The team at The Fuel Store went the extra mile this May (quite literally!) by walking a combined 9 million steps to raise funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Their month-long challenge raised £1,772, with funds raised by employees matched by the company. 

The donation will support Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, which works tirelessly to support over 100,000 children and young people each year. As one of the UK’s leading paediatric hospitals – and home to the country’s largest Paediatric Intensive Care Unit – the hospital delivers world-class treatment for everything from cancer and trauma to organ transplants and rare conditions. 

The impact of this donation reaches beyond the wards. The charity uses funding to transform clinical environments into child-friendly spaces, fund innovative equipment, and provide moments of joy for young patients facing the toughest times. One of the charity’s major projects focuses on completely transforming the entrance to the hospital, transforming the existing dull walkway into a welcoming, bright. Child-friendly space which reduces the fear and anxiety of patients and their families.  

Mehma Bridgen, Founder and CCO of The Fuel Store, commented:

“Birmingham Children’s Hospital means so much to so many of us. We were delighted to be able to support the extraordinary, life-altering work they do for children and families across our region. I am very proud of our team’s efforts and honoured to play a small part in the hospital’s big impact.”

The team embraced the challenge, pounding the streets throughout May, rain or shine, and spending weekends seeking new and interesting places to walk. Whether it was urban strolls, countryside hikes, or laps around local parks, they found creative ways to keep moving. One team member even clocked up an incredible 45,000 steps in a single day!

This is not the first time The Fuel Store has taken on the step challenge. It is becoming a proud tradition, with employees stepping up to support Birmingham Children’s Hospital for the second year running. 

Dearbhla Craddock, Corporate Partnership Officer at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, added:

“We believe every child deserves the chance to be a child, even in hospital. Donations like this help us turn a daunting experience into a more hopeful one – and we’re grateful to The Fuel Store team for their incredible support.”

The cost of running a haulage company is higher than ever. Low margins, wage rises, and fluctuating fuel and energy costs, coupled with interest rate hikes, have compounded the post-pandemic industry slump. In November 2023, a report produced by accountancy firm Price Bailey found that 463 haulage businesses had gone bankrupt in the previous 12 months. Sadly, this number has been on the increase since 2020, and the yearly rate of collapse has more than doubled since then. 

With margins already paper-thin, Jamie Bridgen, CEO of The Fuel Store, explores how incremental changes can help operators to save money. 

Fuel costs

As a heavily fuel-dependent industry, haulage is particularly susceptible to fluctuations and spikes in fuel costs. 2023 saw diesel prices spike to record levels, with geopolitical tensions exacerbating price uncertainty into 2025, making it hard for operators to manage cash flow. 

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the average HGV with a payload of 26 tonnes achieves fuel consumption of 30 litres every 62 miles. For HGVs averaging an annual mileage of 74,500 per year, the annual fuel expenditure sits at just over £36,400 per vehicle. 

“While not a magic bullet, corporate fuel cards can help shave a significant chunk off fuel costs, as well as saving time on expense management. In 2023, the average saving for our fuel card holders last year was around 12.5 pence per litre. Using the average HGV mileage from the SMMT, that equates to around £4,500 per HGV. Multiplied across the fleet, the savings soon add up.” Jamie explains. 

Data-driven driving 

By understanding the data that can impact fuel consumption, fleet managers can build a picture of driver behaviours, and identify areas for improvement and/or training. As well as reducing unnecessary fuel usage, promoting more efficient driving habits can impact safety and downtime caused by vehicle maintenance, all of which impact your bottom line. 

“With driver shortages impacting efficiency, and costs escalating, taking a deep dive into fleet data can help fleet managers to identify actionable insights that have a direct impact on the company’s bottom line. All of our fuel card customers get access to an online portal, which provides access to data such as fuel spend and usage, transactions, card and budget management tools. They can also access time saving tools such as a fuel pump locator, and HMRC compliant invoicing which takes the pain out of expense management.” Jamie explains, “Those looking for deeper business insight can opt to add software called Fuel AI – a handy tool that can combine and analyse a host of data, helping fleet managers to quickly identify trends. Having access to this data can support data-driven decision making, which, when used to its full potential, can save as much as 9% off fuel costs.”  

