Rising diesel prices could push up cost of moving, removals firm warns – Mortgage Strategy
The cost of moving house could rise as diesel prices rise, with removal firms warning that soaring fuel bills are adding to the cost of transporting customers’ belongings.
Figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero show that average diesel prices reached 200.04p per litre this week, while petrol prices stood at 175.28p per litre.
Diesel prices have risen by 57p per litre in a year, increasing costs for businesses that rely on vehicles to deliver their services.
Dennis Rogers, founder of Redpath Moving & Storage, said the company’s diesel costs had increased by around 40% in 2026 alone.
“A 100-litre fill-up now costs approximately £56 more than it did at the start of the year, creating a substantial additional expense for a business that relies on vehicles to transport customers’ belongings,” he said.
Rising diesel prices are adding to the operating costs faced by removals companies, but whether these increases will cause correspondingly higher quotes for customers is still unclear.
This is due to stiff competition among removals companies, many of whom are absorbing higher diesel bills for the mean time.
Rogers said the impact extended beyond fuel, with the cost of essential supplies, including packing materials, also increasing.
He said the company was having to absorb these additional expenses rather than pass them directly on to customers, as doing so could make its services less competitive.
“As a result, we are unable to pass these additional costs on to clients without risking becoming less competitive, meaning we are having to absorb the increases within our existing margins,” he said.
The average cost of moving home in England has reached £17,413, according to Reallymoving research earlier this month, down slightly on last year, but an increase of 74% over the past decade.
