Your privacy is as important to us as your safety on the road
To provide you with the best online experience, Kwik Fit and our partners use technologies such as cookies to store local information on your device. Consenting to our recommended technologies allows us and our partners to process data such as your browsing behaviour or individual identifiers on this website.
Click the green button below to consent with our recommended settings or you may switch the performance and targeting categories on or off individually, then save your settings. You can freely update your choices at any time and view the full list of cookies that may be placed by clicking the Cookies link in the footer of every page of our website.
BP, Esso, Tesco, and Shell have all recently warned of a fuel shortage and it has the country’s petrol stations in a frenzy. Hundreds of forecourts across the UK have tailbacks and frustrated drivers all queuing to get their petrol. But why? Where did this so-called ‘fuel crisis’ come from, and what does it mean for UK drivers? In this blog, the Kwik Fit team will unpack the latest news about the fuel shortages spreading across the UK and advise drivers on the best course of action to take until normality is restored.
What is the fuel crisis?
As of September 2021, fuel prices are at the highest they’ve been for 8 years. Throw that into the mix with HGV driver shortages, increased borders and customs waiting times, panic buying, and Brexit complications, and you’ve got yourself a fuel crisis.
In a recent statement, BP revealed that around 30% of their stations have now run out of both of the main petrol types. BP’s head of retail, Hana Hofer, added on Thursday that the ‘urgency of the situation’ is ‘bad, very bad’. While they, and other fuel companies, are working to ‘resupply as rapidly as possible’, thousands of drivers have already been affected by the shortage.
According to the executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), Gordon Balmer, the worst-affected areas are London and the South-east; however, as the crisis worsens, more and more areas are experiencing shortages.
Why is there a fuel shortage?
Although you would assume that a national petrol shortage is caused by, well, a shortage of petrol, it is actually a shortage of people that’s causing the chaos.
While petrol remains in relatively strong supply, it is the HGV drivers and hauliers required to transport the petrol that the UK is running low on.
Ever since hauliers have had to present a separate qualification at borders in order to transport hazardous substances like petrol, the movement of these goods has been much slower. Of course, there are other factors too, though.
Since Brexit and COVID struck, empty shelves and gridlock have not been uncommon sights in the UK due to the shortage of HGV drivers.
What’s more, haulage as an industry has suffered a lot recently due to the difficult working conditions putting off new recruits and an ageing driver population. The Road Haulage Association reports that not only is the average HGV driver age 57, but less than half of all qualified HGV drivers are actually on the roads. To make matters worse, roughly 25,000 HGV drivers from the EU left in 2020.
As a result of all these problems, it is estimated that around 100,000 drivers are needed in order for the distribution of fuel to be stabilised — and that may not happen for a while.
The problem with "panic buying"
Over the weekend, queues of drivers lined up outside petrol stations, rushing to fill up their cars and jerry cans before supplies ran out. It seems that a pandemic-like mass-hysteria about fuel has set in after some major suppliers have warned they may run short on supplies.
We’ve seen it all before with toilet paper during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and now it’s happening again with petrol.
Understandably, the government is urging people not to panic-buy or hoard fuel as this only worsens the situation. And, as of Monday, Boris Johnson has even rumoured of the army’s intervention to control the forecourt frenzy.
Why the need for extreme action? Because panic buying elevates the problem tenfold. While, initially, the shortages were mere rumours, the panic buying of petrol has now caused up to 90% of stations to run dry according to the Greater Manchester News.
As a result, transport secretary, Grant Schapps, is insistently urging drivers to “carry on as normal” and not hoard fuel.
How can you help yourself and others?
While the fuel crisis is likely to affect all drivers in one way or another, you can minimise its impact on your daily life by being prepared.
Don’t, by any means, hoard fuel, as this will only make problems worse.
What you can do, however, is keep your tank at least a quarter full in case you have to drive to another station to fill up or get caught short. The PRA continues to encourage drivers not to panic buy but abide by the ‘quarter tank’ rule in an attempt to control the queues at stations.
