peaked at 158.31p per litre on 15 April before falling by more than a penny, but Williams warned that wholesale costs now make petrol more expensive for retailers to purchase than at any point since the current Middle East conflict began.

Diesel presents a different picture. Having fallen by 3p per litre, it remains well below its highest wholesale price since the start of the conflict, and Williams suggested it should fall further at the pumps.

The divergence between petrol and diesel wholesale trends reflects seasonal market dynamics. Petrol demand typically rises in spring as US driving increases, while diesel prices tend to ease as demand for heating oil — derived from the same crude oil fraction — falls with warming temperatures across Western Europe.