Petrol stations break down just how much money they make when you fill up your car
14.06.2022 - 13:05
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Petrol stations have explained exactly how much money they make each time someone fills up their car - and it's not as much as you might think. Fuel costs have soared in recent weeks with the average price of petrol reaching a record high of 185p, but that doesn't mean petrol forecourts are getting more money.
In fact, each sale is making filling stations mere pence, according to garages in Wales. The Brian Llewelyn A'i Ferched garage in Pembrokeshire took to Facebook to post about a recent exchange with one of its customers, Wales Online reports.
"Tonight we had one customer turn up after we had put the pole signs off, as we were closing," the post read. "This person pulled up to the pump, saw it was 193.9p per litre. They came into the shop and said, 'I was going to put fuel in but not at that price.' I said, 'I'm sorry, but it's not my fault'."
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The garage went on to offer a breakdown of how much they actually make from sales to show petrol stations are not the ones benefitting from soaring prices. The business explained that a £100 sale of diesel at 193.9p per litre accounted for 51.57 litres of diesel — with a 4p-per-litre profit that leaves £2.06 for the filling station.
The post added that if the £100 is paid using a credit card, the card firm charges £1.69 in interest for the transaction. That leaves the garage with 37p — and that is before taking out overheads such as electricity, maintenance and wages.
A similar rundown was shared by the Gulf Tanerdy Garage, a family-run petrol station on the edge of Carmarthen, which posted on Facebook: "Whilst as a local business we totally understand the frustrations with all the