About FuelCosts.co.uk

Our Mission

FuelCosts.co.uk helps drivers across the United Kingdom find the cheapest petrol and diesel near them. We track live fuel prices at over 5,000 petrol stations — from supermarkets like Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons to major brands like Shell, BP, and Esso — so you can make informed decisions every time you fill up.

Our goal is simple: save you money on fuel. Whether you're a daily commuter, a fleet manager, or planning a road trip, we provide the tools and data to help you find the best prices in your area.

Our Data Sources

All fuel price data on FuelCosts.co.uk comes from the UK Government's CMA Fuel Finder service, operated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). This is an official open data scheme that requires fuel retailers to report their pump prices.

The Fuel Finder scheme was introduced following the CMA's road fuel market study, which found that greater price transparency would benefit consumers. Major fuel retailers — including supermarkets, oil company brands, and independent forecourts — are required to submit their prices to the scheme.

We display this data exactly as reported. We do not modify, estimate, or interpolate fuel prices. What you see on our site is the same data the government publishes.

Data Freshness & Methodology

We synchronise fuel prices from the CMA Fuel Finder API every 4 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means prices on our site are never more than a few minutes behind the official government data.

How It Works

• Price sync (every 4 minutes): We fetch the latest prices from the Fuel Finder API, detect any changes, and record them in our database. Only actual price changes are stored, allowing us to build accurate price history charts.
• Station sync (daily): We update station metadata — names, addresses, opening hours, amenities, and fuel types — once per day to capture new stations and closures.
• Historical analysis: Because we record every price change, we can calculate trends, identify the cheapest days to buy fuel, and show how prices at individual stations compare over time.

Coverage

We track fuel prices across the entire United Kingdom, covering England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Our database includes over 5,000 petrol stations — the vast majority of forecourts in the UK.

Fuel Types

We track all fuel types reported through the CMA scheme:

• E10 (Unleaded) — Standard unleaded petrol with up to 10% ethanol
• E5 (Super Unleaded) — Premium unleaded with up to 5% ethanol
• B7 (Diesel) — Standard diesel with up to 7% biodiesel
• B7 Premium (Premium Diesel) — Enhanced diesel blends (e.g. Shell V-Power Diesel, BP Ultimate Diesel)
• HVO (Renewable Diesel) — Hydrotreated vegetable oil, a renewable diesel alternative

Accuracy & Limitations

While we strive for maximum accuracy, there are inherent limitations. Prices are reported by retailers and may occasionally be delayed or incorrect at source. Some smaller independent forecourts may not yet be part of the CMA scheme. We recommend confirming the price at the pump before filling up, especially if you're making a special journey.

Trust & Transparency

We believe fuel price information should be accessible to everyone. Our site is free to use, requires no sign-up, and works on any device. We are not affiliated with any fuel retailer or price comparison service.

Contact Us

Have a question, found an issue, or want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.

Email: [email protected]