A survey of over 13,000 motorists has found that the vast majority say they will use Fuel Finder to check petrol and diesel prices before filling up.
The research, conducted by the AA, found almost nine out of 10 younger motorists, and 80% of those aged 25 to 44 years old, said they would make use of the scheme, which mandates all 8,300 of the UK’s petrol stations must share their fuel prices within 30 minutes of any changes being made.
The government says households are predicted to save £40 a year thanks to Fuel Finder, but while the law required all forecourts to be signed up to the scheme by February 2, 2026, over 1,000 filling stations have yet to register, while a significant proportion of those that have signed up are yet to share pricing data.
The Competition and Markets Authority, which will be policing Fuel Finder, has said that it will give the scheme three months to bed in before it begins enforcement action. From May, though, firms that breach the rules can be fined up to 30% of their UK turnover.
The industry remains uncertain of how Fuel Finder will affect the fuel pricing strategy at UK forecourts. In Germany, where a similar fuel transparency pricing scheme has been in place since 2013, operators are changing what motorists pay at the pump up to 40 times a day.
At next Tuesday’s Summit, a German petrol retailier trade association and forecout operator will share insights into the wider effects of fuel retailers being required to report petrol and diesel prices within a certain time of making a change. Book your ticket to attend the event here
