Petrol up to 20 percent dearer in Britain

Britons pay up to 20 percent more for a litre of petrol than some of their major European counterparts, according to a survey.  Soaring prices this summer, when a litre of petrol rose to 119 pence, sparked protests and forced the government to postpone a rise in fuel duty planned for October.

But Britons have consistently paid more for their petrol during the past eight years, though the difference is narrowing, uSwitch.com said.

Petrol, based on July prices, is cheapest in Spain, where a litre is just 96 pence. Germany and Italy charge 3 pence (2 percent) less than the UK, though eight years ago the difference was 19 pence (23 percent) and 14 pence (18 percent). France charges 114 pence.

British motorists spend the most money at the pumps, 1,753 pounds a year each, the price comparison website calculated.

They also pay the most for their diesel -- 133 pence a litre compared with the cheapest in Spain at 100 pence.

Calls were made last month for a windfall tax on the earnings of oil majors after they were accused of profiteering amid bumper profits.

The companies rebuffed such calls, saying retail pump prices are the result of high levels of duty in Britain and elsewhere in Europe.

About 70 pence (59 percent) of the cost of a litre of petrol on British garage forecourts goes towards the Treasury's coffers. Without the tax, a litre would cost about 50 pence, uSwitch.com said.

But it is not the highest level of tax levied -- Germany (62 percent) and France (61 percent) are higher. The average fuel tax across Europe is 57 percent.

The UK is taxed most on diesel though, at 72 pence compared with 39 pence in Spain and 55 pence in France and Italy.

Germans, who have the most number of cars (48 million), spend the most on fuel as a whole a year -- 82 billion pounds, uSwitch.com said