With AA reports that surging oil costs have pushed the diesel up to an average £103.49/litre in mid-May – 2.5p above the Jan-Mar average - leading comparison site, businessfuelcards.co.uk, says that bunker prices are now an unprecedented 6p cheaper than pump tariffs.

The news will be welcomed by fixed price fuel card holders, who typically pay bunker prices on the forecourts, according to businessfuelcards e-marketing manager, Colin Peters. He says that, when applied to fleets, the significant difference can deliver huge economies at a time when budgets are tighter than at any other time in living memory.

Mr Peters said: "As there is usually only 2p to 3p difference between the two, there has never been a better time to have a fuel card and business users coming to the end of a deal, or who don’t have a fixed price fuel card, must act now. At the very least, fleet managers should investigate how to benefit from the long-term cost savings that current very low bunker prices can offer.

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"Those in such arrangements for their diesel purchases could save over £30 per vehicle per month with the most competitive fuel cards. The gap will narrow though, while, in the medium-to-long-term, oil prices will rise ever higher as an economic upturn increases demand."

If a company currently spending £350 on fuel per vehicle per calendar month acquired fuel cards and achieved the 6p a litre reduction, each vehicle would cost £21 less to run.

Over 12 months, this makes for a saving of £252 per vehicle. An organisation with 10 vehicles would retain £2520 per annum, while a 30-vehicle fleet would be an impressive £7,560 better off. Larger operations of 100 vehicles would cut fuel spending by a whopping £25,200 over the year.

Mr Peters added: "On top of that, fuel cards also save companies money through the streamlining of administrative costs and by offering added control over transactions."

For more information visit: www.businessfuelcards.co.uk