Fuel Finder Mandate: New UK Petrol Station Price Reporting Rule Begins
A significant new regulation for petrol stations across the United Kingdom comes into effect from Monday morning, February 2, 2026. This marks the official launch of the Fuel Finder service, introduced by the Labour Party government, which requires all forecourts to register and report their fuel prices to enhance transparency for motorists.
Mandatory Registration Process for Fuel Retailers
Companies operating petrol stations must sign up for the Fuel Finder service by providing essential details. This includes contact information, company specifics, and the registered details of each forecourt, such as the address and operator name. After reviewing the official guidance, businesses can proceed to register to report their fuel prices and forecourt information.
To initiate the registration, a GOV.UK One Login is required. If a business does not already have one, it can be created during the first use of the service. The setup process involves using an email address and a method for receiving security codes, which can be a mobile phone number or an authenticator app.
Required Information and Verification Steps
During registration, you will need to provide your name, phone number, and the company's registration number, if available. For self-employed individuals or those without a company registration number, company details can be added manually. Once the initial registration is completed, a reference number will be issued. It is crucial to make a note of this number in case any issues arise during the process.
Following registration, a letter will be sent containing instructions on how to sign into your Fuel Finder account, along with an activation code. Upon receiving this letter, you can verify your account using the activation code. After verification, you can continue with the registration and begin reporting prices starting from February 2, 2026.
Purpose and Impact of the Fuel Finder Service
Fuel Finder is a new government service designed to assist drivers in locating the cheapest fuel in their vicinity. By making fuel prices available to third-party apps and websites, it enables motorists to compare prices easily and make informed decisions. The service mandates that all retailers selling petrol or diesel to the public must register and report their prices.
As explained by the Fuel Finder initiative: "This is the real thing, the statutory data feed created to make fuel prices transparent across the UK." The system has been developed with an ingestion pipeline, mapped stations, and connected pricing updates to ensure that the freshest official data is readily accessible within Fuel Finder UK.
This move aims to foster greater competition and consumer awareness in the fuel market, potentially leading to more competitive pricing and savings for drivers nationwide.
