Worst news for South African car owners in 10 years

The cost of refilling a car in South Africa jumped nearly as much in the last year as it did in the previous nine years combined.

This is according to vehicle comparison platform VehicleSA, which found that the country’s best-selling vehicle, the Toyota Hilux, is 65% more expensive to fill than a year ago.

“South Africa’s temporary fuel levy relief will offer motorists some respite, but the rising cost of motoring illustrates how sharply fuel expenses have increased,” it highlighted.

“In the past year alone, the cost of filling an 80-litre Toyota Hilux diesel tank has become R1,009 more expensive, more than the R689 increase over the preceding nine years combined.”

Filling a Toyota Hilux Double Cab diesel tank inland cost R2,556 at current prices, compared with R1,547 in October 2025 and R858 in October 2016.

“This represents a 65% increase over the past year and an 80% increase between October 2016 and October 2025,” said VehicleSA.

“Almost 60% of the R1,698 increase over the past 10 years (since October 2016) has come in the last 12 months.”

This is not limited to larger vehicles with diesel motors, since filling a 45-litre VW Polo Vivo with inland 95 petrol costs about R1,361, compared with R973 a year ago and R567 in October 2016.

This is a R388, or 40%, increase over the past year and a R406, or 72%, increase between October 2016 and October 2025.

Below are the ten best-selling cars in the third quarter of 2026, according to Naamsa, and what a full tank costs now versus a year ago.

VehicleSA founder Antoine Caradonna said these figures put the rapid escalation in fuel costs into perspective.

“The cost of filling up is one of the most immediate ways motorists experience rising living costs,” he said.

“When a single tank of diesel costs more than R1,000 extra in a year, the impact on household budgets and businesses that rely on vehicles becomes clear.”

R10 billion relief for South African motorists

Ahead of next month’s petrol and diesel price relief, inland 95-octane petrol has risen about 140% since October 2016, while diesel has risen 198%, and in the past year, they have risen 40% and 65%, respectively.

The fuel levy relief announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement will provide relief for motorists from next month, but remove R10 billion from the fiscus.

Levies will be reduced by R1.50 per litre for petrol and R3 per litre for diesel until 1 December 2026, followed by R1 per litre for petrol and R1.50 per litre for diesel until 5 January 2027.

“Based on the current fuel prices, the initial relief would save motorists approximately R67.50 on a 45-litre petrol tank and R240 on an 80-litre diesel tank, assuming the full levy reduction is reflected in retail prices,” explained VehicleSA.

“After 1 December, these savings would fall to R45 and R120, respectively. The fuel price adjustment due in early November will also affect pump prices.”

It added that while the temporary relief will help cushion motorists against rising fuel costs, it does not reverse the increases experienced over the past year.

Filling a Hilux diesel tank will still cost approximately R2,316, compared with R1,547 a year ago, while a Polo Vivo petrol tank will cost around R1,294, compared with R973 in October 2025.