How to Find the Cheapest Fuel Near You, Without Driving Around

Fuel is one of the biggest running costs for UK drivers, and yet most people fill up at whichever station happens to be closest. The problem? Prices can vary by up to 20p per litre between stations just a few minutes apart.

Over a year, that adds up to hundreds of pounds in unnecessary spending. Here's how to find the cheapest fuel near you without driving around.

Why fuel prices vary so much

Petrol and diesel prices in the UK are influenced by wholesale costs, local competition, and brand markdowns. Supermarket fuel stations (Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons) tend to be cheaper, but not always. Independent stations in competitive areas can undercut them significantly.

The RAC reports that the gap between the cheapest and most expensive stations in the same town can be 15-20p per litre. For a 50-litre tank, that's up to £10 per fill-up, or roughly £500 per year.

How to check live fuel prices

Several sources publish fuel prices in real time:

• PetrolPrices.com, crowdsourced data, searchable by postcode
• Confused.com fuel price tracker, daily average prices by region
• Google Maps, shows prices at some stations, but coverage is patchy
• Revn, integrates live fuel prices into your vehicle dashboard, so you see the cheapest station every time you drive

Petrol vs diesel, different strategies

Diesel prices are typically 5-8p higher than petrol, but the gap varies. Some stations price diesel more competitively to attract van and fleet drivers. If you drive diesel, it's worth checking prices specifically rather than assuming the cheapest petrol station is also cheapest for diesel.

EV charging prices work the same way

If you drive an electric vehicle, charging costs vary even more than fuel. Public charging can range from 30p to 85p per kWh depending on the network, location, and whether you have a subscription. We cover this in detail in our complete guide to EV charging in the UK. Revn tracks charging prices alongside fuel prices, so EV drivers get the same savings.

The simplest approach

Rather than checking prices manually before every trip, use an app that shows you live prices as part of your daily driving routine. Revn pulls live fuel prices into your vehicle dashboard, so the cheapest station near you is always one tap away.

→ Why you're probably overpaying for petrol, and the simple fix

→ The true annual cost of running a car in the UK

Key takeaways

• Fuel prices vary by up to 20p/litre between nearby stations
• Supermarkets are usually cheapest, but not always
• Check prices before you drive, not when you arrive
• EV charging prices vary even more, track those too
• Use an app like Revn to automate fuel price comparison