DRIVERS are noticing the cost of filling up their tank creeping up, leaving many looking for ways keep their spending down.
The Sun spoke to Luke Bosdet, the AA’s fuel price spokesman, about how drivers can find the UK’s cheapest petrol station.
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It comes after motorists flocked to a petrol station in Trago Mills, Devon, where unleaded petrol was being sold at 164.9p a litre.
People took to social media praise the low prices, with many wishing the nearest forecourt would match the price.
And with the cost of living on the rise, it’s more important than ever you’re not overspending.
Luke regularly shares his top tips for finding the cheapest fuel, and this time he’s revealed to The Sun how you can find the UK’s cheapest petrol station.
You don’t have to make any drastic changes, it can be as simple as downloading an app or checking social media.
Be community minded
Sharing is caring, and it really is when it comes to finding lower fuel prices.
Local Facebook groups are full of savvy savers and bargain hunters who keep an eye on prices changes in their area.
Luke said this can be particularly useful for keeping an eye on price changes at a local level.
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Be independent
Independent fuel stations have been slashing their prices as the cost of fuel plummets.
Luke says this allows them to undercut their local rivals, and it benefits drivers who can then fill their tank for less.
He added: “They are rare at the moment and the majority of drivers will miss them because, unless they drive past or hear about them, they won’t know they have slashed their prices.”
It’s difficult to say why independents are cheaper, but Luke said it could be because they have the flexibility to make pricing decision without having to go through big organisations.
Supermarkets and petrol stations at motorway service stations tend to be a bit more pricey.
But Luke believes it’s always worth comparing prices from different retailers as this can vary across the country.
‘There’s an app for that’
Luke says the easiest way to find the cheapest forecourt in your area for petrol, diesel, super unleaded or premium diesel is by comparing prices using an online comparison site.
Website PetrolPrices.com will list the cheapest filling stations in your area.
You need to register with the site, enter your postcode and tell it how far you’re willing to travel for fuel (up to 20 miles) and what fuel type you’re after.
It says it displays the most up-to-date figures across around 8,500 forecourts in the UK, although it is always worth checking locally as prices do change.
The AA app also lets you check fuel prices.
It lets you browse a map for the cheapest in your area and it’s regularly updated.
Of course, you don’t want to travel too far to save a few pennies per litre or you’ll end up offsetting your savings using extra fuel to drive there.
Also, keep an eye out for fuel discount promotions.
For example, earlier this year Morrisons offered customers 7p off every litre of fuel if they spent £40 in store.
These offers don’t tend to hang around for long though, so you need to take advantage quickly if you see one.
Know the average price
The price of petrol has dropped by nearly 3p per litre – and drivers could see the cost of their tank drop by £10 within two weeks, the AA has claimed.
Average pump prices are down to 188.76p a litre for petrol and 196.96p a litre for diesel.
Luke says that making sure you’re aware of the average will help you to understand if you are getting a good deal.
He added: “The average is an indicator of what might be happening with pump prices, and then what people need to know is what’s happening in their local area.”
He also advises drivers to check the prices of their nearby petrol station at least once a week and to make a note of any changes.
The Sun recently shared a list of TikTok fuel hacks drivers should try, and avoid, when trying to save on fuel.
We have also put together a handy list of the top 20 cheapest petrol stations in the UK.