Meeting regulatory challenges 

In addition to financial constraints, the haulage industry is subject to a host of regulations including vehicle emission standards, maximum working hours directives for drivers, and health and safety requirements. For HGVs and vans, the DVSA has strict regulations about checks that driver must carry out – with both drivers and operators sharing the responsibility. With DVSA officers tasked with spot checking vehicles, those who don’t comply will be subject to fines, and can be taken off the road – both of which can cost firms dearly. 

Jamie continues, “The DVSA does offer a printable checklist. But, as any business owner knows, the more paper based systems you use, the more likely you are to fall foul of non-compliance and lost paperwork. And, with the DVSA requirements covering 27 different checks – from mirrors and windscreens, to lights, guages, steering, brakes, oil, loads, coupling, electrics and many more – things can be forgotten. Digitising the process takes a huge amount of pressure off both fleet managers and drivers.”

To meet this need, tools such as Driver Toolkit from The Fuel Store provide digital checklists. Fleet managers simply send drivers a QR code, drivers complete the checks on the digital platform, and submit the result. As well as ensuring safety and compliance, fleet managers have a record of results, and data can be easily retrieved in the event of a DVSA roadside check. The system can also be used to save and recall regular driver licence checks. 

“While this may not seem like an immediate cost-saving measure, the risks of non compliance are incredibly high,” Jamie continues. “Like any of these risks, prevention is better than cure. Conducting and recording these checks stands to save your business from the cost of downtime and fines in the future.” 

Consider card fraud 

During July-September 2023, the DVLA received over 39,000 requests for information on drivers thought to be guilty of fuel theft – 77% more than 2022. Cases of fuel theft have been numerous in recent years, from a bin lorry driver who stole £42,000 of fuel, to a delivery driver who stole more than £56,000. While some cases involve huge amounts of money, others can be as simple as drivers using cards to top up personal vehicles – but the amount soon adds up. 

The Fuel Store’s Fraud Guard product protects customers from this kind of threat – customers report lost and stolen cards, or flag any concerns, and the team will investigate. If there’s an issue, the team will investgate, and customers will be reimbursed for the cost of any fraudulent activity. 

The right tools for the job 

Fleet management is a complex undertaking. Just like any other job, having the right tools to hand can make everything run more smoothly. 

“I started The Fuel Store in 2013 to offer UK businesses access to cheaper fuel. Today, we have unrivalled forecourt coverage, unbeatable customer service, and a great reputation for saving our customers time and money. We’ve moved beyond supplying fuel cards, to providing our customers with some fantastic tools that ease both the financial and the administrative burden of running a fleet.” Jamie enthuses. 

“There’s no doubt that the haulage, transport and logistics industry is under pressure. Sustainability, digital transformation, e-commerce trends, risk management and workforce management will continue to drive change. Our team knows the sector inside out, and we are here to help our industry partners to seek out efficiencies which, however small, could make all the difference to the road ahead.” 

Our lovely team of Fuellers often gets asked how the government’s Advisory Fuel Rates (AFRs) work with fuel cards. With new AFRs effective from 1st June 2025, we explore the topic and tackle some key questions. But first, let’s start with the basics: What on earth is an AFR? 

What is an AFR? 

Advisory Fuel Rates are the rates that HMRC advises should be used for employees driving a company car. The rates should be used to reimburse employees for business travel in their company cars or for employees to repay the cost of fuel used for private travel. They are a set of pence-per-mile figures based on the fuel type and the vehicle’s engine size. 

How often do AFRs change? 

HMRC reviews rates quarterly – 1 March, 1 June, 1 September and 1 December. 

How are AFRs calculated? 

A host of information and calculations go into the mix to come up with the AFR – including mean miles per gallon (MPG) from car manufacturers’ information, petrol and diesel prices from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the LPG (UK average) from the Automobile Association website. It gets even more complex for EVs, using information from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Office for National Statistics (ONS), and car electrical consumption rates from the Department for Transport (DfT). 

Are the rates changing? 

As of 1st June 2025, AFRs for diesel vehicles with an engine size of  1,601-2,000cc and more than 2,000cc remain the same (13ppm and 17ppm, respectively). There is a 1p decrease for a company car with an engine size of up to 1,600cc – now 11ppm.  

