Starting Thursday, UK drivers will be able to see live petrol prices directly on Google Maps for the first time. This new feature allows motorists to compare fuel costs at local forecourts, helping them find the cheapest options amid record-high fuel prices. Google Maps will use data from the government’s Fuel Finder platform, which already provides real-time prices for 99% of UK forecourts. The move is expected to increase price transparency and encourage competition among fuel retailers.
The average price of diesel in the UK recently hit a record £2 per litre, a more than 40% increase since late February. Edmund King, president of the AA, called the integration of fuel prices into Google Maps a "massive step forward." He hopes it will encourage more competitive pricing and reduce rampant price-matching between fuel stations. The government’s Fuel Finder scheme, launched in February, aims to help drivers access more competitive fuel prices following a 2023 recommendation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The CMA has warned fuel retailers against slow implementation of wholesale diesel price drops, noting that "passive pricing strategies" may have kept household costs higher than necessary. Polly Billington, the minister for energy consumers, described the Google Maps feature as a "gamechanger" for drivers looking to save money at the pump. While existing apps like Waze and PetrolPrices will continue to provide fuel price information, the AA expects the Google Maps feature to significantly boost accessibility for millions of drivers.