Petrol and diesel owners issued 5pm warning - ‘never do it’
Petrol and diesel owners across the UK have been issued a crucial fuel warning, with a leading expert urging drivers against a simple mistake.
Petrol and diesel car owners have been told to never fill up their vehicles after 5pm for two crucial reasons. Gordon Wallis, motoring expert from Your NRG, stressed that road users should dodge topping up after work to save money and beat the queues.
The roads are likely to be busier during rush hour, meaning petrol stations will be packed full of people. As well as reducing the amount of time spent waiting at fuel pumps, Gordon explained motorists could even secure a deal with pieces likely to be down.
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Gordon warned drivers never to fill up "during midday or at 5pm".
He said: “It's a good idea to fill up your gas tank during late evenings or early mornings because fewer people buy fuel, so the prices are lower. Drivers should try to avoid filling up during midday or after 5pm when most people are done with work, as queues can quickly form."
It's not uncommon for petrol prices to fluctuate throughout the day, with off-peak hours likely to be cheaper. Prices can change due to wholesale market changes, competition with local stores or even external crude oil costs.
According to analysis from RAC Fuel Watch, petrol and diesel fuel prices have slightly dipped at the start of 2026. Unleaded fuel currently sits at a UK average of 135.28p per litre, down on the 137p recorded last month.
Meanwhile, diesel costs have also dropped, with motorists now paying 144.18p per litre, down on 146p in December.
Despite the warning, Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis revealed heading to a petrol station later in the evening was likely to be the best time. The finance guru stressed that road users desperate to eke out every drop could get a ‘tiny but extra” fuel by visiting after hours.
He previously explained: “Talk of filling up at night getting you more is a slight urban myth, as the difference is miniscule - pennies at best. Fuel pumps are calibrated by volume, so fill up at night when it's colder and you get a tiny, tiny bit extra."
