South Africans bought 23% less fuel in May as fuel price pressure continues

New Discovery Insure data shows that motorists filled up less and made fewer trips in May as high fuel prices continue to change how they travel and commute – with diesel drivers cutting back the most.

Key insights:

• Compared to January and February, motorists bought 23% less fuel and made 17% fewer fuel transactions in May.
• South Africans also drove 9% less.
• Diesel drivers cut back the most, driving 10.9% less, while petrol drivers drove 8.9% less.
• Younger drivers changed their behaviour less than older drivers, despite presumably tighter budgets, while Western Cape motorists recorded the largest reduction in travel at 15%.

Johannesburg, 1 June 2026 – South Africans continue to cut back on fuel purchases and driving as the impact of consecutive fuel price increases takes hold, according to the latest data from Discovery Insure.

Telematics and fuel card transactions from over 200,000 Discovery Insure clients show that motorists bought 23% less fuel in May, while fuel transactions dropped by 17%, compared to January and February.

Discovery Insure’s earlier analysis showed that litres purchased in April dropped by 35%, while fuel transactions declined by 28% following the initial fuel price increase.

South Africans also drove 9% less compared to before the fuel price increases - 5.7% less in April and a further 3.6% less in May, suggesting that many motorists have already cut back as much as practically possible.

“These are not normal fluctuations,” says Robert Attwell, CEO of Discovery Insure. “When compared to the past few years, we rarely see fluctuations of more than 1% in fuel demand and driving behaviour. What we are seeing now reflects the real financial pressure people are under.

“Despite driving less and buying less fuel, overall spending is 15% higher compared to January and February. Simply put, motorists are spending more money and getting less fuel for it.”

These changes in driving behaviour follow consecutive fuel price increases implemented in April and May, which have put pressure on household budgets. According to Statistics South Africa (StatsSA), fuel prices rose by 18.2% month-on-month in April – the steepest monthly increase since the current CPI fuel index series began in 2008. Petrol prices increased by 15.2%, while diesel prices surged by 35.4%, contributing to headline inflation accelerating from 3.1% in March to 4% in April. The South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee increased the repo rate by 25 basis points last week, citing inflationary pressure.

While some of the factors that drove recent fuel price increases have started to ease, uncertainty remains around the fuel price outlook, including the government’s temporary fuel levy relief measures. As a result, motorists may continue to face fuel price pressure in the months ahead.

“South Africans are not just making short-term changes but are rethinking their driving habits over the long term as pressure on household budgets continues to grow,” says Attwell.

Diesel drivers made the biggest changes

Motorists with diesel vehicles cut back the most, driving 10.9% less in May – the steepest decline across all vehicle types analysed.

In comparison, petrol vehicle drivers collectively reduced their driving distance by 8.9%.

Females adjusted more than males, while young people cut back the least

The analysis also revealed interesting differences in driving behaviours by sex and age, with female drivers travelling 9.5% less while males travelled 8.6% less.

Another unexpected finding was that younger drivers (aged 20 to 30) showed the least change in driving habits, reducing their driving by 6.8%. In comparison:

• Drivers aged 30 to 40 drove 7.6% less
• Drivers aged 40 to 50 drove 9.6% less
• Drivers aged 50 to 60 drove 10% less

“Conventional thinking would suggest that younger drivers would cut back the most because they generally have lower disposable incomes. Instead, what the data implies is that younger drivers may have fewer alternatives when it comes to getting to work, making it harder to reduce travel even when fuel becomes more expensive,” says Attwell.

Western Cape showed the biggest drop in distance travelled

The distance travelled by motorists in the Western Cape declined by 15%. The Northern Cape followed at 14%, while the Eastern Cape recorded a 10% decline.

Limpopo showed the smallest shift at 2.6%, followed by KwaZulu-Natal at 5.5% and Gauteng at 6.6%.

“As consumers, we can’t control the fuel price, but there are practical ways to reduce the impact of high prices,” says Attwell. “Many people are already becoming more deliberate about how and when they travel, whether by combining errands, reducing unnecessary trips, planning routes, or making use of delivery services.

“This is also a good time for motorists to really make the most of fuel rewards programmes and to focus on driving habits that improve fuel efficiency. Small changes can make a meaningful difference over time, especially as the fuel price pressure continues.”