Forecourt operators are dealing with a shock rise in drivers claiming to be unable to pay for diesel after filling up, with a 40% increase in no-means-of-payment incidents for the fuel being recorded.
A comparison of non-payment incidents at 550 UK forecourts from September 1 to October 5 this year with the same period in 2025 shows diesel was significantly more likely to be drawn by customers who then claimed to be unable to pay – though there was also a 32% rise in unleaded no-means-of-payment incidents.
The spike comes as forecourt firms are facing shrinking margins, particularly for diesel, as they try to absorb price rises brough about by the Middle Eastern conflict, which has seen a litre from the black pump rise by almost 60p since March.
The data comes from Forecourt Eye, which also found there has been a significant rise in drive-offs, with diesel fuel thefts up 11.5% and unleaded ones jumping 11.6%.
Talking drive-offs and no means of payments together, the firm says forecourts have been subject to an 18.7% overall rise in non-payment incidents.
A spokesperson for Forecourt Eye comments: “Increases in nonpayment of fuel, whether it’s driving off after filling up or drivers saying they do not have a means to pay, tend to spike when fuel prices rise.
“We have seen this in every data release we have issued since the conflict in Iran began on 28 February.
“The current spike in diesel prices may show more increases in drive offs and no means of payment in the coming weeks, especially if prices remain high or rise further.”
They added: “Drivers declaring they have no means to pay after filling up has been a consistent rising trend since February. While there are genuine cases of no means to pay, we are seeing an increase in this being abused.”
