Short answer:
to work out the fuel cost of a UK journey, divide the miles by your car's MPG to get gallons, multiply by 4.546 to get litres, then multiply by the pump price. This calculator does it for you. Enter a start and end point, choose petrol, diesel or electric, and it finds the driving route, averages live pump prices along the way, and shows the total cost and suggested fuel stops for longer trips.
Plan your journey
Showing an average car (petrol, 45 MPG) - tap for details
This is an estimate for an average car. Enter your number plate above for a more accurate figure for your own car, or type your own MPG below.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Routing by OpenRouteService.
How your journey fuel cost is worked out
We find the fastest driving route between your two points, then take live pump prices from fuel stations near several points along that route and average them. Your total is the fuel your car uses over the distance, at that average price. Fuel used is the miles divided by your MPG, converted from gallons to litres. For an electric car it is the miles divided by your miles per kWh, multiplied by the price you pay per kWh.
Fuel stops on long journeys
On a longer trip we use your MPG and tank size to estimate how far you can go on a full tank, work out roughly where you would need to refuel, and show the average price and the cheapest station we found near each of those points. Filling up where it is cheaper can cut the cost of a long journey, and motorway services are usually dearer than a few miles off the route.
Petrol, diesel or electric
Flick between petrol, diesel and electric to compare. Electric costs depend heavily on where you charge: home charging is usually far cheaper per mile than public rapid charging. Use our EV charger finder to see rapid chargers near you, and the EV calculator to compare yearly running costs.
Journey cost questions
How do I work out the fuel cost of a journey?
Divide the journey distance in miles by your car's miles per gallon to get the gallons used, multiply by 4.546 to get litres, then multiply by the price per litre. Enter your start and end points here and the calculator does all of this and finds the route for you.
Where do the fuel prices come from?
Prices come from the UK government Fuel Finder scheme data, via a live feed of forecourt prices, so they reflect what stations near your route are charging. We average prices around several points along the journey and ignore obvious errors.
Is the estimate accurate?
It is a guide. Real-world MPG changes with speed, traffic, load, weather and driving style, and pump prices change daily and vary between stations. Treat the result as a good estimate rather than an exact figure.
What MPG should I use?
Use your car's real-world MPG if you know it. If you enter your number plate we fill in the fuel type and an estimated MPG from the car's CO2 figure, which you can overwrite. Official MPG figures are usually higher than what you will see on the road.
How are fuel stops worked out?
We estimate your range from your MPG and tank size, allowing a safety margin, then suggest stops at the points along the route where you would need to refuel and show nearby prices.
Can I work out the cost for an electric car?
Yes. Choose Electric, enter your car's miles per kWh and the price you pay per kWh. Home and public rapid presets are provided, and you can change either number to match your tariff or charging network.
Does it include tolls, congestion charges or parking?
No. The result covers fuel or electricity only. Tolls, congestion and clean air zone charges, and parking are not included. You can check zones with our ULEZ and clean air zone checker.
Is the journey cost calculator free?
Yes, it is free and needs no sign-up.
This calculator gives an estimate only and is general guidance, not financial or motoring advice. Fuel prices, routes, traffic and real-world fuel economy vary, so your actual cost will differ. Route data and map tiles are provided by OpenRouteService and OpenStreetMap contributors. MotifyMe® accepts no liability for decisions made using these figures.