Motorists can now view live petrol and diesel prices directly on Google Maps. This new feature allows users to easily identify the cheapest fuel options in their local area or along a journey.
The integration stems from a requirement by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for petrol stations to provide live fuel information to the Fuel Finder tool. This creates a live data feed that Google has incorporated into its Maps service.
To use the feature, users can search for 'petrol pumps' in Google Maps, and map pins will display the lowest fuel price at each station. Tapping on a specific location will show prices for all reported fuel types.
While the system aims for accuracy, legislation states that petrol stations must update prices within half an hour of a change. However, some independent operations may face challenges in manual updates. An analysis of Fuel Finder data shows that 61% of 8,133 stations updated prices since the start of October, with others updating in late September. Around 459 stations have not updated prices since before 20 September.
The CMA can fine retailers for non-compliance and has issued 53 compliance notices. Financial penalties for ongoing breaches can be up to 5% of worldwide daily turnover.