How motorists can soften rising fuel costs

South African motorists faced sharply higher fuel costs by November 2026 than in January, with petrol rising by R9.49 a litre and diesel by R13.18 a litre. Petrol reached R30.24 a litre, while diesel climbed to R31.60 a litre.

Fuel Costs Squeeze Budgets

Average monthly fuel spending among motorists tracked by Discovery Insure rose by R750 to R950 between early 2025 and mid-2026, according to the company’s telematics data. Spending increased from R1 750 to between R2 500 and R2 700 a month.

For affected households, that increase translated into an additional R9 000 to R11 400 in fuel spending over 12 months if the mid-2026 monthly level persisted.

SpendTrend26 also found that fuel, groceries and transport together accounted for more than 70% of household spending. That left less than 30% for all other expenses, showing how higher costs for driving and other essential purchases absorbed most household expenditure.

Motorists Change Driving Habits

Motorists sharply reduced fuel spending after the April 2026 fuel price increase. Fuel spend fell 35% in one month, while the number of trips declined 10% and distance travelled dropped 9%. The spending reduction was 25 percentage points greater than the fall in trips and 26 percentage points greater than the decline in distance.

Purchasing also shifted around the October increase. On 6 October 2026, the day before the fuel price hike, petrol volumes bought surged 300%, while diesel purchases jumped 400%.

Driving efficiency affects how far motorists can travel on the fuel they buy. Discovery Insure data shows motorists in Limpopo average six litres per 100km, meaning that distance requires six litres of fuel at the provincial average consumption rate.

Fuel Rewards Offer Relief

Discovery Bank clients can earn up to 65% back on qualifying monthly fuel spending. The reward is paid in Discovery Miles rather than cash.