Rachel Reeves' new scheme could cost UK petrol and diesel drivers £260
The scheme was introduced to help drivers find cheaper fuel, but it may be doing just the opposite.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing backlash over the Government’s new Fuel Finder scheme after an investigation claimed inaccurate fuel prices on popular apps could cost motorists up to £260 a year.
The Fuel Finder initiative was introduced earlier this year to help drivers compare petrol and diesel prices across the UK and locate the cheapest forecourts nearby.
Under the new rules, petrol stations have been required since February 2 to update fuel prices within 30 minutes of any change.
The service is intended to feed live pricing data into apps and satellite navigation systems, allowing motorists to avoid overpaying at the pump.
However, research by What Car? found that four out of five fuel price apps linked to the Government scheme were displaying outdated information.
According to the investigation, drivers using inaccurate apps could end up paying between 6p and 8p more per litre than expected. That could add around £3.60 to the cost of filling a petrol car and £4.80 for a diesel vehicle.
Over the course of a year, motorists regularly relying on the services could spend an estimated £260 extra on fuel.
Speaking in March, Reeves said the scheme would help protect household finances and “put power back into drivers’ hands” by allowing motorists to compare local fuel prices more easily. She also said the measures, alongside the extension of the fuel duty cut, could save the average household around £40 annually.
What Car? said only one provider, PetrolPrices.com, appeared to display prices updated on the same day checks were carried out. Other services, including Confused.com, Fuel Finder UK, Fuel Spy and MotorMouth UK, were found to show older prices in several locations tested.
Claire Evans, consumer editor at What Car?, said motorists needed “easy access to the latest fuel prices” while costs remained high and urged regulators to enforce the requirement for real-time updates more quickly.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said third-party apps and comparison websites are responsible for displaying the information promptly and noted there could be delays depending on how often platforms refresh their data.
A Government spokesperson rejected the findings, insisting the conclusions were “flawed and incorrect” and maintaining the Fuel Finder programme would remain an important tool in tackling the cost of living.
