Tow‑Truck Operators Cite £10,000 Loss as Fuel Prices Surge, Call for Duty Cut

A small‑scale tow‑truck firm in the United Kingdom has warned that the recent climb in petrol and diesel prices has added roughly £10,000 to its annual expenses, a sum it says threatens the viability of its operations.

The company attributes the bulk of the increase to higher fuel duty, which it estimates would need to be reduced by between 30 and 50 pence per litre before the financial strain eases. Without such a cut, the business says it will struggle to maintain service levels and may be forced to raise prices for customers.

Fuel duty, a tax applied to every litre of road fuel sold in the UK, currently stands at 57.95 pence per litre for petrol and 58.95 pence for diesel. The levy is intended to fund road maintenance and curb emissions, but critics argue that it can disproportionately affect sectors that rely heavily on mileage, such as haulage, delivery and roadside assistance.

The price pressure on the tow‑truck operator mirrors a broader trend across the transport industry, where wholesale fuel costs have risen sharply over the past year following a rebound in global oil markets and supply chain disruptions. Many small businesses report that fuel now represents a larger share of their operating costs than it did before the pandemic.

In a statement to the BBC, the tow‑truck owner called for an urgent review of the duty rate, suggesting that a modest reduction of 30‑50 pence per litre would bring fuel expenses back in line with pre‑spike levels and help preserve essential roadside services.

Government officials have not yet responded to the specific request, but the issue is likely to feature in upcoming consultations on transport taxation and environmental policy. Analysts say any adjustment to fuel duty will need to balance fiscal revenue considerations with the economic impact on mileage‑intensive businesses, while also aligning with the UK's broader climate objectives.