Why One Mile per Gallon Matters More to Us Than the Budget
The Chancellor delivers the Budget today, Wednesday 28 October. One of the decisions is fuel duty. It is 52.95p a litre now, and a 3p rise is planned for 1 January.
We cannot control the Budget. We can control how much fuel we use, and that matters more.
What the Budget’s decision is worth to us
Each of our vans covers about 60,000 miles a year. Depending on the work, a van does 25 to 30 miles per gallon:
- Vans use more fuel in London traffic than on a motorway run.
- A refrigerated van uses more fuel, because it has to run the fridge.
- A Luton van is tall, so it has to push more air out of the way.
At 25 to 30 miles per gallon, a van uses between 9,100 and 10,900 litres of diesel a year. That is about £5,000 a year in fuel duty for each van.
A 3p rise would add between £273 and £327 a year to each van’s fuel bill.
What one mile per gallon is worth
Diesel averaged 199.2p a litre this week. Before VAT, that is 166.0p. At that price, each extra mile per gallon saves one van between £520 and £700 a year. That is about twice the cost of the 3p rise.
| Miles per gallon | Diesel used in a year | Cost before VAT | Fuel duty in that cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 10,911 litres | £18,113 | £5,777 |
| 26 | 10,491 litres | £17,417 | £5,555 |
| 27 | 10,102 litres | £16,772 | £5,349 |
| 28 | 9,742 litres | £16,173 | £5,158 |
| 29 | 9,406 litres | £15,615 | £4,980 |
| 30 | 9,092 litres | £15,095 | £4,814 |
One van covering 60,000 miles a year, with diesel at 199.2p a litre (166.0p before VAT).
How we use less fuel
- FORS Silver. Our accreditation requires every driver to complete approved training on fuel use and emissions at least every two years. We renewed our FORS Silver accreditation earlier this month. Read more about our FORS Silver accredited courier services.
- Driver training. Smooth acceleration, steady speeds and gentle braking all save fuel. We explained why in The Cheapest Mile Is the One Driven Smoothly.
- Tracking. Our tracking system shows us how each van is driven, so we can help drivers to change habits that waste fuel.
What it means for our customers
Fuel is one of our biggest costs. Every litre we save helps to keep our costs down, and our customers’ costs too, whatever the Chancellor decides.
To see what a journey might cost, try our journey cost calculator. To book a van, call our control team on 01227 773030 or email control@invictacouriers.com, Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm.
Sources: GOV.UK weekly road fuel prices, week from 26 October 2026; House of Commons Library, Fuel duty: developments since 2022.
If you have something that needs moving, tell us what and where — our transport team will come back to you with a price.
Get a quote or call 01227 773030