R30 petrol: Here’s how much more it will cost to fill your car from Wednesday

South Africa’s record petrol price increase takes effect on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, and for motorists using 95 unleaded inland, filling a 50-litre tank will cost R166.50 more than it does today.

The price of 95 petrol will jump by R3.33 per litre, taking the inland price from R26.92 to a record R30.25 per litre.

That means buying 50 litres will cost R1 512.50 from Wednesday, compared with R1 346 at the current price.

A 60-litre fill will cost R1 815, an increase of R199.80, while putting 40 litres into your car will cost R1 210, or R133.20 more.

So, what does South Africa’s massive October petrol price increase actually mean for your pocket?

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How much will petrol cost to fill your car from Wednesday?

Here’s how much motorists using inland 95 unleaded will pay at the new R30.25 per litre price:

The calculations compare the current inland 95 petrol price of R26.92/litre with the new price of R30.25/litre.

They show how quickly a R3.33/litre increase adds up once motorists reach the pumps.

A 50-litre fill-up will cost R166.50 more

For someone buying 50 litres of 95 petrol inland, Wednesday’s increase means paying an additional R166.50 every time they buy the same amount of fuel.

If that motorist buys 50 litres four times in a month, the difference would amount to R666 more over four fill-ups, assuming the same amount of petrol is purchased each time.

For 60 litres, the additional cost is R199.80 per fill.

Four purchases of 60 litres at the new price would therefore cost R799.20 more than four purchases at the current price.

These figures do not estimate how much fuel a particular motorist will use. They simply show the difference between buying the same quantity of petrol at the current and new prices.

Should you fill up before Wednesday?

Motorists who need fuel can avoid Wednesday’s increase on fuel purchased before the new prices take effect.

For 95 petrol, the difference is R3.33 for every litre.

Filling 50 litres before the increase would therefore cost R166.50 less than buying the same 50 litres once the new price applies.

For 60 litres, the difference is R199.80.

Petrol 93 is also increasing sharply, rising by R3.12 per litre from Wednesday.

What will petrol cost from 7 October?

The new fuel prices take effect on Wednesday, 7 October 2026.

Inland motorists using 95 unleaded will pay R30.25/litre, while the coastal price rises to R29.38/litre.

Petrol 93 increases to R29.88/litre inland and R29.09/litre at the coast.

Diesel drivers are also facing a steep increase

Diesel prices rise by between R2.84 and R3.24 per litre from Wednesday.

The wholesale price of 50ppm diesel increases by R3.24/litre to R33.29 inland and R32.03 at the coast.

The wholesale price of 500ppm diesel rises by R2.84/litre to R31.95 inland and R31.08 at the coast.

Illuminating paraffin records an even bigger increase of R3.58/litre, while LPGAS rises by R0.42/kg.

What caused the massive October petrol price increase?

International oil prices were a major driver of the October fuel price increases.

During the fuel price review period, Brent crude increased from an average of around $87 to $101 per barrel amid geopolitical tensions involving the US and Iran and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

The cumulative negative slate balance for the fuel industry also stood at R10.45 billion at the end of August 2026.

The Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism consequently resulted in the slate levy increasing by 4.38 cents per litre, from 83.28 c/l to 87.66 c/l.

That increase has been incorporated into the petrol and diesel price structures.

What R30 petrol means at the pump

The R30.25 inland price is significant, but the impact becomes clearer when converted into the amount motorists actually hand over at the filling station.

From Wednesday, 30 litres of 95 petrol inland will cost more than R900, 40 litres will cost R1 210 and 50 litres will cross R1 500.

A 60-litre purchase will cost R1 815, while 70 litres will cost more than R2 100.

For motorists, the crucial number is therefore no longer simply the R3.33 increase per litre.

It’s how much more that increase will add to every trip to the pumps from 7 October.

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