Online car buying platform CarWow analysed the petrol-buying habits of Brits both pre and post-lockdown.

Before lockdown began, 30% of Brits spent more than £30 a month on petrol, with one in 10 spending between £51 and £60 on fuel each month. About 7% were spending more than £101 a month on petrol prior to lockdown, compared to just 1% since travel restrictions were put in place.

Those living in Edinburgh (24%), Sheffield (23%) and Newcastle (19%) are the most likely motorists to still be spending at least £41 a month on petrol since lockdown began.

At the other end of the spectrum, residents of Brighton (48%), Plymouth (46%), Nottingham (40%) and Southampton (40%) were the most likely to have spent nothing on petrol in the past month.

Prior to lockdown, 57% of drivers in Manchester spent more than £41 on petrol each month, followed by Sheffield (56%) and Nottingham (55%). Norwich motorists were most likely to spend more than £101 on petrol in a month (13%).

Just over a third (34%) admitted they had already taken full advantage of cheaper petrol prices by filling up their tank in preparation of lockdown being lifted, with a further 35% of motorists planning on doing so in the coming weeks.

Vix Leyton, consumer expert at Car Wow, says: “After more than two months in lockdown, the idea of a regular petrol station ‘top-up’ no doubt seems like a distant memory to the millions of British motorists who’ve not needed fuel – or perhaps even driven – for weeks.

“For those wanting to take advantage of the low petrol and diesel prices being highlighted on forecourts, now is arguably the time to do so – providing you can do so safely – before lockdown measures are eased even further and long queues begin forming outside supermarkets and stations across the UK.”