Although the government’s Fuel Finder Scheme sources and shares pricing data – as well as forecourt services such as car washes, air pumps, and toilets – there is no specific government app to direct motorists to the cheapest forecourt or garage.
Instead, this open source data will be used by established apps and websites that already map out and compare pump prices across the UK.
The difference is that previously, sharing price data was voluntary – now all businesses that sell petrol and diesel have to upload their price changes to a government database.
Current comparison apps and websites include PetrolPrices, Waze, My RAC and the AA app, as well as in-car navigation systems and online map services.
Government guidance says drivers who spot a difference between prices advertised on comparison apps and the fuel forecourt should report the discrepancy on its Fuel Finder website.
Petrol is currently 131.91p per litre, which is the lowest price since July 2021, according to the RAC motoring group. A litre of diesel is 140.97p.
RAC head of policy, Simon Williams, said: “As a growing number of the country’s 8,300 forecourts submit their prices on a daily basis, drivers will be able to easily find the cheapest forecourts near them using their favoured app or sat-nav.”