-than the rest of Europe
Drivers have been hit with petrol tax rises as much as six times higher than the rest of Europe, it is revealed today.
Tax paid at the pumps in the form of fuel duty and VAT has soared in the past 15 months, analysis of official figures shows.
And motorists are warned the pain will continue when another 2.5p is added to the price of a litre of petrol and diesel on April 1.
UK tax on fuel went up 13.53 per cent between November 2008 and last month.
In Austria the figure was just 2.23 per cent, while France and Germany also saw similarly small rises.
The analysis by the AA found that on November 24, 2008, Britons were paying 92.79p a litre for unleaded - of which 64.17p was tax. A fortnight ago, the price had increased to 111.89p a litre - of which 72.85p was tax.
So, the tax rise alone was 13.53 per cent. The total rise in the pump price was 20.58 per cent.
For UK diesel car owners, the fuel tax burden increased 8.10 per cent - lower than the 8.33 per cent in Ireland, but well above the 2.89 per cent average for Europe.
The UK tax risks further stoking up inflation and putting the economic recovery at risk, said AA president Edmund King.
'Our research shows that most other European countries have resisted such fuel tax hikes over the past 15 months, and they have also had to deal with the fallout from the credit crunch,' he added.
'Petrol and diesel are necessities for the majority of the population and businesses, yet are taxed as luxuries. Further increases could backfire on economic recovery.
'With higher fuel prices contributing significantly to inflation, adding another 2.5p to the cost of petrol and diesel in April could do more harm than good to the public purse, economic recovery, hauliers and car owners.'
On top of the tax rises an average 1.5p a litre rise in pump prices since mid-February sees petrol now at ?1.13p a litre.
The Treasury admitted that soaking motorists with higher taxes at the pumps was a central plank of the Government's strategy - its 'deficit reduction plan' - to reduce its massive debts.
The AA report based on official EU figures reveals that since the Pre-Budget Report in November 2008, the tax taken by Chancellor Alistair Darling has soared.
This latest in a string of rises will add 'inflation plus 1p' to the total cost. VAT is then added on to the new flat rate of duty - effectively a 'tax on a tax'.
But the Treasury denied ripping off motorists. 'Duty increases are an important part of the deficit reduction plan, as well as supporting the Government's environmental agenda,' a spokesman said.
Drivers have been hit with petrol tax rises as much as six times higher than the rest of Europe, it is revealed today.
Tax paid at the pumps in the form of fuel duty and VAT has soared in the past 15 months, analysis of official figures shows.
And motorists are warned the pain will continue when another 2.5p is added to the price of a litre of petrol and diesel on April 1.
Pain continues: UK drivers have been hit by a 13.53 per cent rise in petrol tax while for other countries in Europe the figure was as low as 2.23 per cent
UK tax on fuel went up 13.53 per cent between November 2008 and last month.
In Austria the figure was just 2.23 per cent, while France and Germany also saw similarly small rises.
The analysis by the AA found that on November 24, 2008, Britons were paying 92.79p a litre for unleaded - of which 64.17p was tax. A fortnight ago, the price had increased to 111.89p a litre - of which 72.85p was tax.
So, the tax rise alone was 13.53 per cent. The total rise in the pump price was 20.58 per cent.
For UK diesel car owners, the fuel tax burden increased 8.10 per cent - lower than the 8.33 per cent in Ireland, but well above the 2.89 per cent average for Europe.
The UK tax risks further stoking up inflation and putting the economic recovery at risk, said AA president Edmund King.
'Our research shows that most other European countries have resisted such fuel tax hikes over the past 15 months, and they have also had to deal with the fallout from the credit crunch,' he added.
'Petrol and diesel are necessities for the majority of the population and businesses, yet are taxed as luxuries. Further increases could backfire on economic recovery.
'With higher fuel prices contributing significantly to inflation, adding another 2.5p to the cost of petrol and diesel in April could do more harm than good to the public purse, economic recovery, hauliers and car owners.'
On top of the tax rises an average 1.5p a litre rise in pump prices since mid-February sees petrol now at ?1.13p a litre.
The Treasury admitted that soaking motorists with higher taxes at the pumps was a central plank of the Government's strategy - its 'deficit reduction plan' - to reduce its massive debts.
The AA report based on official EU figures reveals that since the Pre-Budget Report in November 2008, the tax taken by Chancellor Alistair Darling has soared.
This latest in a string of rises will add 'inflation plus 1p' to the total cost. VAT is then added on to the new flat rate of duty - effectively a 'tax on a tax'.
But the Treasury denied ripping off motorists. 'Duty increases are an important part of the deficit reduction plan, as well as supporting the Government's environmental agenda,' a spokesman said.
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