April change means Land Rover drivers ‘hit with | Tech News

Land Rover homeowners are feeling the pinch on the pumps as diesel costs peaked more than 36% greater in April than they had been simply 9 weeks prior, in response to new evaluation by Land Rover Monthly. Weekly UK fuel price information from PetrolPrices.co.uk reveals that petrol climbed from 131.46p per litre on February 9, 2026, to 158.17p on April 13, 2026, a rise of 20.3%. Diesel surged from 140.72p per litre to 192.14p over the identical period, representing an increase of 36.5%.

Fuel costs have soared on the back of turmoil within the Middle East, with oil prices rocketing after US and Israeli strikes on Iran commenced on the finish of February, with no decision but in sight between the events concerned.

For many Land Rover homeowners, the results are felt most acutely on the forecourt. A 70-litre petrol fill-up on the April peak would have set drivers back round £110.72, in contrast with £92.02 in February. A 70-litre diesel fill-up would have value roughly £134.50, up from £98.50.

Land Rover Monthly’s evaluation additional revealed that, on the April fuel-price peak, almost £60 of a 70-litre diesel fill-up would have comprised fuel obligation and VAT alone. Fuel obligation is at present levied at 52.95p per litre on each petrol and diesel, whereas VAT is utilized at 20% on most fuel.

Land Rover Monthly said the fuel squeeze had emerged as one of essentially the most widespread considerations affecting the 4×4 group, particularly for homeowners who rely upon their autos for rural driving, work, towing, household use, reveals and long-distance journey. Nevertheless, the magazine famous the scenario was more nuanced than the stereotype of Land Rovers as mere “gas guzzlers”.

It revealed LRM evaluation of insurance-sector mileage and insured-value found that many older Land Rovers are actually treasured low-mileage autos moderately than day by day transport. Pre-1990 Land Rovers within the information averaged 1,425 miles yearly, whereas 1990 to 2000 autos averaged 3,188 miles.

In comparability, 2000-2016 Defenders in the identical information averaged 7,263 miles yearly, rendering them significantly nearer to bizarre on a regular basis autos in phrases of yearly use. The Department for Transport’s 2024 National Travel Survey positioned average car mileage at roughly 7,100 miles per 12 months.

The identical Land Rover Monthly evaluation found that basic Land Rovers keep substantial insured worth. Series I fashions, together with Minerva examples, ranged from £4,000 to £115,000, with an average insured worth of £22,389. Series II fashions averaged £11,834, Series III fashions averaged £11,467 and Land Rover 101 Forward Control fashions averaged £15,547. Defender, 90, 110 and 127 fashions up to 2016 displayed the broadest insured-value vary, with examples recorded from £2,500 to £180,000.

Steve Miller, writer of Land Rover Monthly, mentioned: “Fuel prices have become one of the biggest shared frustrations in the Land Rover community. Land Rovers are part of rural life, work, family memories and British motoring heritage. For some owners, they are cherished classics used sparingly. For others, especially later Defenders, they are still practical vehicles used week in, week out.

“What unites everyone seems to be that the price of fuel is being felt each time they fill up. When nearly £60 of tax will be constructed into a single 70-litre diesel fill-up, ministers need to recognise the stress on rural drivers, working autos and basic 4×4 lovers.

“That is why events like Land Rover Monthly Live matter. They bring the community together, not only to celebrate the vehicles, but to talk about the real issues affecting ownership today.”

Land Rover Monthly Live is set to return to the Three Counties Showground in Malvern on Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17, 2026. The two-day spectacular will embody tenting, commerce stands, membership shows, a dwell occasions area, autojumble, a beer tent, dwell music, household leisure and dog-friendly entry.

General admission tickets come with one month’s entry to Land Rover Monthly’s All-Access Digital Vault, whereas tenting tickets embody three months’ entry.