European drivers face €220 a year jump in fuel costs due to Iran conflict, say experts

Exclusive: Oil at $100 a barrel means higher prices in the EU and UK, making savings for those with electric vehicles even greater, analysts say

European drivers face paying an extra 220 (190) a year at the pumps because of the surge in oil prices caused by the war in Iran, analysts have warned. In the UK, a separate estimate puts the cost at an extra 140.

A sustained oil price of $100 a barrel, the level seen on Monday, would mean motorists in the EU paying 55bn more over a year, researchers at the Transport & Environment (T&E) thinktank estimated. That is the equivalent of an average of 220 for each driver, with higher-mileage drivers facing even bigger hikes. The assessment was made by comparing data from 2022, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine pushed the oil price to the $100 mark, with data from 2017-2019.