The Government has announced an extension of the fuel duty freeze until the end of 2026 in an effort to ease the burden of recent fuel price hikes.
Originally due to end in September, the reduced fuel tax rate has been extended to help combat rising fuel costs due to the conflict in the Middle East. Petrol is now priced at 158.52p per litre, an increase of 19.3%, while diesel has risen by 30.6%.
Another factor in the decision to extend the 5p fuel duty cut has been the fall in fuel purchasing in April, which saw a drop of 10.2% compared to March, the largest decrease since November 2020. Retailers suggest that the decrease is due to motorists making fewer journeys and delaying filling up their vehicles in the face of higher prices.
The increased prices at the pumps are encouraging more UK drivers to make the switch to electric cars, with registrations of EVs surging by 59.1% in April this year, compared to April 2025. Increased demand for EVs means it is even more important for the accident aftercare industry to offer EV drivers the same level of service as ICE car owners’ vehicles.
Motor Assist provides a full suite of incident management services with its network of approved bodyshops that can repair all powertrain types, as well as like-for-like replacement vehicles when needed, including EVs.
EValuate, Motor Assist’s latest initiative, gives ICE car drivers in need of a replacement vehicle the opportunity to choose an EV to experience electric vehicle motoring in an extended real-world test drive.
