The cost of petrol and diesel has been rising since the Middle East conflict began14:55, 01 Jun 2026Petrol drivers are facing average charges of £123 in June if they cover a typical mileage in a standard petrol vehicle. Motorists are now all too familiar with the spiralling cost of petrol and diesel, with the Middle East conflict having caused fuel prices to surge.‌Back in January, the Express reported petrol was sitting at 134.97p per litre and diesel at 142.96p. As of Friday, May 29, petrol currently stands at 159.48p per litre and diesel at 184.31p, representing increases of 55p and 38p respectively since the beginning of 2026.‌According to motoring and insurance website Nimblefins, the average fuel efficiency of UK petrol cars is 36mpg, meaning that, based on Friday's petrol price per litre as of May 1, it now costs a substantial 20p per mile to run the typical petrol car.‌The typical driver covers 7,400 miles annually, according to Britannia Car Leasing. Spread evenly throughout the year, this equates to 616 miles monthly, which at 20p per mile would cost a driver £123.Motoring research charity the RAC Foundation calculated that pump price rises since the Middle East conflict erupted on February 28 have resulted in motorists paying an extra half a billion pounds for petrol and £1.5billion for diesel, reports the Express.‌The analysis also reveals the additional VAT collected by the Treasury due to higher fuel costs exceeds £336million.The figures are calculated using average daily pump price increases and last year's fuel consumption data. VAT on road fuel is levied at 20% on top of the combined cost of the product and fuel duty, with the latter currently sitting at nearly 53p per litre.Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "This is another unwelcome milestone for millions of motorists as the financial pain caused by the war in the Persian Gulf continues to mount up.‌"As ministers themselves have warned, the economic effects of the conflict could last for months even after it has ended."The owners of diesel vehicles have borne the largest brunt of the pump price hikes, many of whom will be commercial users with little choice but to pass on their costs to their customers."Whether we are drivers or not, we all end up feeling the pinch from sky-high forecourt fuel prices."Article continues belowIn the wake of the recent surge in prices, the government has now confirmed it will extend the temporary fuel duty cut of 5p for one further occasion. Originally set to expire in September, the cut knocked 5p per litre off the price of fuel at the pumps.Amid mounting cost of living pressure from motorists, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the cut will be extended once again, running through to the end of 2026.