Drivers across the UK can cut fuel costs by up to £40 per year with a simple check at petrol stations.
The Government has launched a new service known as Fuel Finder that allows drivers to easily compare the cost of petrol and diesel at every petrol station nationwide. The initiative is designed to make costs more transparent, allowing drivers to easily see where the cheapest fuel is available. Fuel Finder supplies real-time data to third-party apps and websites, providing users with a wide range of useful information that can help to save money.
All filling stations are now required by law to report pump prices within 30 minutes of a change, giving drivers access to real-time pricing and the opportunity to find the cheapest fuel nearby.
According to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the scheme could help the average household save around £40 per year by encouraging more competitive pricing.
Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said: “This spring, Fuel Finder will be delivering local petrol prices to your phone, through your go-to mapping and comparison apps.
“Every retailer is required to take part, as we bring down the cost of a tank to tackle the cost of living head-on. Real-time prices will drive up competition and is set to see working families save around £40 a year at the pump.”
Drivers can access Fuel Finder data via the government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) website which provides a CSV file that can be downloaded.
This supplies current pump prices for all fuel types at every petrol station, as well as details about each forecourt, such as its address, operator and brand, timestamps of when the fuel prices were last updated, and site amenities and facilities.
Drivers can also subscribe to an email, which will provide the latest link to straight into their inbox every time the fuel prices update.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to download the information via the government website, you can download apps via your smartphone with "PetrolPrices" and "fuelGenie" providing the same data.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams added: “We hope this is the start of the journey to cheaper fuel prices around the UK.
“The Government has set up this scheme with the intention of increasing competition among retailers to give drivers better value at the pumps.
“As a growing number of the country’s 8,300 forecourts submit their prices on a daily basis, drivers will be able to easily find the cheapest forecourts near them using their favoured app or sat nav."