Google Maps adds live fuel prices to help UK motorists
The navigation app has begun showing live petrol and diesel prices using government data to help drivers locate cheaper fuel.
The navigation app has begun showing live petrol and diesel prices using government data to help drivers locate cheaper fuel.
Google Maps began showing live petrol and diesel prices to UK motorists on Thursday 8 October. The feature uses data from the government's Fuel Finder scheme to help drivers locate cheaper fuel.
The feature allows users to see fuel prices when searching for forecourts on the Google Maps app. According to Sarah-Jayne Williams, who serves as the director of product partnerships for both Waze and Google Maps, accuracy is a priority. "Accuracy is very important, so we will still show the petrol station and where it is, but you'll only see a price if we have high confidence that it's the right price," she said.
The feature is already available on the Waze navigation app. Fuel Finder data is used by both Google Maps and Waze, and is already available via apps such as PetrolPrices, the AA, Confused.com, and RAC Fuel Watch.
UK forecourts are legally required to update Fuel Finder within 30 minutes of a price change. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) can intervene if stations do not follow these rules. In August, the CMA reported that some retailers were slow to pass on falling wholesale diesel prices through passive pricing strategies.
The Fuel Finder scheme was launched in February following a 2023 recommendation by the CMA. The CMA reports that 99% of stations participate in the scheme, though PetrolPrices has noted that some sites have not registered or are not updating prices consistently.
The move aims to help UK motorists find cheaper fuel and save money at the pump during a period of rising costs. DESNZ and former chancellor Rachel Reeves estimated annual savings of £40 for households with cars.
Global fuel costs have been affected by conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine, as well as the US and Iran. The US-Israel war on Iran has caused a global squeeze on supplies, and the Strait of Hormuz is a waterway through which 20% of the world's gas and oil is usually shipped. Additionally, diesel exports from Russia have dropped due to economic sanctions and damage to refineries following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
On Wednesday, the average petrol price was 174.89p according to RAC data, while the diesel price was 200.11p according to The Independent. The AA reported that diesel prices have fallen by 2p. An average 55 litre petrol tank costs £96, while a 55 litre diesel tank costs £110.
Looking ahead, Chancellor John Healey is reportedly considering postponing the planned partial reversal of the 5p fuel duty cut, which would add 3p per litre from January 2027.