One in five drivers cutting vehicle use or household spending to pay for fuel

• New figures highlight the impact of rising fuel costs on household spending.
• MoneyHelper has launched new impartial and ad-free tool to help people find cheapest fuel.
• Petrol price finder uses latest government data and covers all of the UK.

At a time when fuel prices sit at almost historic high levels, a new survey of more than 2,000 adults shows the impact it is having on household finances.

The figures reveal 17% of drivers said they can afford fuel, but sometimes have to cut vehicle use or household expenses to pay for it, while 2% said it was simply unaffordable for them.

Of the drivers surveyed three in five (60%) said they were concerned by the cost of fuel, but just over half (51%) knew which petrol station close to their home offered the cheapest fuel.

To help support more informed decisions, a new impartial and ad-free tool to help drivers find the cheapest fuel in their area and save money, has been launched by MoneyHelper - the free and impartial money and pensions guidance service, operated by MaPS.

The petrol price finder toolOpens in a new window uses data from the government’s fuel finder service and covers all four nations of the UK. It not only allows users to manage their fuel costs and find the best price in the short-term, but crucially signposts them to further financial guidance through MoneyHelper, including budgeting tools, savings tips and help with benefits, supporting their long-term financial wellbeing.

The tool can also be made available for use by other organisations and displayed on their websites, helping more people access it easily in the places they already turn to for support.

Anna Sharkey, Head of Money and Pensions Policy and Propositions at the Money and Pensions Service says:

“We know that for many people, the cost of filling up is no longer just an inconvenience, it’s affecting everyday household decisions.

“Our new fuel finder tool is designed to give people practical, impartial help in the moment, while also connecting them to wider support on budgeting, benefits and managing their money in the long-term.”

The tool, available in both English and Welsh, uses data from the government fuel finder service, with petrol stations required to update within 30 minutes of a price change.

To use the free tool, for more impartial money and pensions guidance, or to use the new salary calculator that shows what you’ll typically earn after tax, National Insurance and other deductions, visit MoneyHelperOpens in a new window.

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• All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2111 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 30 April - 6 May 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). 
• *1370 of the people interviewed pay for fuel for a petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicle and drive it at least once a week. They are referred to as “drivers” in this release.