The AFR for petrol vehicles with an engine size of 1,401- 2,000cc has been cut from 15ppm to 14ppm. For petrol vehicles with an engine more than 2,000cc, the rate is now 22ppm (cut from 23ppm). The AFR for a petrol-powered car up to 1,400cc stays the same at 12ppm.

The advisory electricity rate (AER) stays at 7ppm. Rates for LPG vehicles have not changed, staying at 11ppm for vehicles up to 1,400cc, 13ppm for  1,401-2,000cc, and 21ppm for engines greater than 2,000cc.

While this was correct at the time of writing, AFRs change quarterly, so please make sure you visit the government website for the latest rates. 

Do the rates apply to all cars that are used for business? 

AFRs are specifically set for use with company cars and apply whether the car is owned or leased by the company. They are not to be used for private vehicles used for business. 

For employees using their own vehicles for business travel, different rates apply (e.g., 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles). AFRs are not used in this context. For advice on reimbursing other business expenses, including travel in employee-owned vehicles, visit the HMRC website. 

Are the AFR rates set in stone? 

In some circumstances, employers can set their own rates. However, to reimburse more than the AFR, employers have to prove why. If unable to, the costs are likely to incur Fuel Benefit Tax and Class 1A National Insurance charges. 

If any employer wants to pay less than the AFR, the car must be shown to be more cost-effective or fuel-efficient on a pence per mile basis. In short, yes, employers can pay a rate different from the AFR, but evidence is key. 

How do fuel cards help simplify the process? 

Fuel cards provide a convenient way for businesses to manage business-related fuel expenses. In addition to providing access to cheaper fuel, the fuel cost is charged directly to the company. This simplifies things by eliminating the need for employees to pay for fuel and submit a claim. Admin time is significantly reduced – as well as providing simple HMRC-compliant invoicing, there is no need to spend time reimbursing employees based on AFRs –  the company can simply track, manage and pay fuel costs directly. 

What about private mileage? 

AFRS are used to calculate how much an employee is required to repay the company for personal travel in a company car. In the case of company fuel cards, company expense policies may allow employees to pay for fuel using the fuel card and then record the amount of private and business mileage they do. In this instance, employers can apply the relevant AFR to the employee’s private miles and request that the employee pay at the going rate. It’s important to note that if the employee does not fully reimburse the cost of private fuel, it may result in a fuel benefit charge.

If you’re fed up with manually calculating and reimbursing fuel expenses for company cards, consider switching to a fuel card – you could save money at the same time. Speak to our team to find out more.

April is just around the corner. As well as the promise of longer days, and all the joys that spring brings, it is also the start of a new tax year. This year, there are several vehicle tax changes – including electric vehicle tax, VED increases, and changes for commerical vehicles. Fleet operators and business owners managing multiple vehicles should be aware of potential increases in operating costs – especially for high-emission vehicles. 

Changes to Vehicle Excise Duty

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) – car tax or road tax – is essentially a tax for using a vehicle on public roads in the UK. Vehicle tax bands are based on engine size, fuel type, and CO2 emissions, depending on when the vehicle was first registered. Vehicle excise duty rates are due to increase for all types of vehicles from April 2025.

Tax on Electric Vehicles

If your fleet includes electric vehicles (EV), it’s important to be aware that all EV owners will be required to pay the standard rate of road tax—£195 annually—after 1 April 2025. The government has announced that this rate will rise in line with the retail price index (RPI) in the future. New zero-emission vehicles will also be subject to the lowest first-year VED rate, currently £10. This first-year rate will be in place until at least 2029/30. 

There are more changes in store for EVs. Those over £40,000 will also be subject to the Expensive Car supplement of £410 (more on this below). The Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax rate for EVs will rise incrementally by 1% each year. And, from December 2025, EVs and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will need to pay the London Congestion Charge of £15. 

Tax for petrol and diesel vehicles 

The first-year tax (often known as showroom tax) for low, moderate or high emissions of petrol and diesel vehicles is also set to change. The tax on Low-emission hybrid (1-50 g/km CO2) vehicles will increase from £10 to £110. Tax on moderate-emission vehicles (51-75 g/km CO2) is set to rise from £30 to £130, and tax on high-emission vehicles (76+ g/km CO2) is due to double. The second-year rate for petrol and diesel cars remains unchanged at £190 per year.

