Google Maps Now Shows Petrol and Diesel Prices at UK Forecourts
Drivers in the UK can now see near real-time petrol and diesel prices in Google Maps, using government Fuel Finder data, as pump costs stay near record highs.
Drivers in the UK can now check fuel prices directly in Google Maps. Searching for a nearby forecourt shows its location and its near real-time petrol and diesel prices, both in search results and under the station's description.
The change arrives as pump costs remain painfully high. Diesel recently topped £2 a litre for the first time, and the Guardian reports it has risen by more than 40% since late February.
How it works
Google is drawing on Fuel Finder, a government scheme launched in February after a recommendation from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in 2023. Since then, petrol stations have been legally required to report price changes within 30 minutes. The CMA can act where there is evidence of non-compliance.
The same data already feeds apps including Waze, PetrolPrices, the AA, Confused.com and RAC Fuel Watch. Google says the new feature also covers Waze, which the BBC says has around 2 million UK users. Apple Maps does not show fuel prices, although some third-party apps can link to it on iPhones.
Google Maps has a far bigger reach. Ofcom figures cited by the BBC say 77% of British adults use it for general navigation.
Accuracy questions
Not everyone is convinced the underlying data is perfect. Clare Lafferty of PetrolPrices told the BBC her firm still has to add other data sources to the government feed. She said some sites have not registered, while others do not update on time. Her company flagged 200 forecourts in September that it believed had not updated diesel prices promptly.
Google says it will check the data itself. Sarah-Jayne Williams, who leads product partnerships for Google Maps and Waze, said a price will only appear "if we have high confidence that it's the right price". Otherwise the station will still be shown, just without a price.
The Retail Motor Industry Federation, which represents thousands of forecourts, said its members are complying. The government says the overwhelming majority of stations enter data promptly.
The cost at the pump
The AA says a typical 55-litre tank of diesel still costs around £110, even after a 2p fall in the diesel price. The petrol equivalent comes to about £96.
AA president Edmund King called the move "a massive step forward". He said clearer prices could reduce the price-matching seen between nearby stations and make cheaper forecourts stand out. The CMA warned in August that many retailers were slow to pass on falls in wholesale diesel prices.
What it means for you
If you drive, you can now compare nearby prices before leaving, using an app you may already have. Open Google Maps, search for a petrol station or fuel, and check the listed prices. If a station shows no price, that may mean Google was not confident in the figure, so it is worth checking on the forecourt or in a dedicated app.
The government says savings average about £40 a year per car-owning household. That is an estimate, and what you save will depend on how much you drive and how much prices vary near you.
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Quick answers
Is the Google Maps fuel price feature live now?
Yes. The government says it began on Thursday 8 October, with prices shown for UK forecourts.
Where does Google get the fuel prices?
From the government's Fuel Finder scheme, which stations must update within 30 minutes of a change. Google says it also checks the data itself.
Does Apple Maps show fuel prices?
No. The BBC says Apple Maps does not display them, though some third-party apps can link to it on iPhones.
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