Queues have been growing at petrol stations across the UK as drivers rush to fill up amid fears of rising fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict. Some forecourts have reported running dry, with signs appearing at pumps reading “Sorry out of use”.

But here’s what you need to know: there is no fuel shortage. The UK has plenty of petrol and diesel in supply. What we’re seeing is a demand spike driven by concern, not a supply crisis.

What’s Actually Happening

Reports have emerged of queues stretching onto roads at stations including Costco Vauxhall and Go 24 Hour Express in Kirkdale, Liverpool. In south London, a Valero Garage in Beckenham ran out of petrol on Monday evening after a rush of customers, with some arriving with petrol cans to stockpile fuel.

Similar scenes have been reported at the Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester and at various stations across London and the South East.

There Is No Shortage

The Government has confirmed there are currently no reported impacts to UK fuel supply. The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “The UK benefits from strong and diverse security of energy supplies.”

What’s happening is a repeat of what we saw in 2021: when drivers all try to fill up at once, local stations temporarily run dry even though national supplies are completely stable. It’s a logistics issue, not a supply issue.

Tanker deliveries continue as normal. The fuel exists. It just takes time to replenish individual stations when demand spikes unexpectedly.

Expert Advice: Don’t Panic Buy

AA president Edmund King has been clear: “There is no need for drivers to break their refuelling routine. It takes time for cost increases to work their way through to the pump.”

He added: “Most car commuters will already have filled up for the start of the working week. They now have 300 miles or more in their tank – plenty of time to gauge what is happening at the pumps.”

Liberal Democrat MP Luke Taylor added: “Nobody should be panic buying. We’ve seen scares in the past with long queues outside petrol stations and it helps absolutely no-one.”

RAC head of policy Simon Williams stressed: “While the conflict in the Middle East undoubtedly has the potential to push up pump prices in the UK, it’s not a certainty. The oil price would have to rise significantly and stay that way for some time to have a dramatic effect.”

What About Prices?

Yes, prices are likely to rise gradually over the coming weeks due to higher oil costs. Current averages sit at 132.14p for petrol and 142.15p for diesel. Experts suggest prices could return to early January levels of around 135.7p for petrol if oil prices remain elevated.

But this is a gradual process, not an overnight spike. Panic buying now won’t save you money – it just creates the very queues and temporary shortages everyone is trying to avoid.

How to Save Fuel and Money

Rather than rushing to fill up, focus on making your current tank go further:

Drive smoothly – Aggressive acceleration and braking can increase fuel consumption by up to 30%. Anticipate traffic flow and maintain steady speeds.

Check your tyre pressures – Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and fuel consumption. Check them at least monthly.

Remove unnecessary weight – Clear out your boot. Every extra 50kg increases fuel consumption by around 2%.

Avoid idling – If you’re stationary for more than a minute, switch off the engine. Modern cars don’t need to “warm up”.

Use air conditioning sparingly – Air con can increase fuel consumption by up to 10% in urban driving.

Plan your journeys – Combine trips where possible. A warm engine is more fuel-efficient than a cold one.

Stick to speed limits – Driving at 70mph uses up to 9% more fuel than 60mph, and up to 15% more than 50mph.

Shop Around When You Do Fill Up

This means the difference between the cheapest and most expensive station in your area could be 15-20p per litre or more. A quick check on CheckFuelPrices before you fill up could save you £5-10 per tank – far more than any panic buying would achieve.

The Bottom Line

The UK has fuel. Supplies are not at risk. What creates shortages is everyone trying to fill up at the same time based on fear rather than need.

If your tank is half full, you don’t need to queue for an hour to top it up. If you normally fill up on Fridays, stick to that routine. The fuel will be there.

Prices may rise gradually over the coming weeks, but panic buying doesn’t beat that – it just makes things worse for everyone, including yourself.

Fill up when you need to, shop around for the best price, and drive efficiently. That’s how you actually save money.