SOARING fuel prices and queues seen snaking out of forecourts might leave you wondering whether stocking up is a good idea.
But before you reach for the jerry can, it’s worth knowing what the law says about how much you can buy at a time and UK storage rules.
How many portable containers are you allowed to fill with fuel in the UK?
Under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014, you can fill a maximum of two containers with petrol at any petrol station.
Under the same regulations, plastic containers must have a capacity of no more than 10 litres, while metal containers can hold up to 20 litres.
Tesco said: “Under the Petroleum Consolidation Regulations, we are required to have a policy in place to ensure the safe use of portable fuel containers at our petrol stations.
“Our policy is that only two portable containers (with a maximum combined capacity of 30 litres) may be filled on each visit by a customer.”
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Your containers must also be clearly marked with the words “PETROL” and “HIGHLY FLAMMABLE”.
They must also display the appropriate hazard warning sign, show the capacity in litres, and carry the manufacturer’s name along with the date and month of manufacture.
When filling portable containers with petrol, they should be removed from the vehicle, placed on the forecourt and filled – the lever operating the nozzle should be held open manually.
Caps should be replaced securely straight away, and containers should be filled one at a time with the lids of all other cans, both empty or full, kept closed throughout.
Customers should not take filled or used containers into the shop when paying for petrol.
As for how much you can legally store at home, the regulations set the limit at 30 litres before you are required to notify your local Petroleum Enforcement Authority.
That means one 10-litre plastic container and one 20-litre metal can would keep you on the right side of the law.
If you want to store more than 30 litres (up to a maximum of 275 litres), you must notify your local authority in writing.
It is also worth bearing in mind that while the two-container limit is widely accepted across the industry, individual forecourts are entitled to set their own rules.
Petrol is a highly flammable substance, so ignoring these rules could pose a serious danger to yourself and others.
Unlike petrol, there is no legal limit on how much diesel a private individual can fill at the pumps or store at home, although retailers may enforce their own restrictions.
If you plan on storing diesel at home, you are legally required to meet building regulations.
If your storage container holds 3,501 litres or more, stricter business-level oil storage rules apply, with full details available on the government’s website.
With fuel prices continuing to climb in the wake of the Strait of Hormuz crisis, it is understandable that drivers want to plan ahead.
But experts have warned against panic buying, cautioning that a rush on forecourts will only drive prices higher and could lead to the very shortages people are trying to avoid.
CEO of Voltempo, Simon Smith, said: “What we’re seeing is localised, individual stations managing their stock, not a signal of wider shortage.
“Fill up normally, when you need to and the network does its job.
“The more panic, the higher prices, which will ultimately drive up haulage costs and then the cost of the goods we all need.”
Petrol and diesel fuel costs have soared by more than 17p a litre since the end of February, with a litre of unleaded petrol costing 150.11p as of March 30.
A litre of diesel will set you back an average of 177.68p a litre, with the RAC Fuel Watch website forecasting that prices are ‘likely to rise’.