An extra R475 a tank? Simple ways to fight back against surging fuel prices

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That’s a 46% jump — and an extra R475 every time a motorist fills up.

For households already trying to make their salaries stretch further, fuel has become one more unavoidable expense demanding a bigger share of the monthly budget.

Discovery Insure data from more than 200,000 clients shows the effect clearly: average monthly fuel expenditure increased from about R1,750 at the beginning of 2025 to between R2,500 and R2,700 by mid-2026, an increase of between 43% and 54% in just over a year.

South Africans are responding to rising fuel prices by changing how and when they buy fuel and cutting back on driving when they can.

Discovery Insure data shows that fuel spend surged 81% on March 30 and 31 as motorists filled up before April’s increases. During April, fuel spending fell 34% and trips taken declined 10%.

By May, motorists were buying 23% less fuel, making 17% fewer fuel transactions and driving 9% less than in January and February. Yet they were still spending 15% more on fuel.

Then on October 6, the day before 95 unleaded petrol increased by R3.33 and diesel by R2.84, litres purchased surged 300% and 400% respectively. Following the increase, fuel spend fell by 33%, and trips taken dropped 6%.

The numbers reveal that motorists are changing how much fuel they buy far more than they are changing how much they drive. And there’s a reason for that.

The latest SpendTrend26 report published by Discovery Bank and Visa shows just how difficult it is to escape everyday transport costs. Groceries, fuel and transport account for more than 70% of household spend, with fuel representing roughly 82% of mobility spending.

Getting to work, taking children to school, buying groceries and making other essential trips still have to happen.

When cutting surplus kilometres is no longer possible, what else can motorists do?

Discovery Insure data shows motorists in Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape consume nearly one litre more fuel per 100km than motorists in other provinces, largely because of heavier traffic. In comparison, Limpopo motorists average six litres per 100km.

While motorists can’t always avoid traffic, they can make changes that help reduce fuel consumption. Planning more fuel-efficient routes, combining errands, maintaining a steady speed and avoiding harsh acceleration and braking can help every litre go further.

Added up over hundreds of kilometres each month, even small improvements in fuel efficiency can translate into savings.

Using less fuel is one way to save. Getting more value from the fuel you still need is another.

Through Discovery Insure and Discovery Bank, qualifying clients can now earn up to 65% back* on their fuel spend when paying with their linked Discovery Bank virtual card, with rewards paid instantly in Discovery Miles.

On a R3,000 monthly fuel bill, that could mean up to R1,950 back in Discovery Miles.

Discovery Miles can be converted to cash at a rate of 10 Miles to R1. But clients can get even more value by spending their Miles at participating partners, where they can enjoy discounts of up to 30% on Miles D-Day (the 15th of every month).

Alternatively, qualifying Discovery Insure clients can opt to have their Vitality Drive fuel rewards paid into an Insure Funder Account, which can be used towards vehicle-related costs such as tyres, servicing, claims-related excesses or licence renewals.

Clients who choose this option can double their Vitality Drive fuel rewards, earning up to R1,500 in additional rewards per month.

Altogether, this could add up to R36,000 in rewards paid into their Insure Funder Account annually.

Since 2011, Discovery Insure has paid more than R2.6bn to clients through rewards and incentives.

Fuel prices may be beyond motorists’ control, but how efficiently they drive and how much value they get back from every fill-up don’t have to be.

By driving smarter and making the most of fuel rewards, South Africans can take back some control of an expense they simply cannot avoid.

This article was sponsored by Discovery Bank.