Fleet diesel prices remain 44ppl above February levels despite May easing, says Allstar

Diesel prices for UK fleet operators remain significantly higher than they were at the start of the year, despite a modest easing in May, according to new data from Allstar. Analysis of aggregated fleet fuel card transactions between February and May 2026 shows average UK fleet diesel prices rose by 47.92 pence per litre between February and April before falling by 3.49 pence in May. Despite the reduction, operators are still paying an average of 44.43 pence per litre more than they were in February.

The data highlights a period of significant fuel price volatility, with diesel rising by 20.97 pence per litre in March and a further 26.95 pence in April as global crude oil prices increased.

Regional differences remain

While every UK region recorded a fall in diesel prices during May, the pace of recovery varied considerably. Northern Ireland recorded the lowest diesel prices in the UK, with Co Londonderry averaging 175.05 pence per litre. The seven cheapest diesel regions were all located in Northern Ireland.

At the opposite end of the scale, Monmouthshire recorded the highest average diesel price in May at 190.64 pence per litre. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive regions widened from 12.78 pence in April to 15.59 pence in May, suggesting some areas are seeing costs fall more quickly than others. Greater London remained above the national average throughout the four-month period, recording an average diesel price of 187.95 pence per litre in May compared with the UK average of 186.64 pence.

Paul Holland, Managing Director for UK/ANZ Vehicle Payments at Corpay, including UK brand Allstar, said: "The three months covered by this data illustrates exactly the kind of fuel price volatility that makes cost management so challenging for fleet operators and drivers. "The challenge for businesses is no longer simply that fuel is expensive. It is the speed and unpredictability with which prices are moving.

When diesel prices can rise by almost 27p in a single month and then reverse course the following month, having real visibility and control over fuel spend becomes essential." The findings are based on aggregated fuel card transaction data from UK fleet customers and reflect real-world pump prices paid by operators across the country. UK national averages (pence per litre)

England figures represent a calculated average across all English regions in the Allstar dataset.

More Information

Allstar - Allstar Corpay - Corpay

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