Where to find the cheapest petrol stations as oil prices rise

The surge in oil prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East has increased the chance of higher fuel prices for motorists.

The price of oil increased after Iran warned vessels not to cross the Strait of Hormuz, an essential waterway in the south of the country where approximately 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas is shipped.

There have been reports of garages running out of fuel, however, it’s not yet known whether this is because of a rise in demand or unrelated supply issues.

In February, all petrol stations were instructed to publish their prices every day to enable motorists to source the best deals.

Under the Fuel Finder Scheme, garages and fuel stations were requested to report their prices to third-party apps and websites within 30 minutes.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the scheme could save the average household £40 a year.

There is not a specific government app to direct motorists to the cheapest forecourt or garage. However, open source data is available for established apps and websites that already map out and compare pump prices across the UK.

At the end of January, a litre of petrol in the UK cost an average of 131.91p, according to figures from RAC.

The last time the fuel dropped to these levels was in July 2021, when it averaged 131.81p per litre.

The RAC said that the average price of petrol had fallen by more than 5p since the start of December, meaning drivers can save nearly £3 every time they fill up the average 55-litre family car compared to two months ago.

Diesel prices, too, dropped by 3p per litre since the start of January to 140.97p.

The RAC attributed this money-saving shift to the falling price of oil, which dropped below the $60 per barrel mark on January 7 for the first time since February 2021.

Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said: “Seeing the price of petrol dip under 132p is a genuine boost for drivers, rewinding prices to those we last saw four and a half years ago.

“With even lower prices available depending on where drivers fill up, this is a positive start to the year for household budgets.

A price comparison site petrolmap.co.uk analyses the cost of petrol across different petrol stations throughout London and beyond.

Users can search for the price of petrol around them. It is one of the sites set to benefit from the fuel finder scheme.

Here are the 10 cheapest petrol stations in the capital (when a central London post code is imputed):

1. Morrisons Camden, North London 123.9p per litre

2. Asda Kent Road Automat, South East London 128.7p per litre

3. Tesco Southwark, South East London 128.9p per litre

4. Tesco Canada Water, South East London, 128.9p per litre

5. Shell, Southwark, South East London, 129.9p per litre

6. Morrisons, Peckham, South East London, 130.7p per litre

7. Stapelton, S/stn, North London, 131.7p per litre

8. Camberwell S/stn, South East London, 131.8p per litre

9. Mfg Hopfields, South East London, 131.9p, per litre

10. Grove Vale F/stn, 131.9p, per litre

6. Tesco Southwark, South East London 128.9p per litre

7. Tesco Canada Water, South East London 128.9p per litre

8. Sainsbury’s Charlton Riverside, East Greenwich, South East London 129.9p per litre

9. Southwark Shell station, South East London 129.9p per litre

10. Texaco Park Deptford, South East London 129.9p per litre

11. Sainsbury’s New Cross Gate, South East London 129.9p per litre

12. Morrison’s Peckham, South East London 130.7p per litre

13. Harvest Energy Stapleton Station, Finsbury Park, North London 131.7p per litre

14. Applegreen Service Station, Camberwell, South East London 131.8p per litre

15. BP Hopfields, Old Kent Road, South East London 131.9p per litre

16. Esso Loamput Vale, Lewisham, South East London 131.9p per litre

17. Esso Foxberry, Brockley, South East London 131.9p per litre

18. Esso East Dulwich Road, South East London 131.9p per litre

19. BP Grove Vale, South East London 131.9p per litre

20. Tesco Camden Express, North West London 132.9p per litre