Is petrol cheaper in Florida than the UK? Fuel guide for UK visitors with car hire
Fuel is cheaper in Florida in comparison to in the UK, even with the current 2026 elevated prices. While many British visitors expect that driving costs will be lower, many struggle to find somewhere to accurately budget fuel costs when hiring a car.
This guide page contains a Florida to UK price comparison to help you budget accurately, and covers what you need to know about fuel differences.
Florida vs UK fuel prices per litre 2026: Price comparison
Current fuel prices are varying considerably given the political situation, and the cost to fill up a car in the UK and in Florida is increasing. Here is the current difference between average fuel prices per litre in Florida, USA and the UK.
Fuel Price Comparison
Comparing weekly average regular unleaded fuel prices between the UK and Florida.
Our calculation only shows the differences in the cost of unleaded fuel because in Florida the majority of hire cars run on unleaded petrol.
The main language differences when filling up your tank for UK visitors
There are a few crucial differences in the terms used in America and the UK when filling up at a petrol station and UK visitors hiring a car need to be aware of them. They matter when working out costs and actually filling up at the pump in the US.
Here are the key language differences:
Petrol = gas
What is petrol called in America?
In America petrol is called gas or gasoline. The term gas is used on the pumps for unleaded petrol and this is usually what you’ll be filling up your hire car with. If you need diesel it is still called diesel; there is no difference in the name, only the metric used to measure the cost.
Colour difference at the pumps
Petrol is black at the pump; diesel is green. It’s the opposite way round to what it is in the UK, so just make sure you remember!
Gallons vs litres: the price at the pump
In the US petrol is sold by the gallon, not the litre, so the price on the boards can be a bit of a shock if you don’t realise this difference when you come to fill up your hire car.
A US gallon is 3.785 litres.
Why is Florida fuel so much cheaper than the UK?
The difference in fuel cost isn't really just about oil prices; it's almost entirely about tax.
UK Tax rates per litre of petrol
In the UK there is one tax charged on the fuel you put in your car, and this is called fuel duty. It is currently charged at 52.95p per litre, plus VAT at 20%. It is the same rate for both unleaded and diesel fuel. This is considered a tax on shopping in the UK and is charged by the government and included in the price you see at the pump.
The cost of fuel duty with VAT included in the UK in 2026 now is: £0.64 per litre of fuel.
It is worth noting that the cost of standard petrol and diesel fuel duty is also due to rise later this year , according to Gov.UK, in the following increments:
1 September 2026: Increases by 1p (to 53.95p) plus VAT
1 December 2026: Increases by 2p (to 55.95p) plus VAT .
1 March 2027: Increases by 2p (to 57.95p) plus VAT .
This will further increase the amount of tax paid per litre of fuel in the UK.
Florida tax rates per gallon of fuel
Florida fuel taxes are a fraction of that. The US has two main taxes: federal fuel tax and a state fuel tax, and there are some other taxes charged at a very small rate in Florida. Federal fuel tax is set by the US government and is the same all over the US, state fuel tax varies by state, that means petrol and diesel is taxed at different amounts in each state.
Here are the federal fuel tax and state fuel tax amounts amounts per gallon in Florida in 2026:
Tax | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
Federal fuel tax | $0.18 (£0.13) | $0 (£0) |
State fuel tax | $0.40 (£0.30) | $0.41 (£0.30) |
The combined total cost of taxes on standard unleaded petrol (gasoline) and diesel per gallon in Florida in 2026 are:
$0.59 (£0.43) for unleaded petrol (gasoline)
$0.65 (£0.48) for diesel
Comparison of fuel tax cost in litres: Florida vs UK
To work out a true comparison you need to turn the cost of tax per gallon into cost per litre. When you do this the cost of US federal fuel tax and state fuel tax in Florida is equivalent to:
$0.15 (£0.11) per litre for unleaded petrol (gasoline)
$0.17 (£0.13) per litre for diesel
That means in the UK you pay around 5 times more in tax per litre than you do in Florida, giving a price difference of about 80%. This is a major factor in why fuel prices in Florida are so low in comparison to in the UK.
Another tax difference worth noting is that Florida does not charge a state income tax, like we do in the UK and instead adds sales tax on to products you buy. To calculate the cost of sales tax on the things you’ll buy in Florida like souvenirs and meals you can use our sales tax calculator.
A note on the current 2026 price spike
Florida fuel prices are higher than usual right now. Between summer 2025 and early 2026, UK petrol prices were relatively stable at around 135p per litre. A spike began in March 2026 following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, pushing UK prices to the 150p litre point. The same conflict has pushed US prices up too.
In early April 2026, the national US average price for fuel exceeded $0 (£0) per gallon for the first time since August 2022. The price rise in both countries was driven by increasing crude oil prices, with the cost surpassing $0 (£0) per barrel.
What this means if you are travelling to Florida and hiring a car?
If you're travelling to Florida in the next few months, fuel is more expensive than it was last year, both at home and in Florida. However, the relative price gap is roughly the same as always; Florida is still dramatically cheaper. This means your fuel spend in Orlando will be somewhat higher than a visitor in early 2025 experienced.
How much will it cost to fill the tank of a hire car?
