Families with cars could face new £201 charge - that's just 7 days away

Drivers across the UK could feel the squeeze on their finances as a policy change from the Labour Party may result in car-owning households being charged £200.20 to maintain their vehicles on the road. Coming into effect next week, the long-standing freeze on fuel duty is anticipated to come to an end under the direction of Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who is expected to unveil substantial costs impacting motorists.

Speaking to the matter, Akansha Nath, general manager at Intuit Credit Karma, said: "Motorists have faced rising costs of running a petrol or diesel vehicle in recent years. This includes spiraling fuel costs during the cost-of-living crisis, further exacerbated by new road policies like the expansion of ULEZ."

Nath further stressed the consequences of increased financial burdens: "As such, an increase in fuel duty will likely pile further pressure onto already stretched budgets. Our research finds roughly one in six people currently pay for their car through finance, plus we know customers are also using credit to cover insurance and fuel bills too."

The RAC has alerted that the average price per litre at supermarket fuel stations stands at 131.9p for petrol, but cautions that a fuel duty increment of 7p might push prices to 138.9p per litre. Such an increase would mean an extra £3.85 added to the cost when filling up an average-sized family car's tank.

If implemented, drivers who top up their tanks weekly could see an extra £200.20 per year added to their motoring costs. The Chancellor and Prime Minister are being called upon through a Downing Street Petition that appeals, "Don't Hike Fuel Duty" ahead of the forthcoming Budget slated for October 30, reports Derbyshire Live.

More than 70 Conservative MPs have voiced their concerns to Rachel Reeves, pressing for the continuation of the Fuel Duty freeze as reported by Birmingham Live. Meanwhile, FairFuelUK's recent parliamentary event was attended by 55 Tory MPs, 2 Liberal Democrat MPs, and just one Labour MP, despite over 20,000 constituents having personally invited their representatives to partake.