Fuelcards.co.uk fuel prices news: UK drivers hit hard by petrol tax

UK motorists have been hit five times harder by petrol tax after the credit crunch than neighbouring European countries, according to research by the AA.

The AA Fuel for Thought research revealed that fuel duty and VAT has gone up by 11.46 per cent on a tank of petrol in the UK since the Pre-Budget Report on 24 November 2008.

This is in contrast to an average of 5.07 per cent across 10 European countries including France and Germany.  In Austria, the rise was 2.23 per cent.

AA President Edmund King said: “Petrol and diesel are necessities for the majority of the population and businesses, yet are taxed as luxuries. Further increases could back-fire on economic recovery."

Fuel duty is to rise again on 1April. 

The Road Haulage Association and the Fuelcard Company have joined the chorus of industry bodies and motoring groups calling for an end to fuel duty increases. 

It is calculated that cumulative fuel duty increases would amount to 20 per cent over two years if another increase planned for the forthcoming budget goes ahead.

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