UK petrol stations eye diesel phase out by 2030
Published on: Jan 14, 2026
Declining demand and clean air policies push London toward becoming the first city without diesel cars.
Some petrol stations in London are expected to stop selling diesel within the next four years as demand continues to fall, according to a report by electric vehicle (EV) think tank New AutoMotive. The analysis suggests that many of the UK’s 8,400 filling stations could phase out diesel entirely by the mid-2030s, accelerating the shift to EVs.
Diesel car numbers have been dropping steadily nationwide. The report forecasts that by 2035, only around 250,000 diesel cars will remain on UK roads, down from 15.5 million in mid-2025. London is projected to lead the transition, becoming the first city with no diesel cars, driven by stricter emissions rules.
The expansion of the ultra-low emission zone in 2023 means drivers of diesel cars registered before September 2015 face a £12.50 daily charge in the capital. “It is likely that some, and perhaps many, filling stations in London will stop stocking diesel before the end of the decade,” the report stated.
Nationwide, diesel fuel sales have been falling since their peak in 2017, with 2023 volumes down 22% from that high. Some forecourts are already adding EV charging facilities as part of their long-term strategy. The Petrol Retailers Association noted last year that only 57% of its members expect fuel to remain a core revenue source in 10 years.
The UK government plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, though existing vehicles will still be allowed on the roads.
