Drivers can now check near real-time petrol and diesel prices through Google Maps, making it easier to compare fuel costs at nearby filling stations. The new feature, launched today (8 October), displays fuel prices when motorists search for forecourts on Google Maps.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said the move could help drivers find cheaper fuel locally, with comparing prices estimated to save a typical car-owning household around £40 a year.
The change comes as fuel prices face renewed pressure amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The fuel price data is supplied through the government’s Fuel Finder scheme, which requires petrol stations to report changes in pump prices within 30 minutes. Forecourts can face fines for failing to comply.
The scheme was introduced following a recommendation from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which has previously raised concerns about competition in the retail fuel market.
According to the DfT, around 99% of fuel sold on UK roads is now covered by the Fuel Finder data.
The information is already available through a number of services, including Waze, Petrol Prices, the AA, Confused.com and RAC Fuel Watch. Google Maps will make the data available to a much larger number of motorists.
Energy Consumers Minister Polly Billington said the addition of fuel prices to Google Maps would make it easier for motorists to find cheaper fuel.
She said: “Accessing the cheapest fuel should be simple, which is why it is a gamechanger for near real-time fuel prices to be shown on Google Maps for the first time in the UK, helping drivers to find the best deal and save money at the pump.”
Chancellor John Healey said the change would not address the wider pressures on household bills, but argued that measures such as the fuel price information, a cut to VAT on electricity bills and a £2 bus fare cap could provide some relief.
The government said the introduction of the Google Maps feature forms part of its wider efforts to tackle the cost of living. For motorists, the practical change is relatively straightforward: searching for a nearby petrol station on Google Maps will now also show its latest reported petrol and diesel prices, allowing drivers to compare forecourts before filling up.
(Picture; Yay Images)
