Motorists are paying an extra £300 a year to fill up due to the rising cost of fuel , research shows.
The average litre of petrol costs 161p, according to government figures released today, close to all-time highs of 165.3p in March .
Diesel currently costs 176.22 a litre, and the record was 177.47p - also in March.
Higher prices for petrol and diesel mean petrol cars will cost £302 more to fill up in 2022 compared to 2021.
For diesel drivers it is even higher, at £323, according to research by GoCompare Car Insurance.
Across the country, drivers will pay £17.6billion more for petrol and £12.3billion extra for diesel this year.
The typical petrol car owner paid £866.35 to fill up their car in 2021, and that will go up to £1,168.39 this year.
For diesel drivers, fuel costs were £831.10 in 2021, rising to £1,154.79 this year.
This translates to a whopping 35% rise for petrol drivers and a 39% increase for diesel drivers.
A GoCompare statement said: "The impact of these rising prices has been compounded by the introduction of E10 fuel .
"This new fuel is less efficient than E5, which was used as the standard fuel last year, meaning drivers need to put more in their tank to go the same number of miles. This accounts for some of the £302 increase facing petrol users."
In fact, the report found that if petrol stays at its current price, the inefficiency of E10 alone will cost consumers £1.7billion a year.
This figure could increase even further if prices continue to rise.
Drivers looking to take journeys across the country are particularly likely to notice the extra fuel costs.
Driving from London to Glasgow in March 2021 would have burnt £45.97 worth of fuel, but in March 2022 the same journey would cost drivers £57.11 - an increase of £11.14.
In total, 77% of drivers said they are motivated to purchase fuel from the cheapest supplier.
However, only 10% research where to find the cheapest fuel available before filling up.
GoCompare motoring expert Ryan Fulthorpe said: “The increase in fuel prices is likely to worry many motorists, but there are a few ways consumers can combat the costs.
"Walking or using public transport, where possible, can make a big difference to fuel usage and bring down insurance costs by lowering your average annual mileage."
What is E10 petrol?
E10 is a greener type of fuel that replaced E5 as the standard for unleaded petrol from last September - and now even Formula 1 racing cars run on it.
Most garages in England, Scotland and Wales now sell E10 as their basic '95-octane' grade unleaded, with the option of E5.
But it's been controversial. Drivers who have been using E10 have complained that they’re getting fewer miles to the gallon - meaning they’re having to fill up more frequently.
When E10 was first rolled out, the government said it was 1% less efficient than E5, but that it was greener and cheaper.
E10 contains 10% bioethanol to 90% petrol, compared to 5% bioethanol in E5.
