Extra £100 a year to fill up the car

MOTORISTS face paying an extra £100 a year in petrol bills after average pump prices surged past £1.70 a litre for the first time.

Industry figures yesterday showed average petrol prices hit a record 170.35p a litre. Diesel also hit an all-time high of 181.35p, meaning filling up the average 55-litre tank in a family car with the fuel – currently costing £99.70 – looks set to rise above £100 for the first time within days.

For petrol, the average cost of filling up is now £93.70. Only a month ago petrol prices averaged 16 .08p a litre, meaning a fill-up is now £4.50 more expensive.

With the average motorist filling up twice a month, drivers face shelling out £108 more on their annual petrol bill than at last month’s prices.

Analysis by the AA also shows it was nearly £ 3 cheaper to fill up this time last year – £70.93 versus £93.70.

Simon Williams of the RAC called on the Government to slash VAT on fuel to further help motorists.