What Is the UK Fuel Finder Scheme? A Plain-English Guide

If you have noticed fuel price comparison sites getting more accurate, the Fuel Finder scheme is a big reason why. Here is what it is, in plain English.

What is Fuel Finder?

Fuel Finder is a UK government scheme that collects fuel prices straight from petrol stations and shares them as open data. It went live in early 2026. Under the scheme, fuel retailers must report their pump prices, and report any change within about 30 minutes.

Why was it introduced?

For years, drivers had no easy way to check what a nearby station was charging before they arrived. Prices on apps and websites relied on drivers submitting them, or on voluntary retailer data that could be days old. A legal requirement to report prices quickly gives everyone a more reliable view and makes it easier to see which stations are cheaper.

The competition regulator has also been looking at how fuel retailers pass on changes in wholesale prices, and better price data helps that work. See why fuel prices fall slower than they rise.

What does the data include?

The government feed lists stations and their prices by fuel type. For each station it covers things such as:

• the station name, brand and address
• the location, so apps can show it on a map
• prices for fuels such as E10, E5, diesel and premium diesel
• when each price last changed
• opening times and amenities

How does Petrol Prices Today use it?

We pull the official feed every 15 minutes and show it in a simple search. We rank stations by true cost, which adds the fuel burned driving to the station to the price of the fill. Every price on our site comes from this feed, which is published under the Open Government Licence. You can read the official guidance on GOV.UK.

What are the limitations?

• A price shown is the price the station reported. Always check the pump display before you fill.
• A price can stay the same for days. Many stations do not change prices daily, so "price changed 3 days ago" is normal, not a sign that the data is stale.
• A few stations may have errors, such as a price entered in pounds instead of pence. We check for obvious mistakes. See how we check fuel price data.

What it means for you

You can now make a better decision before you set off. Instead of driving around, search your postcode and compare real prices from stations near you, then read how to find the cheapest petrol near you.