Key facts
- UK motorists can now see live petrol and diesel prices on Google Maps.
- The feature uses real-time data from the government's Fuel Finder platform.
- The Fuel Finder platform displays prices at 99% of UK forecourts.
- The average price of diesel in the UK recently hit a record £2 a litre.
- The AA president Edmund King called the move a 'massive step forward' for price transparency.
Motorists in the UK will now be able to view live petrol and diesel prices directly on Google Maps, a feature that became available on Thursday. This integration aims to enhance transparency in fuel pricing and foster greater competition among retailers.
The technology company will leverage data from the government's Fuel Finder platform, which provides real-time pricing information for approximately 99% of UK forecourts. This initiative is expected to help drivers find the cheapest fuel options in their local areas, particularly as consumers face record-high road fuel costs.
Edmund King, president of the AA, described the move as a significant advancement for price transparency, stating that it will provide drivers with easy access to pump prices and potentially encourage more competitive pricing from retailers. He suggested that increased transparency could reduce the practice of price-matching between stations and make lower-priced forecourts more visible.
The government's Fuel Finder scheme was initially launched in February, following a recommendation from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in 2023 to improve fuel price competitiveness. The platform is already accessible through various apps, including Waze, PetrolPrices, the AA, Confused.com, and RAC Fuel Watch.
Despite the new Google Maps integration, an AA spokesperson indicated that existing apps might not see a decline in interest due to the sustained demand for fuel price information. However, the development could also expose the pricing strategies of fuel retailers that keep local prices artificially high.
In August, the CMA had previously cautioned fuel retailers about delays in passing on reductions in wholesale diesel prices, suggesting that such "passive pricing strategies" might have hindered competition and contributed to higher household costs.