The government has officially launched its Fuel Finder scheme, requiring all UK forecourts to report real-time pump prices to boost transparency and competition.
From this week, retailers must report fuel price changes within 30 minutes, with the data set to appear in mapping software and price comparison apps once integration is complete.
The aim is to allow consumers to compare prices more easily and encourage competitive pricing among retailers
“This spring, Fuel Finder will be delivering local petrol prices to your phone, through your go-to mapping and comparison apps,” said energy consumers minister Martin McCluskey.
“Every retailer is required to take part, as we bring down the cost of a tank to tackle the cost of living head-on. Real-time prices will drive up competition and is set to see working families save around £40 a year at the pump.”
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) awarded VE3 Global the database contract for the Fuel Finder scheme in May last year.
VE3 Global operates the central platform that collects the real-time data and makes it available to third-party apps, navigation systems, and price comparison websites, while the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) monitors the market and enforces compliance, with powers to take action against retailers that fail to report accurate data, such as issuing fines.
The mandatory scheme opened for retailer registrations in early January. Data from MyAutomate, reported by The Grocer’s sister title Forecourt Trader, showed that as of 9am on 2 February 2026, 6,243 of the UK’s 8,279 filling stations had registered with Fuel Finder, leaving around 24.6% yet to sign up.
The CMA has said that until May 2026 its focus will be on supporting businesses to comply with the new regime rather than enforcement action. Once established, enforcement will focus on conduct that could undermine Fuel Finder or harm competition, prioritising accurate and timely price reporting, the CMA said.
The AA said a roughly 75% sign-up rate on day one compared favourably with the CMA’s voluntary price transparency scheme, which covered around 65% of sites and was mainly taken up by major forecourt operators and supermarkets.
The CMA’s temporary data set will remain active during the transition period, allowing fuel apps and websites to continue displaying pump prices while Fuel Finder “beds in”, the AA said.
The trade body added it expected early “teething problems” as retailers adjust to the new reporting requirements but backed the scheme as a long-awaited step towards fairer pricing and greater visibility.
“For too long, UK drivers have been hostage to the whims of fuel retailers and not being able to see that a far lower pump price could be found just down the road,” said the AA president Edmund King.
“Like in Austria, France and other parts of Europe, the AA believes a shake-up of UK pump prices will happen as drivers increasingly use mobile devices and in-car systems to choose where to buy cheaper fuel.”
RAC head of policy Simon Williams added: “We hope this is the start of the journey to cheaper fuel prices around the UK. The government has set up this scheme with the intention of increasing competition among retailers to give drivers better value at the pumps.
“As a growing number of the country’s 8,300 forecourts submit their prices on a daily basis, drivers will be able to easily find the cheapest forecourts near them using their favoured app or sat-nav.”
Petrol Retailers Association executive director Gordon Balmer said: “Today marks the launch of Fuel Finder – our members have worked hard to collaborate with the government to ensure a successful launch of the scheme.”
No comments yet