Fuel Finder: You Can Now Compare Petrol Prices on Google Maps
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 8th of October 2026
Filling up at your usual petrol station is an easy habit to fall into, especially when it’s on the school run or the route to work. But finding a cheaper forecourt a few streets away could leave you with more money for the rest of the week, and Fuel Finder now makes that comparison easier through Google Maps.
From Thursday the 8th of October, you can see petrol and diesel prices in the app before deciding where to stop.
The change brings the government’s fuel-price data into a service many drivers already use for directions. You don’t need to understand how the reporting system works to benefit from it: search for nearby petrol stations and compare the prices for the fuel your vehicle takes. It’s still worth checking the distance, opening hours and pump price before filling up, because a cheaper litre isn’t always a cheaper journey.
How do I find petrol prices on Google Maps?
Open Google Maps and search for “petrol” or a nearby petrol station, then look at the prices shown alongside the results. Tap a station to open its details and check the grade you need, rather than assuming the price on the map is for diesel or premium fuel. The Google Maps launch announcement confirms that the new UK information covers petrol and diesel.
The supplied launch images show how this looks: one has price labels beside stations on the map, while the other shows unleaded, super unleaded, diesel and premium diesel on a station’s overview. This makes the grade check useful if you’ve spotted an attractive price at a glance. The prices in those images are examples from the announcement, not quotes for a visit today.
If a price isn’t showing for the station you’re considering, try another fuel-comparison service or contact the forecourt before making a special trip. A missing price isn’t proof that it’s expensive or has run out of fuel. Plan the stop before setting off, or ask a passenger to check while you’re travelling.
What is Fuel Finder and how does it work?
Fuel Finder is the government scheme supplying fuel-price information to apps and websites that drivers can use. Petrol stations selling to the public must report their prices, with changes submitted within 30 minutes under the official reporting rules. The requirement began on the 2nd of February, so Google Maps is a new way to see the data rather than the start of the scheme itself.
Price comparisons existed before Fuel Finder, through third-party fuel price apps and websites, but voluntary reporting left gaps. The current scheme makes reporting compulsory for public petrol and diesel retailers across the UK, including small and unmanned stations. The government’s overview sets out the scope, which is different from private business-only fuel sales.
The government puts current coverage at around 99% of fuel sold on UK roads. That’s a measure of fuel sales, not a promise that 99% of stations will display a price in every app. It also doesn’t mean every driver has the same choice nearby, particularly in areas where the next forecourt is several miles away.
Are the prices live, and what if they’re wrong?
“Near real-time” is a more useful description than assuming the app always matches the pump at that exact second. A station has up to 30 minutes to report a change, and the service displaying the information also needs to refresh its data. Check any update time shown, then confirm the price on the pump before dispensing fuel.
An older update time doesn’t automatically mean the information is wrong, because a station may not have changed its price. The Competition and Markets Authority’s monitoring update makes this point, particularly for smaller and rural sites. The Competition and Markets Authority, or CMA, is the regulator responsible for enforcing the reporting rules.
If the information appears incorrect, you can report a fuel-price or forecourt error through GOV.UK. Note the station’s name and address, when you noticed the problem and whether you saw it in an app, on a sign or at the pump; a screenshot or photo can help. You can report anonymously, and the service also covers incorrect opening times, location details and temporary closures.
Which other apps and websites show fuel prices?
Google Maps joins services already using the data, including Waze, PetrolPrices, the AA, Confused.com and RAC Fuel Watch. If you already use sat-nav apps like Waze, you may prefer to keep checking there. The aim is to make comparing prices convenient enough to do before filling up, rather than adding another app you’ll never open.
I’ve also found FuelPilot useful for looking at local prices, while Petrol Prices offers another way to compare stations. Its website and app let you search by location, and the RAC and AA are other familiar motoring names to consider. Check which features are included before paying for any optional subscription or extra service.
How much could a cheaper petrol station save you?
The government estimates that comparing prices could save a household with a car around £40 a year. Treat that as an estimate, because your own saving depends on how often you fill up, how much you buy and the price differences along your routes. You could already be using the cheapest practical station, in which case the comparison may simply confirm that.