Another way to minimise the fuel crisis impact on you and your family is to familiarise yourself with the status of the fuel stations near you. Keep up with the news to see if your local station has closed. If so, locate the nearest one that is open and alert those in your community of the changes too.
In the meantime, any questions you may have surrounding fuel efficiency or vehicle maintenance, get in touch with the experts at your local Kwik Fit centre for reliable, trustworthy advice.
Your car’s air con uses a surprising amount of fuel to keep you cool, especially if it’s low on refrigerant & working overtime. Find out the exact figures here.
The yearly MOT test is dreaded by many drivers, but how long does the actual MOT test take, and what goes into it? Here’s what affects the length of your test.
Looking for a more luxurious, peaceful drive? Silent tyres could be the answer with their clever technology. Discover how these tyres work in our latest blog.
Your tyre size can be found on the sidewall of your current tyre and is a sequence of numbers and letters. The most common tyre size in the UK is 205/55R16 but there are many variations so it’s important to check your existing tyre first before searching for tyres.
Tip: Take a photo of your existing tyre sidewall to make it easier to identify your tyre size using the guide below.
The first three digits. This displays the width of the tyre in millimetres. A tyre marked 225 will measure 225mm across the tread from sidewall to sidewall.
Aspect Ratio
The fourth and fifth digits of the tyre code that immediately follow the tyre width. The aspect ratio or profile height of the tyre sidewall is expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. So an aspect ratio of 55 for example means that the profile height of the tyre is 55% of its width.
Rim Diameter
The next two digits represent the size of the wheel rim that the tyre can be fitted to. It is also the diameter of the tyre from bead to bead. So a tyre marked 16 will fit on a 16-inch wheel rim.
Speed Rating
The speed rating of a tyre is represented by a letter of the alphabet at the end of the tyre size code and indicates the maximum speed capability of the tyre. Tyres receive a speed rating based on a series of tests which measure the tyres capability to handle a set speed for a prolonged period of time.
Select your tyre speed rating to find out the maximum speed your tyres can maintain.
If you are unsure what speed rating you need, be sure to check your vehicle handbook. Choosing a lower speed rating than that recommended by your vehicle manufacturer could potentially invalidate your insurance.
Load Rating
The load index provides information on the maximum weight capability for the tyre. The load index is a numerical code that can be located just after the tyre size marking and before the speed rating.
Select your load index to find out the maximum load capability for your tyres.
Although not illegal, it is not advisable to have tyres with a lower speed rating or load index than the manufacturer recommended tyre specification for your vehicle, or to have a combination of different tyre construction types. Consult your vehicle handbook to confirm your vehicle’s tyre speed rating and load index as well as any additional requirements.
Contact our team for help and advice with a new or existing booking. We’ll help direct your enquiry to the appropriate department.
{MODALTITLE}
{MODALBODY}
{MODALTITLE}
{MODALBODY}
{MODALTITLE}
{MODALBODY}
Select Tyre Size
Front Tyre Size
Rear Tyre Size
We endeavour to ensure we are displaying the correct tyres for your vehicle. However, we recommend all customers check the tyre size printed on the side wall of their tyres before proceeding with a tyre purchase as occasionally discrepancies do occur. By selecting the tyre sizes above and clicking 'Continue', you are indicating that you have checked your tyre sizes.
Please select your front and rear tyre size before clicking 'Continue'.
We have identified the tyre size(s) that may fit your {VEHICLE}. Please select your front tyre size and rear tyre size below before clicking 'Continue'.
Filter Your Results
You have selected:
To continue with your booking, please select your appointment time from the list below.
Please note: There is a slope that the vehicle must be driven up to reach the vehicle ramp at this centre. This may prevent us from being able to work on some high-performance vehicles, Tesla vehicles or vehicles that have been lowered. If your vehicle has low ground clearance, please contact the centre team on 01342 314 111 before booking.
Appointment time:
This is the only appointment time available on this day. To continue with your booking, please select "Reserve Your Appointment" below.
Please note:
If you selected an appointment on a Bank Holiday Monday, please bring your car to the centre at 10:00am rather than the time shown below.