Drivers are now able to see local fuel prices on Google Maps, in a change described by the Government as a 'game-changer.'
From Thursday (October 8), Google Maps in the UK will show the price of both fuels when users search for local petrol stations on the app. This change comes amid rising petrol and diesel costs.
Households with a car could save around £40 a year through greater transparency on fuel prices, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
These changes come after the price of diesel hit a new high, according to the RAC, surpassing the previous record set following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to the RAC, the average price for a litre of diesel has increased to 200.11p, with the cost for petrol at 174.89p per litre.
Minister for energy consumers Polly Billington said: “Tackling the affordability crisis is our first responsibility and for so many families and businesses, petrol and diesel are essential goods, not luxuries.
“Accessing the cheapest fuel should be simple, which is why it is a game-changer for near real-time fuel prices to be shown on Google Maps for the first time in the UK, helping drivers find the best deal and save money at the pump.”
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Since February, petrol stations in the UK have been required to report pump prices within 30 minutes of any changes, with third-party fuel apps and websites able to access this information from the Government's Fuel-Finder database.
Sarah-Jayne Williams, director of global product partnerships for Geo at Google, said: “Navigating fuel rising costs shouldn’t add stress to everyday journeys.
“Integrating Fuel Finder data into Google Maps and Waze gives drivers visibility on nearby pump prices, helping drivers make intentional choices to help their budgets go further this winter.”
President of the AA, Edmund King, described this move as a 'massive step forward', which will allow many drivers to have 'easy access' to fuel prices.
He explained: “Hopefully, this high-level pump-price transparency will also encourage more competitive prices from retailers. More transparent prices should reduce the extent of rampant price-matching between fuel stations that is currently seen in many areas.
“Those competitive forecourts that break rank and offer lower fuel prices can be found if drivers look hard enough and will now stand out more.”
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