Expensive Car Supplement

The Expensive Car Supplement is an additional charge of £425 for cars with a list price of over £40,000 – payable for five years from the date of the first VED car tax payment. Until now, electric vehicles have been exempt from the Expensive Car Supplement. New zero-emission cars with a list price of £40,000 or more will be subject to a £425 per year supplement for five years. 

Changes to BIK

The Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax rate for EVs, which was fixed at 2% until 2025, will rise incrementally by 1% from 2025/2026 to 2027/2028 and then by 2% annually to reach 9% in 2029/2030. percentages for all other cars will rise by 1% annually, up to a maximum of 39% in 2029/2030. Also, starting in April 2025, double cab pick-ups will be treated as cars for tax purposes rather than commercial vehicles. 

Vehicle advisory fuel rates

Advisory fuel rates – the rates used to reimburse employees for the cost of business travel – were increased from 1 March 2025. The cost per mile has increased for petrol cars with an engine size of up to 1,400cc (from 14p to 15p) and diesel cars with an engine size of up to 1,600cc. 

What about vans and commercial vehicles? 

Vehicle excise duty for commercial vehicles (vans and pick-up trucks) is simpler because there is a flat rate. From 1 April, the rate will increase in line with the retail price index (RPI) to £345 – a £10 increase. Electric van owners must also pay the flat rate VED on their vehicles from 2025 onwards.

Are you looking for a way to offset tax increases?

In 2024, customers of The Fuel Store saved an average of 10.7ppl off forecourt fuel prices. Whether you have one vehicle or a whole fleet, the savings soon add up. This year, we’re introducing a brand new tool, which will help fleet operators and businesses optimise tax efficiency, streamline payroll reporting, and reduce admin. The result? Transparent mileage claims for employees, simplified tax and NI calculations for payroll teams, and verified cost savings. More info coming soon. 

At The Fuel Store, we offer a range of solutions that help fleet managers to manage fuel costs. Contact us today to find out how a fuel card can help you save money and improve operational efficiency in the face of economic uncertainty.

Consumer confidence in the UK has hit a new low, with 50% of people expecting the economy to worsen over the next three months. New data published by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Consumer Sentiment Monitor, marks the fifth consecutive month of declining expectations. This economic uncertainty, coupled with an impending rise in employer National Insurance contributions in April, is forcing businesses to rethink their spending strategies. 

One area where businesses can realise significant savings is fuel costs – a major and inevitable expense for companies reliant on travel and transportation of goods. With fuel prices fluctuating and operational expenses on the up, finding ways to cut back on essential costs is more important than ever. This is where choosing the right fuel card can make a real difference.

Cut your fleet costs, fast 

Fuel cards offer businesses a simple and effective way to save money on fuel. Users get money off forecourt prices, and better visibility over fuel spending, allowing businesses to better manage cash flow and reduce unnecessary expenses. Lower rates on diesel, petrol, and peripherals such as AdBlue, can translate into substantial annual savings. In fact, in 2023, customers of The Fuel Store saved an average of 12 pence per litre off pump price – a saving which soon adds up. 

Benefits of fuel cards

• Lower fuel costs: Fuel cards typically offer competitive pricing, helping businesses save money on every litre of fuel purchased.
• Better budget control: With clear weekly invoicing and reporting on fuel usage via our customer portal, businesses can track fuel expenses and prevent overspending. The advantage card – a pre-paid fuel card – offers additional budget control ideal for start-ups or businesses with a low credit score. 
• Time savings: Fuel cards allow drivers to refuel at a huge network of stations, without having to divert off route. There is also no need to collect receipts or process reimbursements, which can add up to a huge time burden when done manually. 
• Improved cash flow: Weekly invoicing can help businesses manage cash flow more effectively.
• Driver benefits: Cards such as the Shell CRT, Shell Fleet and FuelGenie offer a range of driver benefits and discounts when on the road. 

Reduce your operational costs 

With retailers already warning of price hikes due to increasing operational costs, businesses must act now to safeguard their bottom line. By integrating a fuel card into their cost-cutting strategy, companies can mitigate some of the financial strain caused by rising expenses and economic uncertainty.

At The Fuel Store, we offer a range of fuel card solutions that help businesses navigate these challenging times. Contact us today to find out how a fuel card can help you save money and improve operational efficiency in the face of economic uncertainty.