How to find the cheapest petrol near you
Since 2 February 2026, every petrol station in the UK has been legally required to report its pump prices within 30 minutes of a change, and those prices are published as open data. That means a live comparison of the forecourts around you is now possible, and the difference between them is often several pence a litre.
Updated 14 October 2026
How big the difference is
The Competition and Markets Authority found that the driver of a typical family car could save up to £4.50 a tank just by choosing the cheapest station within a five-minute drive. Over a year of fill-ups that is real money for doing nothing more than turning left instead of right.
Prices vary most between motorway services, which are consistently the most expensive, and supermarket forecourts, which are often the cheapest in a town.
Do not drive across town to save a penny
A cheaper forecourt ten miles away can cost more in fuel and time than it saves. A useful rule: work out the saving per tank (pence per litre difference × the litres you will buy) and only make a detour that costs less than that.
That is why Odomint shows the nearest stations first, with the cheapest highlighted and the saving per tank worked out against the local average, so the trade-off is in front of you rather than implied.
Why a price can differ from the board
Retailers must report changes within 30 minutes, so for a short time the published price may lag the pump. A small number of sites have also been slow to comply since the scheme began. Treat the live price as a strong guide and check the pump before you fill up.
Using Odomint
Open the Map tab and tap Petrol & diesel. Choose petrol or diesel, and the cheapest station within your chosen distance is shown first in green, with its price on the map pin, how far away it is and what it saves per tank. Tap any station for every price it sells, its opening hours and directions.
Diesel, super unleaded and E10
Diesel prices move differently from petrol, so the cheapest station for one is not always the cheapest for the other. Compare the grade you actually buy. Super unleaded and premium diesel cost noticeably more and most cars gain little from them unless the manufacturer recommends it.
Standard unleaded in the UK is E10, containing up to 10 per cent renewable ethanol. Almost all petrol cars built since 2011 can use it. If yours cannot, super unleaded (E5) is the alternative, and that is a price worth comparing in the same way.
Common questions
Are UK petrol prices published live?
Yes. Since 2 February 2026 every forecourt must report price changes within 30 minutes under the government’s Fuel Finder scheme, and the data is open for apps to use.
Are supermarket petrol stations cheaper?
Often. Supermarket forecourts are frequently among the cheapest in an area, while motorway services are consistently the most expensive.
How much can I save by choosing a cheaper station?
The CMA estimated up to £4.50 per tank for a typical family car by choosing the cheapest station within a five-minute drive.
Check any car before you buy it
MOT history, every advisory and the full mileage record are free for any UK registration. An Odomint Check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers and salvage history, with a £10,000 data guarantee.