UK motorists can now see live fuel prices on Google Maps

Starting Thursday, motorists in the UK will be able to view live petrol prices on Google Maps, a move aimed at increasing transparency and promoting competition in the fuel market. This development, following diesel prices hitting a record £2 per litre, will enable drivers to search for the cheapest fuel prices using the Google app.

Data from the government's Fuel Finder platform, which displays real-time prices at 99% of UK forecourts, will be utilized to provide Google Map users with the most affordable options in their vicinity. Campaigners view this as a significant step towards fair fuel pricing, potentially leading to more competitive prices for consumers.

Edmund King, president of the AA motoring group, expressed optimism about the new feature, stating that it would make forecourt pricing more transparent and encourage competition among fuel retailers. He also suggested that the higher transparency could reduce the extent of price-matching between stations. The government's Fuel Finder scheme, launched in February following a recommendation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in 2023, is already available via various apps such as Waze, PetrolPrices, the AA, Confused.com, and RAC Fuel Watch.

Luke Bosdet, a spokesperson for the AA, noted that while the Google launch may not diminish interest in existing apps, it could still signal challenges for the fuel trade by revealing pricing tactics that artificially inflate local prices. The CMA had previously cautioned fuel retailers in August about slow price adjustments to wholesale diesel price drops, which might have hindered competition and kept consumer costs higher than necessary.

Polly Billington, the minister for energy consumers, hailed the development as a gamechanger, noting that it would make finding the cheapest fuel simple for drivers and help them save money at the pump.