The annual cost of filling your car has increased by 17pc in the past year, as fuel prices reach new record highs, writes Trish Whelan.
AA Ireland also notes that fuel prices are at their highest since they started recording figures in 1991.
The national average price of fuel currently stands at 177.3 cents per litre for petrol and 167.6 cents per litre for diesel, an increase of 33pc for petrol and 34pc for diesel in the past year.
In February 2021, fuel prices were 133.8 cents per litre for petrol with diesel at 124.9 cents per litre. In February 2020, petrol stood at 141.9c and diesel at 133.4 cents.
A recent AA Ireland Twitter poll (501 votes in 24 hours) found that 84pc of people have been ‘significantly impacted’ by the high cost of fuel in Ireland.
With figures based on the average mileage of 17,000km per year, a 50-litre fuel tank and a travel range of 700km per tank, in 2020 filling your petrol car cost €64 while the average price per litre was €1.28. This cost you €1,554 to fill your car across the year. In 2021, the cost of filling your petrol car amounted to €75.50 when the average petrol price was €1.51. This amounted to €1,833 for the year; a €279 increase compared to 2020.
So far in 2022, the average price of petrol stands at €1.77 per litre, so it will cost you €88.50 to fill your vehicle. This, the AA say, would cost you €2,149 for the year and is a €595 increase on 2020 figures and a €315 increase on last year’s figures.
The current prices before tax are added stand at 79.375 cents per litre for petrol and 82.358 for diesel. These taxes include Excise, Carbon Tax, National Oil Reserves Agency tax, and VAT.
In a Twitter poll, the AA found 86pc of those polled said tax should be reduced at the pumps, while 14pc said it should not.
Asking if people are considering switching their mode of transport away from combustion engine vehicles as a result of high fuel prices, of those that voted yes, 17pc voted for an electric vehicle, 7pc for public transport and 22pc voted for walking or cycling. Some 54pc voted for none of the above.
