How to Find the Cheapest Petrol and Diesel Near You

Why Fuel Prices Vary So Much

Every petrol station in the UK buys fuel from the same handful of refineries and terminals. The base wholesale cost is broadly the same. So why does the price on the forecourt swing by 15p or more across a single town?

• Competition. Stations in areas with lots of competitors price aggressively to attract customers. Isolated stations with no nearby rival can charge more because they know you have no alternative.
• Business model. Supermarket stations use cheap fuel as a way to get you into the shop. The fuel itself runs on razor-thin margins. Branded stations (BP, Shell, Esso) charge more but invest in loyalty schemes and premium fuels.
• Location costs. A station on a busy city centre road pays more rent than one on an industrial estate. Those costs get passed to you.
• How quickly they pass on wholesale changes. When wholesale prices drop, some stations cut their prices within days. Others take weeks. The reverse happens when wholesale prices rise: some stations bump prices up before they strictly need to.

Check Fuel Prices by Postcode

The single most useful thing you can do is check current prices before you fill up. Our fuel price checker lets you search by postcode and see what stations near you are charging right now. It covers unleaded (E10), super unleaded (E5), and diesel at thousands of UK stations, updated daily.

This takes about 10 seconds and can save you £3-7 per fill. Get into the habit of checking before you drive to the station, not after you've already pulled in.

Supermarkets vs Branded Stations

As a general rule, supermarket petrol stations (Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons) are cheaper than branded ones (BP, Shell, Esso, Texaco). The gap is typically 5-8p per litre, though it fluctuates.

Asda has historically been the price leader among supermarkets. They set a national maximum price rather than varying by location, which means their prices are particularly competitive in more expensive areas. Morrisons and Tesco tend to follow closely.

Is supermarket fuel the same quality? Yes. All petrol and diesel in the UK has to meet the same British Standards (BS EN 228 for petrol, BS EN 590 for diesel). The base fuel coming out of the refinery is identical. Branded stations add their own additive packages (Shell V-Power, BP Ultimate, etc.) which are marketed as cleaning engines and improving performance. Whether the premium is worth the extra 10-15p per litre is debatable for most everyday cars.

When Branded Fuel Might Be Worth It

There are a few situations where paying more at a branded station can make sense:

• Your car's manual specifies 97+ RON. Some performance and turbocharged engines are designed for higher octane fuel. Using 95 RON (standard E10) won't damage them, but you might notice reduced performance and slightly worse economy. If that's your car, super unleaded or a premium brand fuel is the right choice.
• Loyalty points that you'll actually use. BP, Shell, and Tesco all run loyalty schemes. If you consistently fill up at the same brand and actually redeem the points, the effective discount can close the gap with supermarkets. Do the maths for your own usage though. A lot of people collect points and never use them.
• You need AdBlue, LPG, or specialist fuels. Supermarket stations don't always carry the full range.

Petrol Prices in UK Cities

Fuel prices vary by region as well as by station. Northern Ireland and rural Scotland tend to be more expensive due to higher transport costs from refineries. London is expensive because of high rents. Cities with lots of supermarket stations and strong competition (Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester) tend to have lower average prices.

We track prices in several major cities:

• London fuel prices
• Birmingham fuel prices
• Manchester fuel prices
• Leeds fuel prices
• Glasgow fuel prices

Timing Your Fill-Up

There's a persistent myth that petrol is cheaper on certain days of the week. The data doesn't really support this. Wholesale prices change daily based on oil markets, exchange rates, and refinery output, but individual stations don't follow a predictable weekly cycle.

What does matter is filling up before you're running on fumes. If your tank is nearly empty, you're forced to stop at whatever station is closest, and that might be the most expensive one on your route. Filling up when you're at a quarter tank gives you the flexibility to wait for a cheaper station or plan a stop at a supermarket.

Motorway Service Stations: Just Don't

Motorway services are consistently the most expensive places to buy fuel in the UK. The premium is typically 15-25p per litre over local stations. On a 50-litre fill, that's £7.50 to £12.50 extra.

If you're on a long motorway journey, plan your fuel stop for just off a junction rather than at the services. Most motorway junctions have a supermarket station within a mile or two. A few minutes' detour can save you a significant amount, and you'll usually find better food and coffee too.

Diesel vs Petrol: The Price Gap

Diesel has been more expensive than petrol for several years now. The gap is typically 5-10p per litre. This is partly because diesel costs more to refine, and partly because the UK imports a higher proportion of its diesel (we have plenty of petrol refining capacity but not enough diesel).

If you drive a diesel car, the higher per-litre cost is offset to some extent by diesel engines being more fuel-efficient, particularly on motorway runs. But the days of diesel being the obvious budget choice are over. For new car buyers weighing up petrol vs diesel, the fuel cost difference is now marginal either way.

Other Ways to Cut Your Fuel Bill

Finding a cheaper station is the easiest win, but how you drive matters just as much:

• Tyre pressure. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and fuel consumption. Check them monthly. Even 5 psi below the recommended pressure can increase fuel use by 2-3%.
• Ease off the accelerator. Aggressive acceleration and late braking are the biggest fuel wasters. Smooth, steady driving at moderate speeds can improve your economy by 15-20% compared to an aggressive style.
• Slow down on motorways. Driving at 60mph instead of 70mph uses roughly 15% less fuel. At 80mph, you're burning about 25% more than at 60mph. The fuel savings from 10 minutes extra journey time are real.
• Remove unnecessary weight. Roof boxes, bike racks, and heavy items in the boot all increase fuel consumption. A roof box adds significant aerodynamic drag even when empty.
• Use air conditioning sparingly. A/C puts load on the engine and increases fuel consumption by around 5-10%. At lower speeds, opening a window is more efficient. At motorway speeds, the drag from an open window is worse than the A/C load, so close the windows and use the climate control.

E10 vs E5: Which Should You Use?

Since September 2021, the standard petrol at UK pumps has been E10 (containing up to 10% ethanol). The old standard is now sold as "super unleaded" (E5, up to 5% ethanol) and costs 10-15p more per litre.

E10 gives slightly fewer miles per litre (about 1-2% less) because ethanol contains less energy. But the lower price per litre more than makes up for it. For most modern cars, E10 is the right choice. If you're unsure whether your car can use E10, read our full E10 vs E5 guide.