BRITONS pay up to 20 percent more for a litre of petrol than some of their major European counterparts, a survey has revealed.
Soaring prices this summer, when a litre of petrol rose to 119 pence, sparked protests and forced the government to postpone a rise in fuel duty planned for October.
But Britons have consistently paid more for their petrol during the past eigh
t years, though the difference is narrowing, uSwitch.com said.
Petrol, based on July prices, is cheapest in Spain, where a litre is just 96 pence. Germany and Italy charge 3 pence (2 per cent) less than the UK, though eight years ago the difference was 19 pence (23 per cent) and 14 pence (18 per cent). France charges 114 pence.
British motorists spend the most money at the pumps – £1,753 a year each – and pay the most for their diesel – 133 pence a litre compared with the cheapest in Spain at 100 pence.
Calls were made last month for a windfall tax on the earnings of oil giants after they were accused of profiteering. The companies rebuffed calls, saying retail pump prices are the result of high levels of duty in Britain and elsewhere in Europe.
About 70 pence (59 percent) of the cost of a litre of petrol on British garage forecourts goes towards the Treasury's coffers. Without the tax, a litre would cost about 50 pence, uSwitch.com said.
But it is not the highest level of tax levied – Germany (62 per cent) and France (61 per cent) are higher. The average fuel tax across Europe is 57 per cent.
The UK is taxed most on diesel though, at 72 pence compared with 39 pence in Spain and 55 pence in France and Italy.
The full article contains 303 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
