Petrol Prices on Google Maps: New Fuel Finder Tool Could Save Drivers £40 a Year

For the national picture each day, see petrol prices today on Money Weather, with the latest UK average petrol and diesel prices.

What happened: petrol prices on Google Maps go live

Drivers can now see near real time petrol and diesel prices on Google Maps for the first time in the UK. The government announced the launch today, Thursday 8 October 2026, saying that checking local fuel prices is now as simple as opening Google Maps and searching for a forecourt nearby.

The prices come from Fuel Finder, the government scheme created after a recommendation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Since February 2026 it has been compulsory for petrol stations across the UK to report the price of their fuel within 30 minutes of it changing, or risk a fine. The CMA can take action where there is evidence that a petrol station is not complying with the law.

The government says Fuel Finder now covers about 99% of all fuel sold on UK roads. The same data already feeds apps and services such as Waze, Petrol Prices, the AA, Confused.com and RAC Fuel Watch, and Google says the feature works in both Google Maps and Waze: search for “petrol” or “fuel” to see prices at nearby stations, for every fuel type a station sells.

How to check petrol prices on Google Maps, step by step

1. Open Google Maps (or Waze) on your phone.
2. Search for “petrol” or “fuel”, or tap a nearby forecourt on the map.
3. Compare the petrol and diesel prices shown for stations near you.
4. Pick the cheapest one that is on your route, so you do not burn the saving driving to it.

The launch matters because pump prices have been climbing. The government says the wider pressure on prices comes from events in the Middle East, and that comparing prices is one of the few levers drivers control themselves.

What it means for your money

The headline saving is modest but real: about £40 a year for a typical household with a car, on the government’s own estimate. The bigger wins come when the price gap between forecourts near you is wide. Here is the maths on a standard 50 litre fill, using our own worked example:

Two habits make the tool pay. First, check before a long journey, when you will fill up anyway and can choose where. Second, do not drive miles out of your way for a small gap: a 2p saving on a half tank is about 50p, which a long detour can wipe out in fuel alone. For more ways to cut everyday costs, see our guide to making and saving money in the UK.

Petrol prices on Google Maps: your questions answered

Is it free to use?

Yes. The prices appear inside Google Maps and Waze, which are free apps, and the underlying Fuel Finder data is a government scheme. There is no charge for checking a price.

How fresh are the prices?

They are described as near real time. Since February 2026, petrol stations have had to report a price change to Fuel Finder within 30 minutes, and the government says about 99% of fuel sold on UK roads is now covered.

What if the price at the pump is different?

The price on the pump when you fill up is the price you pay. Stations that do not report their prices properly can face a fine, and the CMA can take action where there is evidence a station is not complying with the law.

Do other apps show the same prices?

Yes. The same Fuel Finder data is already used by Waze, Petrol Prices, the AA, Confused.com and RAC Fuel Watch. Google Maps is the biggest addition because so many drivers already have it on their phone.

Sources: GOV.UK news release, “Drivers set to save as petrol prices launch on Google Maps”, 8 October 2026, and the Google UK blog post on fuel prices in Google Maps and Waze. Photo: a red car at a petrol station forecourt at night, Pexels (free to use). Read the primary source here: GOV.UK: Drivers set to save as petrol prices launch on Google Maps.