How petrol filling stations are valued for business rates
Find out how the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) calculates rateable values for petrol filling stations.
Applies to England and Wales
How petrol filling stations are valued
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) usually uses the rental comparison method to value petrol filling stations (PFS). This method and the approach to valuing PFS has been agreed with industry representatives including the Petrol Retailers Association and Fuels Industry UK. Find out more about the rental comparison method.
The VOA also considers fair maintainable trade (FMT) to value PFS. The FMT is the annual level of trade a PFS would be expected to achieve if operated in a reasonably efficient manner. Relevant trade can include:
- forecourt throughput and litres dispensed
- shop sales excluding VAT
- car wash sales excluding VAT
- bunkered fuel
- lottery sales
2026 rateable values
A rateable value is an estimate of what it would cost to rent a property for a year, on a set date known as the Antecedent Valuation Date (AVD).
The most recent revaluation came into effect in England and Wales on 1 April 2023. It was based on the AVD 1 April 2021.
The next revaluation will come into effect in England and Wales on 1 April 2026. It will be based on the AVD 1 April 2024.
On the AVD 1 April 2021, petrol filling stations were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant most petrol filling stations were given lower rateable values in the 2023 revaluation than they otherwise would have received. Any increases in rateable values in the 2026 revaluation reflect changes in petrol filling stations’ trade since 2021 and a general return to normality in the market. The VOA has agreed a scheme of valuation for the 2026 revaluation with the PFS industry to reflect such matters.
Your rateable value is not the amount you have to pay. Local councils use rateable values to calculate business rates bills.