DRIVERS with diesel vehicles are being urged to only buy their fuel from reputable sources over fears thieves are targeting supplies and selling them on.
Kingdom Systems is warning criminals could benefit from recent changes to red diesel laws, the Birmingham Mail reports.
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The new changes have seen certain sectors, including construction, stopped from using red diesel, which police can more easily trace.
Those sectors are now filling vehicles with standard white diesel, which is more expensive because it carries more tax.
And following thefts of white diesel from construction sites, there are fears the stolen fuel could be sold on to unwitting motorists.
Craig Walton, director at Kingdom Systems, said: “As ministers have now dropped plans to offer red diesel to construction sites and others, we’re worried it could lead to a tipping point where thieves now target these places knowing their gains will largely be untraceable. And this concerns us.
“We would urge all industries who have changed to diesel to be watching their tanks and supplies over the coming months to make sure thieves are not benefitting.
He added: “Motorists, meanwhile, need to make sure they’re purchasing from reputable outlets, as they could be helping the criminals by buying elsewhere.”
What other ways can I save on petrol?
The cost of petrol remains at higher than usual levels, although drivers have started seeing costs come down.
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If you’re looking at cutting back on how much petrol you’re using, there are some things you can do.
Avoiding using premium fuel is one obvious tip.
Premium fuels have a higher octane rating than other fuels sold at the pumps.
But unless you’ve got a high-performance car, you most likely don’t need it.
So in most cases, opting for premium fuel doesn’t have any additional benefits and can add an extra 15p per litre to your bill.
Switching off your fuel guzzling air con is another thing you can do.
Ramping up your air con can increase fuel consumption by 10%, so roll your windows down instead.
Where can I find the cheapest fuel prices?
Even though fuel prices have dropped slightly, it’s always worth seeing if you can get your fuel for cheaper.
If you don’t want to head out and try and find the cheapest petrol station, there are websites where you can find out where the least expensive forecourts are near you.
Fleet News and Allstar let you check petrol price across the counties, so you can see how your region compares.
The PetrolPrices app and website lets you check prices from more than 8,000 forecourts near you .
And comparison website Confused.com also has a petrol prices checker where registered users can find petrol prices within a five, 10 or 25mile radius.
A Tik Tokker revealed her top tips for reducing fuel consumption.
And an AA fuel price expert offered up his hacks for making savings.
