The UK government has officially launched its new ‘Fuel Finder’ scheme, a major shift in how petrol and diesel prices are reported across the country. From Monday, 2nd February 2026, every forecourt in the UK is legally required to share its latest pump prices within 30 minutes of any change.
This initiative is designed to make it easier than ever to find the cheapest fuel in your local area. Simon Williams, Head of Policy at the RAC, said, "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". Below, we explain how the scheme works and how you can use it to reduce your driving costs.
What is the Fuel Finder scheme?
The Fuel Finder scheme is a government-backed initiative aimed at increasing transparency and competition within the retail fuel market. It follows a study by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) which found that competition had weakened, leading to drivers paying more than necessary for petrol and diesel.
How does the Fuel Finder scheme work?
By moving to a transparent digital system, the responsibility for providing up-to-date pricing now sits firmly with the retailers themselves, making it much easier to find the best deals before you even leave your driveway.
Fuel Finder scheme rules
- Mandatory Reporting - All fuel retailers must report price changes to a central system within 30 minutes of them taking effect.
- Open Data - The latest pricing information is made available as 'open data', meaning third-party apps and websites can use it to provide live comparisons for drivers.
- Legal Requirement - Unlike previous voluntary schemes, participation is now compulsory for every forecourt in the UK, from major supermarket chains to small independent garages.
How much could you save?
Motoring experts suggest the scheme could lead to significant savings for households that are willing to shop around. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has stated that the driver of a typical family car could save up to £4.50 per tank simply by choosing the cheapest petrol station within a five-minute drive of their usual route. This is because fuel prices can vary by as much as 20p per litre even between stations in the same local area. In terms of the broader impact for UK households, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "Empowering drivers to find the cheapest fuel, calling out rip-offs and strengthening competition, will save the average household £40 a year".
How to access the latest fuel prices
While there is no single official government app for drivers to download, the data is being integrated into many of the tools you likely already use. You can access live pricing in the following ways:
- Navigation Apps - Popular services like Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps are all expected to integrate the live data, allowing you to see prices directly on your route.
- Comparison Websites & Apps - Specialist tools such as PetrolPrices have adopted the new government API to provide more accurate, near-real-time fuel price updates.
- Motoring Organisations - Both the RAC and the AA offer fuel finder features within their member apps that now utilise this official data.
- Direct Government Access - For those who want the raw data, the government provides a searchable Fuel Finder website and a subscription service that sends out updated pricing files via email.
Source: https://petrolprices.co.uk
Monitoring and enforcement of the scheme
To ensure the data remains reliable, the CMA has been given the power to monitor and enforce the scheme. Retailers who fail to report their prices accurately or within the 30-minute window could face significant fines. However, there is an initial three-month "support period" ending in May 2026, during which the focus will be on helping businesses adapt to the new reporting requirements rather than immediate punishment.
MTTM AI (beta) 
