The scheme comes into force from Monday, February 2, and will give a major boost to drivers, officials hope
A major rule change starts tomorrow at every petrol station in the UK. The Fuel Finder Scheme is designed to collect and openly publish near real-time road fuel price data from all UK motor fuel retailers so it can be made accessed by the consumer more easily.
From Monday, February 2, petrol stations will be required to report their fuel prices within 30 minutes of a change. People can use the government-backed Fuel Finder website to make sure they’re not being ripped off by one local station.
In a new parliamentary written question Luke Evans Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Health and Social Care) asked Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband: “When his Department plans to publish the Fuel Finder Website.”
In reply Martin McCluskey Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) said it will be in action from tomorrow: “The Fuel Finder scheme is now live, with registration open to petrol stations. From 2 February, petrol stations will be required to report their fuel prices within 30 minutes of a change. This data will be made freely available on the Fuel Finder website and integrated into mapping software and price comparison apps, enabling consumers to compare prices easily and make informed decisions on where to buy their fuel.”
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said greater transparency and shopping around as effectively as possible, the driver of a typical family car could save up to £4.50 a tank within a five-minute drive.
Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, said: “We need to reignite competition among fuel retailers and that means two things. It needs to be easier for drivers to compare up to date prices so retailers have to compete harder for their business.
“This is why we are recommending the UK government legislate for a new fuel finder scheme which would make it compulsory for retailers to make their prices available in real time. This would end the need to drive round and look at the prices displayed on the forecourt and would ideally enable live price data on satnavs and map apps.”
Fuels Industry UK said introduction of the Fuel Finder scheme places a mandatory obligation on all forecourts to submit their pricing data electronically. It told members: “All petrol filling stations in the United Kingdom must participate in the scheme. This applies whether you are an independently operated site or part of a larger group.”
RAC figures show throughout 2025 petrol has averaged 135.69p and diesel 142.96p which is 6.5p and 5.7p less than 2024 (2024 – 142.23p and 148.67p). Both fuels recorded year lows on 9 June, with petrol dipping to 132.03p and diesel to 138.14p.
It said that drivers shoppping around had found it made a difference: “Drivers choosing to refuel at a supermarket-operated forecourt saved themselves 3p a litre in December as unleaded sold for an average of 132.65p and diesel for 141.24p, both having come down 1.8p over the month. This equates to a saving of £1.50 a tank when filling up a 55-litre family car. A full tank of petrol at a supermarket costs £72.96, compared to the UK average cost of £74.45. The diesel equivalent is £77.68, versus £79.35.”
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “We hope that 2026 will see more competitive pump prices on the back of the Government’s fuel finder scheme going live at the start of February and increasing competition.”
Use the Fuel Finder website here or download the app.
