<p><br /> Petrol prices are edging closer to a record high as motorists are hit with a 1p a litre fuel duty increase.<br /> </p><p><br /> The rise takes prices from an average of 117.8p a litre to just under 119p, almost up to the record of 119.7p reached in 2008.<br /> </p><p><br /> The pain could have been even greater for road users if Chancellor Alistair Darling had not decided to introduce the near-3p fuel duty rise, scheduled for April 1, in three stages.<br /> </p><p><br /> Drivers will now pay an extra 1p from today, a further 1p in October and another 0.76p next January.<br /> </p><p><br /> The fuel duty rise will mean that petrol has risen by 11p a litre since the start of the year. The RAC said this equated to around £121 extra in fuel costs for the average car.<br /> </p><p><br /> RAC motoring strategist Adrian Tink said: "Worryingly, it's now a case of when, rather than if, the record petrol prices will be broken. The Chancellor had the opportunity to give motorists a bit of respite but has only staggered the pain rather than ease it."<br /> </p><p><br /> Motorists will also be hit by the "showroom tax" which will mean those buying the most-polluting new models will have to pay higher vehicle excise duty (VED) for the first year.<br /> </p><p><br /> Those purchasing cars that emit more than 255g of CO2 per one kilometre will have to pay VED of £950 for the first year. At the top-polluting end of the market, this equates to an increase of £545.<br /> </p>
