Google Maps is making it easier for UK drivers to find cheaper fuel, now with near real-time petrol and diesel prices appearing in the app for the first time.
The new feature uses data from the UK government’s Fuel Finder scheme. This allows drivers to search for nearby gas stations and compare their latest prices without having to look at different suburbs individually. Google Maps is not alone either; Waze owned by Google gets the same pricing information.
Open Google Maps and search for “gasoline” or “fuel”. You can see nearby stations on the map alongside their current petrol and diesel prices. You can also check the prices for the different types of fuel offered by each station. This makes it easier to spot a better deal before you commit.
The timing is quite useful, with fuel costs continuing to put pressure on household budgets. The government estimates that households with a car could save around £40 a year through greater visibility of fuel prices.
In addition, the information comes from Fuel Finder, which requires UK petrol stations to report changes in their fuel prices within 30 minutes of the change. The scheme has been mandatory since February; as a result, around 99% of all fuel sold on UK roads is now represented in its data.
This information is already available via services including Waze, Petrol Prices, the AA, Confused.com and RAC Fuel Watch. However, bringing it directly to Google Maps should make it significantly easier for the millions of people who already use the app for daily driving.
There is clearly a particularly simple advantage here: you don’t necessarily have to stop at the next gas station anymore. A quick look at Maps might show you if driving a little further is worth it.
Google says the feature will roll out in the UK from October 8, giving drivers another reason to check Maps before filling up.