A more useful starting point is the saving on the amount you actually plan to buy. A 5p-per-litre difference saves £2.50 on 50 litres, while a 10p gap saves £5 on the same fill. The table gives a few illustrative examples, without assuming that these price differences are available near you today.
Now consider the extra journey: if reaching the cheaper station uses £1.50 of fuel, that £2.50 saving falls to £1 before allowing for your time. If you’re only buying 20 litres, a 5p difference saves £1, so the same detour would cost more than it saves. Checking stations along a journey you’re already making is often more useful than heading miles out of your way for the lowest displayed price.
Why do fuel prices vary so much?
The price at the pump reflects wholesale fuel costs, tax, the cost of running the forecourt and the retailer’s pricing decisions. Exchange rates matter too, because wholesale fuel is traded in US dollars, as the RAC’s fuel-price explanation explains. Local competition can affect what nearby stations charge, so two sites selling the same grade may have noticeably different prices.
That doesn’t mean every increase or slow price cut is unavoidable. The CMA has raised concerns about high margins and some retailers being slow to pass on reductions in wholesale diesel prices. Fuel Finder makes those local differences easier for drivers to spot, but it doesn’t set a maximum pump price or guarantee that prices will fall.
Don’t forget loyalty cards, fuel vouchers and cashback
Once you’ve found a competitively priced station, check whether you can use its loyalty card or a fuel voucher you already have. I’ve had money-off rewards, including £5 off a fill-up, so it’s worth scanning the relevant card when your purchase qualifies. That doesn’t make every reward scheme a reason to choose a more expensive forecourt; compare the money you’ll actually save.
For example, a station charging 4p a litre more would cost another £2 on a 50-litre fill. A £1 reward wouldn’t make up that difference, even before any extra driving. Supermarket promotions can be worth checking too, and our Tesco fuel discount guide explains the offer and its purchase, expiry and forecourt conditions.
I’ve also found worthwhile loyalty prices in the forecourt shop, including chocolate oranges one Christmas that were cheaper than at the supermarkets. I didn’t need to buy fuel to use that particular offer, but terms vary between promotions. It’s a useful reminder to look at offers on things you were going to buy anyway, rather than adding snacks simply because you’re already at the till.
If you’re considering a gift card through JamDoughnut, confirm that its current terms explicitly allow fuel purchases at the exact forecourt and payment point you’ll use. Acceptance in a supermarket doesn’t establish that its petrol station or pay-at-pump machine will accept the same card. Don’t buy a gift card for a fuel purchase until you’ve checked that it will work.
Before your next fill-up, compare a few stations on your normal route and work out the difference for the litres you expect to buy. Then check any voucher or loyalty offer against those prices, rather than choosing a station by brand or habit. A nearby saving you can use on an ordinary journey is usually more helpful than a low price that takes you far out of your way.
Fuel Finder FAQs
What is the Fuel Finder scheme?
Fuel Finder is a government scheme that collects petrol and diesel prices from retailers across the UK. Apps and websites use the information to help drivers compare nearby forecourts.
How do I see petrol prices on Google Maps?
Search for petrol or a nearby petrol station in Google Maps and look for the price information. Open a station’s details to check the fuel grade you need.
Is Fuel Finder a separate app I need to download?
No, you can use services that display its data, including Google Maps, Waze and fuel-comparison websites. You don’t need a separate government Fuel Finder app.
How often are fuel prices updated?
Forecourts must report a price change within 30 minutes. The app or website also needs to refresh the data, so check the pump price before filling up.
Does Fuel Finder tell me which stations have fuel in stock?
A displayed price alone doesn’t confirm that a pump is working or that the fuel you need is currently available. Check with the station if availability is important before making a special journey.
Do all petrol stations have to take part?
The reporting requirement covers UK petrol stations selling petrol or diesel to the public, including small and unmanned sites. The rules have exclusions for activities such as business-only fuel sales.
Is Fuel Finder free to use?
Drivers can compare prices through free services using the scheme’s data. Individual apps may charge for optional extras, so check before subscribing.
Will Fuel Finder definitely save me £40 a year?
No, that’s a government estimate rather than a guaranteed saving. Your result depends on your fuel use, nearby prices and the cost of any extra journey.
