Remote rural areas in Scotland, North Yorkshire and Devon could benefit from a 5p-per-litre fuel duty cut, under plans put forward by ministers.
The Government has applied to the European Commission to vary the duty rates in 10 towns across Britain.
Discounts have never been permitted on the mainland before, although they are already in place for the Scottish islands, Isles of Scilly and other island communities in Europe.
But Chief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander said the “strongest possible evidence” had been put together to secure an extension.
The areas selected have consistently higher pump prices than are available in locations that already receive a discount.
They are also more than 100 miles by road from the nearest refinery, and have a population density lower than 135 people per square kilometre.
The towns chosen for the application are: Acharacle (Lochaber), Achnasheen (Ross and Cromarty), Appin (Argyll and Bute), Carrbridge (Badenoch and Strathspey), Dalwhinnie (Badenoch and Strathspey), Gairloch (Ross and Cromarty), Hawes (North Yorkshire), Kirkby-in-Furness (Cumbria), Lynton (Devon), Strathpeffer (Ross and Cromarty).