Hundreds of UK petrol stations not reporting mandatory live price changes to ‘cheap fuel finder’ system

Hundreds of petrol stations across the UK are flouting legal obligations to update live fuel prices, undermining a government initiative designed to help drivers save money.

An investigation by the Press Association analyzing data sent to the ‘Fuel Finder’ system that feeds third-party comparison apps reveals a serious mismatch.

Approximately 570 sites were unable to provide any oil price information despite the ban being in effect for more than five months.

Of the stations providing data, 1,751 have not updated gas prices in more than a week, while 96 of them have gone at least a month without providing new information.

The RAC’s Simon Williams said it was “unbelievable that so many people would keep prices unchanged in a week, let alone a month”, adding that “most retailers receive new fuel supplies at least once a week”.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously described the scheme as a “tool for finding cheap fuel” and praised it for “forcing petrol stations to publish live prices” to make it easier for motorists to “choose the lowest price”.

All forecourts in the UK have been legally required to report price changes to the database within half an hour since 2 February.

Mr Williams said: “Fuel Finder was introduced to help drivers avoid paying extra when filling up, so these findings are hugely worrying.

“It is vital that all retailers comply with the rules by recording price changes within half an hour.

“Steps must be taken to ensure that those who are not reporting their prices start doing so immediately.”

As of 10 a.m. on Monday, July 6, a total of 7,765 open forecourt prices had been submitted to Fuel Finder.

Various figures from petrol station data company My Automate show there were 8,338 premises operating in the UK as of May 31; This means that approximately 570 facilities do not appear in Fuel Finder.

Of the 7,765 open forecourts for which data is available, 2,229 are supermarket filling stations, of which 410 have not uploaded a price change in at least a week.

Approximately 226 preliminary courts registered with Fuel Finder either did not submit data or were listed as temporarily closed.

When it was launched, ministers expected Fuel Finder to save car-owning households an average of £40 a year by increasing competition between retailers, resulting in lower prices.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has the power to take enforcement action against retailers who do not meet Fuel Finder’s requirements.

The three-month grace period for the application ended on May 1.

Despite oil prices returning to pre-war levels, average oil prices in the UK remain around 19 pence per liter more expensive than before the conflict in the Middle East.

Fuel Finder was created on advice from the CMA in July 2023 after it found that competition between retailers had weakened since 2019, with drivers paying nearly £1bn more for fuel at supermarkets in the previous year due to rising margins.

The program is run by the Government and technology company VE3.

A CMA spokesman said: “The majority of petrol stations are now registered with the scheme and advertise their prices, helping motorists shop around and save money every time they fill up.

“We will take action when gas stations do not comply with the law.

“While retailers must communicate price changes immediately, some sites may change their prices less frequently due to their pricing strategies.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy Security and Net Zero said: “The majority of petrol stations quickly input data into Fuel Finder, helping consumers across the country find the cheapest fuel in their area.

“The Competition and Market Authority has the authority to take action against courts that do not sign or declare prices.

“Fuel Finder plays a pivotal role in our work to tackle the direct cost of living, delivering savings for car-owning households of around £40 a year at the pump.”

The Petroleum Retailers Association, which represents independent tribunals, said smaller, rural areas that receive fuel deliveries only once a month may be among those that do not provide frequent price updates.