8:06 am, June 10, 2026
A government backed body has found that almost one in five motorists are having to cut vehicle use or household spending, in the face of rising fuel costs.
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) found that 17% of drivers now have to sometimes cut back on vehicle use or household expenses in order to pay for fuel, despite generally being able to afford it.
The study found that for 2% of drivers, fuel is simply unaffordable, as trips to the pump continue to rise in cost amid the continued conflict in the Middle East.
Of the 2,111 people who were interviewed as part of the poll, three-fifths (60%) of drivers surveyed said they were concerned by the cost of fuel, while just over half (51%) said they knew which petrol station close to their home offered the cheapest fuel.
MoneyHelper, a money and pensions guidance service operated by the MaPS, has now launched a petrol price finder tool, in a bid to help drivers manage budgets.
Anna Sharkey, head of money and pensions policy and propositions at the MaPS, said: ‘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 study was carried out for MaPs by YouGov. 1,370 of the people interviewed pay for fuel for a petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicle and drive it at least once a week.
