Motorists should fill up their petrol tanks today if they want to save a bit extra at the pumps before the petrol price increase takes effect.

From midnight tonight the price of petrol will go up by 96 cents a litre and diesel by 74 cents while paraffin will go up by 73 cents.

The main reason for the fuel price hike is the average increase in the price of crude oil as well as the Rand/Dollar exchange rate, according to the Energy Department.

The department said it believes that the price of crude oil will stabilise around the current level and as such no major price shocks are expected in the future.

However, next month’s fuel price will include an increase of over 80 cents in the fuel levy, as announced by the Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene during the 2015 National Budget last week.