As costs continue to rise, the government is threatening to punish petrol companies who rip off customers.
Australia's top consumer watchdog says motorists are now paying more than a billion dollars extra at the bowser than they were three years ago.
It's been a pricier year for petrol than usual and frustrated motorists are feeling the pinch.
Over the past month, the cost of petrol surged across the capital cities.
The average price of E-10 didn't drop below $1.34 cents-a-litre, and peaked at $1.67.
Last week, the national average for unleaded cost more than $1.52, while premium prices soared as high as $1.90.
Chairman of Consumer watchdog the ACCC Rod Sims has told 3AW motorists are paying $1.2 billion more for fuel per year compared to just three years ago.
Volatile overseas oil markets and a weak Australian dollar have been blamed for the bulk of recent hikes.
But Peter Khoury, from NRMA, says retailers have exacerbated the bowser woes.
