If you have ever pulled into a motorway service station and winced at the price board, you are not imagining it. Motorway fuel is significantly more expensive than supermarket forecourts, and the gap is bigger than most drivers realise. We compared live prices across every motorway service station in the data and the big four supermarkets to find out exactly how much more you are paying.
The numbers
Motorway services (E10)
- 1Shell£1.743
- 2BP£1.787
- 3Esso£1.788
- 4Welcome Break£1.817
Supermarkets (E10)
- 1ASDA£1.544
- 2Tesco£1.547
- 3Sainsbury's£1.548
- 4Morrisons£1.553
The gap between the average motorway E10 (177p) and the supermarket average (155p) is roughly 22p per litre. On a 50 litre fill that is an extra £11 every single time you fill up on the motorway. Compared to the cheapest operator (Welcome Break at 181.7p versus ASDA at 154.4p), the gap stretches to over 27p.
Diesel is even worse
Motorway diesel averages just over 200p per litre right now. Supermarket diesel averages 184p per litre. That is a 16p per litre difference, adding up to nearly £10 on a typical 60 litre diesel fill.
Welcome Break is the most expensive of the major operators on diesel at around 205p per litre, followed by BP motorway services at 203p. Shell motorway sites are comparatively cheaper at 196p, though still well above any supermarket forecourt.
Why is motorway fuel so expensive?
Motorway service operators pay significantly higher rents for their locations, face less local competition, and know that drivers who are low on fuel have limited options. There is no legal cap on fuel prices in the UK, so operators charge what the market will bear. The Competition and Markets Authority has investigated fuel pricing but motorway services have largely remained exempt from the scrutiny applied to local forecourts.
How to avoid motorway fuel prices
The simplest approach is to fill up before you leave. Check Finding Fuel for the cheapest station near your starting point or near a motorway junction before you join. Many motorway junctions have supermarket forecourts within a mile or two of the slip road, and a short detour can save you over £10 on a single fill.
If you do need fuel on a motorway, Shell tends to be the cheapest of the major operators based on current data, averaging around 174p for E10 compared to 182p at Welcome Break.
The bottom line
Motorway service fuel costs an average of 16p to 22p more per litre than a supermarket forecourt depending on fuel type. Over a year, a driver filling up twice a month who avoids motorway services entirely could save around £290. Plan ahead, fill up early, and use Finding Fuel to find the cheapest station on your route.
Prices reflect live data on Finding Fuel as of 15 May 2026.