Fuel stations empty and car queues

[IUsedToRuleTheWorld]

I live in a town about 10 miles outside of Edinburgh - population about 70,000.

We have several garages and I just usually go to the local Tesco as it's cheap and convenient. It seems we have no fuel at all now. The asda fuel station had a delivery this afternoon and there was a queue of cars waiting to fill up so I am guessing that will run dry again soon.

I did notice the roads seemed quieter when I was out and about and so i did wonder if people were staying home to save their fuel.

Hard to know if there are actually shortages or if everyone is just panicking.

I have to admit I usually just fill mine when it gets empty but I have been going once a week to top it back up to full at the moment.

What's happening in your local area. I've been checking FifeJammers Facebook and it seems other areas are running out too ie Cupar.

Well I’m in the midlands, I’ve been out several times this week, roads are just as busy as ever and no queues at any petrol station I passed

I got some at Sainsburys a couple of hours ago, it was busy but not crazy gridlocked busy.

15 miles outside of Edinburgh, our garages have huge queues and many of them have no unleaded left!

Live outskirts of London/north Surrey and everything is as it’s always been except for the price of fuel.

Topping up weekly isn't going to help if everyone does it because it messes up with the usual pattern of fuel buying and therefore fuel shortages 🙄

East Midlands. Traffic as heavy as ever if not increased. No queues at any of the petrol stations I passed. However the next town over has apparently been experiencing the idiots who top up the minimum (£8?) spend everyday causing shortages and massive queues.

It’s people like you changing your behaviour who are causing localised shortages.

If you usually have half a tank in your car and you are now keeping it topped up that creates excess demand. If enough people do it all the local petrol is sitting in people’s tanks not being used instead of being at the petrol station available to buy.

Sainsburys was out yesterday and prices have risen again today

Why does topping up cause shortages? I don’t really understand. They’re not suddenly using a whole load more fuel than normal? They’re not stockpiling it. How does it work?

No issues with finding fuel where I am. No queues either.

It's fine where I am - the forecourts seem quite empty. I think we have a larger than average percentage of electric cars in this area though.

As for "people like the OP" messing up buying patterns, it's the Easter holidays. Buying patterns are going to be different. I've topped up today because we are visiting my mum for the weekend - otherwise I wouldn't have bothered.

I went and got petrol yesterday (I had under a quarter of a tank left) and was expecting queues and to have trouble finding any. I didn't have any problem finding it and no queues. I'm in north Essex

It was bloody expensive though

No queues here either. It's panic buying / changes in patterns, as PP says.

Interesting so it seems Edinburgh and surrounding is having problems with lack of petrol.

Shortages and huge queues here too. My tank had run down so I had to fill up - local petrol station only had two pumps operating, selling the premium stuff, super unleaded. No diesel left. Was the most expensive tank of fuel I’ve ever bought!

I’m avoiding driving as much as possible now until this has all died down.

Do you mind sharing where you are in the country?

Where about are you?

Because, rather than wait a week, lots of people have topped up this week, instead, when they normally wouldn't. It's been sold faster than it would normally be replenished.

We're about 45 miles north of London in a moderately rural area, and several filling stations round here have run out of diesel. All of them have unleaded, and I've not noticed any queues anywhere.

we all drive around with another eg 50 litres we don't normally have. times this by eg 1 million cars and suddenly 50 million litres have gone. Prob a supply issue in Edinburgh. During covid everyone was seemingly buying tinned tomatoes to stockpile with their 50 packets of pasta. I read an interview with a producer of those tomatoes who said we have a finite amount until the next harvest. Buy normally and there are plenty on the shelves. Same with petrol. There isn't currently a shortage but there will be if eg 50 million litres extra are being bought. Out today and no issues in W.Yorks or near me. 1 garage had diesel at 1.79 and no queues. HMRC are v.happy with extra vat generated

Our Sainsbury's (south Edinburgh... Cameron toll shopping centre) is fine. Paid £1.69 on Saturday for a litre. £1.73 in Tesco near Bonnyrigg.
Going to Newcastle next week and usually top up in Coldstream which is often a lot cheaper.

No probs where I am

Honestly, what is the point in topping up? If the supply gets really tight then what are you going to do after that tank runs out?

you are right. It probably does. I'm going once per week which isn't too bad. Some are going everyday! Still if you need your car for work/caring or upcoming easter weekend then I can understand people trying to make sure they have enough.

No problems here - Devon