The price of filling up your hire car will vary depending on how far you travel during your holiday. For a two-week hire car trip covering Disney World, Universal, perhaps a day trip to Kennedy Space Centre or the Gulf Coast, your total fuel spend is likely to be somewhere in the region of £90 depending on what car you drive and how far you go. This cost really does vary on the amount of driving you do and how far you explore.
Fuel prices in and around Orlando
The most affordable areas of Florida for fuel are in the north and around the panhandle: Crestview and Fort Walton Beach, while the priciest markets tend to be in South Florida, particularly around West Palm Beach. For Orlando visitors, Central Florida is typically close to the middle of the state range.
Fuel prices around the Walt Disney World resort area, on International Drive, and near the theme park corridors tends to be priced at or slightly above the Orlando average. The stations you'll pass on US-192 (the main road running along the south side of Disney property) and on International Drive are convenient, but not always the cheapest.
However, they are cheaper than the fuel stations near Orlando International Airport. Slightly better prices can typically be found along US-27 heading north, or on the more residential roads to the east and west but it’s not worth going out of your way for.
If you are looking for averages per county in Florida AAA fuel prices offer great budgeting insights if you’re interested in saving money on your fuel. You can plan where to fill up if you are doing a fly drive, or even if you are just planning a few days out.
How to find cheap fuel near Disney World
The best option to get cheap fuel near Disney World if you’re hiring a car and staying on-site is to head to Walmart. If you head to a Walmart Supercentre on Vineland Rd or Old Lake Wilson Rd (the closest ones to Disney resorts) you’ll get a competitive fuel price, and can pick up cheap drinks and snacks in comparison to on-site prices. No detour or app needed.
Walmart Supercentres offer reasonable fuel prices . The two closest to Disney World are at:
3250 Vineland Rd, FL 34746
2855 N Old Lake Wilson Rd, FL 34747
Save these for your trip!
If you’re looking for the most reliable way to find the cheapest fuel as an extremely budget conscious UK visitor use the GasBuddy app. This shows live prices by station and updates frequently, you can put your location in so it brings up prices at stations nearby.
It's free, works on a UK phone and here in the UK if you want a look before you travel. Just make sure you have an esim or free Wi-Fi to avoid roaming charges when using it in Florida. It will typically find you a station 5 to 15 cents per gallon cheaper but the nearest is often more convenient and this is not something most UK visitors need to consider doing.
The differences putting petrol in your car in the US
American fuel stations work differently to UK ones in a few ways that catch British visitors out:
You pay before you pump. At almost all American fuel stations, payment happens before fuel is dispensed rather than after. If you're paying by card at the pump, it will ask for your zip code as a security check. Entering 00000 or 99999 if your card declines, can work as a non-US workaround, though this isn't universal. If the pump won't accept your card, go inside and pay at the counter, where the cashier will authorise a specific dollar amount to your pump number. Paying cash inside first is also perfectly normal and avoids the zip code issue entirely.
The fuel grades are labelled differently. Most hire cars run on Regular, but check the fuel cap or the inside of the fuel door for confirmation. Regular is the cheapest grade, so unless your car specifically requires a different grade, there's no reason to pay for it. In the US, fuel is sold as:
Regular (87 octane),
Mid-Grade (89 octane),
Premium (91-93 octane).
The nozzle stays in position by itself. American fuel nozzles have a latch that holds them open so you don't have to keep squeezing the handle. Squeeze the trigger until it clicks into the open position, let go, and the fuel flows. It stops automatically when the tank is full.
Returning your hire car with a full tank
Every hire car agreement will specify that the car should be returned with a full tank unless you've opted for the prepaid fuel option. This is rarely good value, so we suggest you avoid this option and fill the car up yourself to save money.
Fill up at a station on the airport back to the airport, not at an airport station. Airport fuel stations in Orlando, like at most major airports globally, charge a significant premium.
If you’re taking the 417 route back to Terminal C drop-offs, we have used both of these petrol stations and had a full tank when returning the car without paying higher costs for fuel.
Petrol stations near MCO that have cheaper fuel and you’ll arrive with a hire car with a full tank:
Wawa: 12083 S Orange Blossom Trl, Orlando, FL32837
7 Eleven: 12880 S Orange Blossom Trl, Orlando, FL32837
Also allow yourself plenty of time, as traffic can get busy and it is easy to overshoot turnings.
Fuel in Florida vs the UK: magic in a minute
Fuel in Florida is cheaper than in the UK no matter whether you are buying unleaded or diesel and a large contributing fact is down to tax. While there are differences in petrol categories, how you fill the tank at the petrol station, and fuel costs vary within areas, it will be cheaper to fill your hire car in Florida than it is to fill your car at home here int he UK.
Don’t forget to save this page! And for more information about hiring a car in Florida why not head to the guide to car hire in Florida to find out everything you need to know as a UK visitor next.
Frequently asked questions
Is petrol cheaper in the USA than in the UK?
Yes, petrol is significantly cheaper in the US than in the UK. The difference is often around 40% in total, but this does fluctuate.
Do Florida gas prices vary by county?
Yes, Florida gas prices vary by county and road, just like they do in the UK. There are cheaper petrol stations and more expensive ones.
Do gas prices vary by state in America?
Yes, gas prices vary by state in America largely because of state fuel tax, which varies from state to state. Other factors include location to amenities such as airports and environmental tax rates.