How to Find the Cheapest Petrol Near You (5 Simple Steps)

Two stations a few miles apart can charge wildly different prices. In our database on 27 October, the cheapest E10 petrol was around 154p a litre and the dearest around 209p. On a 50-litre tank that is a difference of more than £27. Here is how to make sure you pay the lower end.

Step 1: Search by postcode, not by brand

Enter your postcode or town on Petrol Prices Today and choose your fuel. Do not assume a particular supermarket or brand is cheapest where you live. Local competition decides prices, and the cheapest station near you may be an independent you have never used.

Step 2: Pick the right fuel type

Make sure you are comparing like with like:

• E10 is standard unleaded petrol
• E5 is premium or super unleaded
• B7 is standard diesel, and SD is premium diesel

If you are unsure, read E10 vs E5.

Step 3: Check how recent the price is

A price is only useful if it is current. Stations must report price changes quickly under the government's Fuel Finder scheme, and each result on our site shows when the price last changed. A price that changed three days ago is perfectly normal, since many stations hold prices for days. If something looks too good to be true, check it before you drive over.

Step 4: Count the cost of getting there

The cheapest price is not always the cheapest fill. Driving 10 miles each way to save a few pence a litre can cost you more than you save. Our ranking includes the true cost: the price of filling up plus the fuel burned getting there and back, using your car's mpg. We explain the sum in is it worth driving further for cheaper fuel?.

Step 5: Fill up on your normal route

The best saving is a station on the way to work, school or the shops. Save it as a favourite, and check its price before each fill. Avoid motorway services unless you have to, because they are around 20p a litre dearer on average. See how much more motorway fuel costs.

Extra tips

• Do not wait until the tank is almost empty. You will pay whatever the nearest station charges.
• Fill up when you are already nearby, not as a special trip.
• Compare prices again after a big news event, such as a Budget or a sharp move in oil prices.

Quick checklist

1. Search your postcode
2. Choose the correct fuel
3. Check the price age
4. Compare the true cost
5. Save your best local station

Find the cheapest fuel near you now.

Compare prices in your city: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, or see petrol prices by city.