What if a tanker can't reach my oil tank?

Why access decides the delivery

A tanker has to park somewhere safe and legal, and the driver then walks the delivery hose from the tanker to your fill point, so the distance between the two matters. That is why UKIFDA, the distributors' trade body, says your distributor will need to know how far the tank is from where the tanker parks, how high the fill point is and whether there is any limit on the size of tanker that can get in. UKIFDA also notes that deliveries can be aborted when access is unsafe for the driver, and that aborted deliveries add to distributors' costs.

Narrow lanes, weight limits and smaller tankers

A full-size tanker may not be able to use a single-track lane, a tight bend, a low bridge or a road or bridge with a weight limit. Smaller tankers exist for exactly these places. They carry less per trip, and distributors told the CMA's 2026 study of the heating oil market that the need for smaller tankers on narrow roads is one of the reasons remote homes cost more to supply.

Fueltool shows standard, small and baby tanker options for narrow lanes and tight access, and a small extra charge can apply. Each price shows its delivery option and date, so you can see what you are choosing before you order.

What to tell the supplier

Tell the supplier these before the delivery day, for example when they phone you to take payment:

• where the tanker can park, and whether that is a public road or your drive
• the rough distance from there to the fill point, and whether the hose has to go round corners or over a wall
• how high the fill point is, and whether the driver will need a ladder
• gates, locks or codes, and where to find a key if you will be out
• weight limits, low branches, tight turns or soft verges on the way in
• dogs or livestock the driver should know about

If anything changes, such as building work or a new fence, tell the supplier on your next order.

Keep the fill point clear

UKIFDA asks customers to leave clear access at the fill point with the tank gauge visible, and to give the supplier the key or code for any lock. The Oil Care Campaign adds that the driver should reach the fill point with the hose without climbing over obstacles or pushing through hedges. In practice that means moving bins, cars and garden furniture off the route, cutting back plants and clearing snow. A lockable cap on the fill point is sensible, but never lock or block the vent, which can split the tank. Old fill pipes that no longer lead to a tank should be removed or securely capped and marked 'do not fill'.

If a tanker still can't reach

An OFTEC-registered technician can advise on moving the tank or fitting a remote fill point closer to where a tanker can stop. Moving or replacing a tank has to meet building regulations, and the rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (see the rules for domestic oil tanks), so get advice before you move anything. If several homes on the same lane order together, one trip can serve more of them, and the CMA noted that coordinating orders, for example through a buying group, can offset some of the higher cost of remote deliveries. To see the tanker options for your address, compare prices for your postcode.