Every petrol diesel driver can compare UK fuel prices on Maps
Google Maps now displays near real-time UK petrol and diesel prices using government Fuel Finder data. The tool gives drivers another way to compare nearby…
Google has added UK fuel prices to Maps, giving every petrol diesel driver a direct way to compare nearby pump costs. The service uses data from the government’s Fuel Finder scheme, which requires retailers to publish up-to-date prices.
A quick search is all it takes. Drivers can enter “petrol” or “fuel” in Google Maps to see the latest price information, according to AOL. The update brings fuel comparisons into a service motorists can use to locate nearby forecourts.
The change matters as rising fuel costs put pressure on households and businesses. Officials say comparing prices before filling up can help drivers save up to £40 per year, although the amount will depend on the prices available to them.
Fuel Finder data reaches Google Maps
The UK Government launched Fuel Finder earlier this year. Retailers must publish current petrol and diesel pump prices through the scheme, with the information previously distributed to third-party apps including the RAC, AA and PetrolPrices.
Google Maps now gives drivers another route to that data. The AOL report says the service displays near real-time prices, making it possible to check costs while looking for fuel nearby. The government data is also being integrated into Waze, according to Sarah-Jayne Williams, Google’s Director of Global Product Partnerships for Geo.
“Navigating fuel rising costs shouldn't add stress to everyday journeys,” Williams said. She said Fuel Finder data in Google Maps and Waze gives drivers visibility on nearby pump prices and can help them make choices that stretch their budgets.
Fuel Finder covers 99% of all petrol and diesel sold on UK roads, according to previous analysis cited by AOL. That figure indicates broad coverage of fuel sales, though the report does not state how quickly every listed price is updated or whether each nearby retailer appears in every search.
Rising costs put price checks in focus
Diesel prices have crossed a major threshold. AOL reported that diesel fees went above the previous all-time high of £2 per litre earlier this month. The BBC separately reported that the UK average diesel price had risen above £2 a litre for the first time, citing the RAC motoring group; average petrol was 174.71p a litre in that report.
AOL attributed higher wholesale oil prices to disruption in the Middle East. Its report also said rising petrol and diesel costs have become a concern for drivers. The price tool does not lower pump prices, but it gives motorists a more direct way to compare them before choosing where to refuel.
Minister for Energy Consumers Polly Billington said affordability was a priority for families and businesses that depend on petrol and diesel. “Tackling the affordability crisis is our first responsibility and for so many families and businesses, petrol and diesel are essential goods, not luxuries,” she said.
Billington said near real-time prices on Google Maps could help drivers find a better deal. The government’s stated potential saving is up to £40 per year from comparing prices before buying fuel.
Source: aol.co.uk
