The cost of driving 200 miles in the UK depends on your fuel type, your vehicle's efficiency, and current pump or charging prices. With petrol at 174.07p a litre and diesel at 199.22p (UK averages for the week of 26 October 2026), home electricity at the Ofgem price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh and public rapid charging at around 79p, the difference between fuel types over 200 miles is large enough to change which mode of transport makes sense.
200 miles: petrol vs diesel vs EV
Cost across vehicle types and efficiencies, at current UK average pump and charging prices:
| Vehicle Type | Efficiency | Cost for 200 Miles | Cost per Mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol, efficient hatch | 50 MPG | £31.65 | 15.8p |
| Petrol, average saloon | 40 MPG | £39.57 | 19.8p |
| Petrol, older / SUV | 30 MPG | £52.76 | 26.4p |
| Petrol, large 4x4 | 20 MPG | £79.13 | 39.6p |
| Diesel, efficient hatch | 60 MPG | £30.19 | 15.1p |
| Diesel, saloon | 50 MPG | £36.23 | 18.1p |
| Diesel, SUV | 40 MPG | £45.28 | 22.6p |
| Diesel, van | 30 MPG | £60.38 | 30.2p |
| EV, home (Ofgem price cap rate) | 3.5 mi/kWh | £15.04 | 7.5p |
| EV, public rapid charger | 3.5 mi/kWh | £45.14 | 22.6p |
Key takeaway: An electric car charged at home at the price cap rate covers 200 miles for £15.04, and an off-peak EV tariff can cut that by more than half. The same journey in a 30 MPG petrol SUV costs £52.76. The cheapest combustion options, a 50 MPG petrol (£31.65) or a 60 MPG diesel (£30.19), cost roughly twice the home-charged EV. Public rapid charging at around 79p per kWh costs £45.14, more than the 40 MPG petrol saloon.
This guide gives an estimate, not financial advice. For decisions about your own money, check with a qualified adviser or HMRC.
The Budget changes were announced on 28 October 2026. Some details are still being confirmed and may change before they take effect, and we update this page as they do.
How the calculation works
For petrol and diesel:
Cost = (Distance / MPG) x 4.546 x Price per litre
4.546 converts imperial gallons to litres. So 200 miles at 40 MPG with petrol at 174.07p:
(200 / 40) x 4.546 = 22.73 litres, and 22.73 x 174.07p = £39.57
For electric vehicles:
Cost = (Distance / Miles per kWh) x Price per kWh
200 miles at 3.5 mi/kWh at the 26.32p price cap rate: 200 / 3.5 = 57.1 kWh, and 57.1 x 26.32p = £15.04
Current UK fuel and charging prices
- Petrol: 174.07p per litre, UK average for the week of 26 October 2026 (DESNZ weekly road fuel prices)
- Diesel: 199.22p per litre, same week and source
- Electricity (home): 26.32p per kWh, the Ofgem price cap average unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026. An off-peak EV tariff can cut this by more than half overnight; check your own tariff
- Electricity (public rapid charger): 79p per kWh, Zapmap pay-as-you-go average for 50kW and faster, September 2026
200 miles by train, coach or car
200 miles is roughly Manchester to London, Birmingham to Newcastle, or Leeds to Plymouth-ish. The transport options compared on cost alone:
| Mode | Typical One-Way Cost |
|---|---|
| EV (home, Ofgem price cap rate) | £15.04 |
| Coach | £15 - 35 |
| Petrol (50 MPG) | £31.65 fuel only |
| Train (advance) | £30 - 80 |
| Diesel (50 MPG) | £36.23 fuel only |
| Petrol (40 MPG) | £39.57 fuel only |
| EV (public rapid) | £45.14 |
| Train (walk-up) | £100+ |
EV at home is the cheapest mode for 200 miles. Coach is cheapest for petrol/diesel travellers without an EV. Train is competitive on advance tickets and rarely cheaper at walk-up. Driving cost in the table above is fuel only and excludes parking, tolls, congestion charges and depreciation.
Annual cost if you drive 200 miles a week
10,400 miles per year, at the prices above:
| Vehicle | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| EV (home, Ofgem price cap rate) | £782.08 |
| Petrol 50 MPG | £1,646 |
| Diesel 50 MPG | £1,884 |
| Petrol 40 MPG | £2,057 |
| Diesel 40 MPG | £2,355 |
| EV (public rapid only) | £2,347 |
| Petrol 30 MPG | £2,743 |
Fuel Duty Rises on 1 July 2027
Fuel duty stays at 52.95p a litre until 30 June 2027 after the Budget on 28 October 2026, which cancelled the rises planned for January and March 2027. From 1 July 2027 it is set to be 60.59p. With VAT that adds 9.17p a litre, so 200 miles in a 40 mpg petrol car would cost about £2.08 more. Read our guide to the July 2027 rise for the details.
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