Drivers are being warned to look out for sky-high fuel prices as they embark on their Christmas getaways.
Millions of motorists will be heading home to celebrate with their loved ones in the coming days.
But the RAC says motorists are being "heartlessly overcharged" as the average price per litre of petrol is around 153p, while diesel costs around 176p.
This means current prices are 7p higher for petrol and 27p higher for diesel when compared with fuel costs this time last year.
This year, drivers are paying an extra £20 to fill a typical 55-litre family car with petrol and an extra £31 for diesel than two years ago.
The RAC claimed drivers should not be feeling the pinch when they fill up their vehicles, as the wholesale price of petrol is the same as it was 12 months ago.
In comparison, Diesel is just 14p more per litre than it was a year ago.
It also made note of the fact that the Government's 5p per litre cut in fuel duty, introduced back in March, also remains in place.
The RAC believes the average cost per litre of petrol and diesel should be cut by around 15p and 13p respectively.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: "With the cost-of-living crisis making this one of the toughest Christmases on record, it is even more galling to know drivers are being heartlessly overcharged for fuel, making this the most expensive ever festive getaway on the roads.
"The big four supermarkets, which dominate UK fuel retailing, have robustly refused to significantly lower their forecourt prices to reflect what's happened with the substantial reduction in the price of wholesale fuel that they are enjoying."
He also called on supermarkets to "give drivers the Christmas present they deserve" by cutting fuel prices.
He said: "We now have a bizarre situation where many smaller independent retailers are charging far less for their fuel than the supermarkets.
“After years of the supermarkets being the cheapest place to fill up, many drivers automatically assume this is still the case and may be losing out as a result."
The average cost of fuel is said to have risen partly due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Prices reached record highs at 192p per litre for petrol and 199p per litre for diesel in July of this year.
