How to save money on fuel

The average motorist fills up their car with fuel once a week. Most of us want to pay the lowest prices. There are two main ways you can save money on fuel. First, use fuel apps or sites and second, take advantage of movements in petrol price cycles.

Two good ways to save money on fuel

Most motorists fill up their car about once a week. In early 2024, they spent around $100 on a full tank of fuel. The ACCC recently investigated petrol price movements and fuel apps and sites in Australia to see how motorists could save money on fuel.

The report found two ways to save money on buying fuel:

1. Use fuel price apps and sites.
2. Take advantage of movements in petrol price cycles.

1. Use fuel price apps and sites

Fuel price apps and sites are a practical way to save money on fuel, the ACCC found. Use of fuel price apps has been increasing in the last few years:

• Over two fifths (44%) use them, compared to over a quarter (28%) in 2019.
• Drivers in the outer suburbs are more regular users (over two fifths – 44%).
• Drivers 18 to 24 use them the most (nearly half – 48%) compared to those 60 or older (over a quarter- 26%).

More than 40 apps/sites compare up to date fuel prices across various service stations in Australia. Our fuel price calculator updates the standard retail prices  for every service station in NSW every 20 minutes.

It certainly makes sense to check prices:

• 65% of service stations regularly increase prices by 30-45 cents per litre.
• 18% increase prices by 15-30 cents per litre.
• 9% of stations increase prices by 45 cents or more per litre.

These big price changes are the result of petrol price cycles.

2. Take advantage of movements in petrol price cycles

Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and some regions (including Newcastle, Wollongong and Tweed Heads South) have 7-week petrol price cycles. In one cycle, prices increase sharply over 2 weeks, then decrease gradually over nearly 5 weeks. Note these price cycles do not occur with diesel.

As petrol prices start to increase, not all stations increase their prices at the same time. The ACCC found half (50%) of stations had increased prices by Day 7, and three quarters (77%) of stations by Day 9 of the 14-day increase. This means 23% of stations were still charging the old prices. They were also most likely to be independents.

The best way to save money is to look for service stations with the slowest increase and the fastest decrease in prices during each cycle.

During 2023, a Sydney motorist who followed price cycles and used fuel apps or sites to find the cheapest fuel at other times would have saved $407.

How do you usually buy fuel?

An Australian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association survey asked how motorists usually buy fuel.

• A quarter always buy fuel from the same station, regardless of price.
• Less than two thirds (62%) always buy from the same few stations.
• Over a quarter (27%) always buy close to work/home or while commuting, the second biggest factor after price.

Use the greenslips.com.au fuel price calculator to instantly see the latest, lowest prices for any stations you select. You can favourite the same few close to work/home or even check fuel prices before an intended trip. It’s a simple process:

1. Select fuel types.
2. Enter suburb or postcode or use your current location.
3. Choose your favourite service stations.
4. Set up regular notifications to your device or just click on your favourites to see them all at once.

Save money buying fuel 

Also see How to find the cheapest fuel prices near you.