Drivers risking £5,000 fines as ‘bilking’ at | Tech News

Petrol and diesel drivers are risking £5,000 fines and even jail time for ‘bilking’ at petrol stations. This is the title given to filling up with petrol after which zooming off with out paying. And new figures launched by fuel theft restoration company Pay My Fuel have revealed that drive-off fuel theft has elevated by 62% year-on-year.

Data seen by the BBC exhibits the average weekly charge of drive-offs per forecourt elevated from 2.1 in March 2025 to three.4 in the identical month this yr. The business, which supplies a service to 1,400 forecourts, mentioned the average worth of fuel stolen per incident rose by 46% over the identical period. Since the conflict within the Middle East started on February 28, the associated fee of filling a typical 55-litre household car with fuel has risen by £14 for petrol and £27 for diesel. Right now, petrol is 157.47p per litre and diesel is 190.13p per litre.

Bilking – additionally recognized as drive offs – contain somebody refuelling with no intention of paying, after which leaving.

One forecourt proprietor reported that the problem is costing him £2,000 per week throughout 5 places.

Ian Wolfenden, director of Pay My Fuel, instructed the BBC that drive-offs have develop into “a lot worse”.

He mentioned: “An average drive-off for one of our customers used to be £56, and now it’s gone up to £67.

“So if you consider they’re losing nearly £70 every two days, it’s not insignificant.”

Steve Gooding, director of motoring analysis charity the RAC Foundation, mentioned: “Sky-high pump prices might be tempting some to skip the forecourt without paying for their fuel, but this is theft, pure and simple.

“The last thing motorists need right now is for fuel prices to be nudged up still further by the thoughtless and selfish actions of these forecourt thieves.

“The key to preventing these thefts is to ensure those tempted to refuel without paying feel there is a real threat of being caught and punished, knowing that they will be recorded on camera surveillance systems and pursued by the police if they still choose to drive away.”

According to Motoring Research, stealing petrol with intent to steal it’s an offence beneath The Theft Act 1978.

The offence of Making Off Without Payment (MOWP) is printed in part three of the Act.

The Theft Act 1978 states: ‘A person who, knowing that payment on the spot for any goods supplied or service done is required or expected from him, dishonestly makes off without having paid as required or expected, and with intent to avoid payment of the amount due, shall be guilty of an offence.’

In critical circumstances, a individual discovered guilty of Making Off Without Payment may face a most of two years in jail and an limitless superb. Defendants convicted in a Magistrates’ Court will be fined up to £5,000 and/or jailed for up to 6 months.

But, police might not examine except there’s proof of legal intent. If petrol station workers consider the act of making off with out fee was unintentional or unintended, they’re suggested to contact the DVLA. The retailer can then search to recoup the losses utilizing the main points of the car’s registered keeper, says Motoring Research.