How to Find the Cheapest Petrol in Australia: Fuel Price Apps and Simple Tricks

Two service stations on the same road can charge prices tens of cents apart on the same day. In a big city, that gap can be worth more than ten dollars on a single fill. The good news is that finding the cheapest fuel near you takes about a minute, once you know which app to check and when to fill up. This guide covers both.

Why prices vary so much

Petrol prices in Australia are set station by station, and they move in cycles. In the larger east coast cities, prices typically rise sharply over a day or two, then drift down over the following days or weeks. The low point of the cycle is the time to fill up, and the high point is the time to wait if you can.

Location matters too. Stations near motorways and in busy shopping strips often charge more than stations a few streets away, and the gap between the cheapest and the most expensive fuel in a city on a given day is often tens of cents per litre.

Check prices before you drive

The simplest habit is also the most effective: check prices before you leave home, not when the fuel light comes on. A driver who needs fuel now will stop at the nearest station. A driver who checks first will drive two extra minutes to the cheapest one.

Most fuel price apps show prices on a map, so you can see at a glance which stations near you, or along your route, are cheapest. Check in the morning before you head out, or the night before a longer drive. Prices can change during the day, so a price you saw yesterday may not hold.

Use the right app for your state

Australia has no single national fuel price app, so the best tool depends on where you live.

1. New South Wales: FuelCheck is the state government service, with real-time prices for nearly every station in the state. Use the FuelCheck website or app, and search by suburb or along a route.
2. Western Australia: FuelWatch is the state government service. Prices are locked in for 24 hours, and the next day prices are published from the afternoon before, so you can plan ahead.
3. Queensland and South Australia: both states require stations to report prices in real time, so apps and websites can show current prices across the state.
4. Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory: there is no government price reporting scheme, so prices come from drivers reporting them. PetrolSpy is the best known crowdsourced app in these states, and it works across the country.
5. Anywhere: Google Maps and Waze show fuel prices at many stations when you search for petrol near you. The prices are not always as fresh as a dedicated fuel app, so use them as a second check.

If you travel between states, keep two apps on your phone: the government service for your home state and a crowdsourced app for everywhere else.

Learn your city’s price cycle

In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, the price cycle is the biggest single factor in what you pay. The cycle has a sharp rise followed by a slow fall, and the whole cycle usually lasts a couple of weeks.

Watch the pattern in your city for a few weeks and you will start to see it. When prices jump across most stations in a day, the cycle has turned. Fill up just before the jump if you can, and avoid filling up on the day prices spike.

In Perth, the cycle is different because FuelWatch fixes prices for the day. There, the trick is to check the next day prices in the afternoon and plan your fill around the cheapest day of the week.

Pick the right fuel for your car

Paying for premium fuel your car does not need is money wasted on every fill.

1. Check your car manual or the label inside the fuel flap. It will say whether your car needs premium unleaded or can run on regular unleaded.
2. If your car can use E10, compare its price with regular unleaded. E10 is usually cheaper per litre, but cars use slightly more of it, so the saving is smaller than the pump price suggests. Work it out over a few tanks if you want an exact answer.
3. Use premium only if your car requires it, or if the manufacturer recommends it for your engine. A car built for regular unleaded gains nothing from premium fuel.
4. Diesel drivers should compare diesel prices the same way, because diesel prices vary between stations just as much as petrol.

Stack the small savings

No single trick saves a fortune. The savings come from stacking several small ones.

• Fill up at the low point of the cycle. This is worth more than any discount or loyalty offer.
• Use shopper dockets and loyalty programs. Supermarket and loyalty programs often offer a few cents per litre off at partner stations. The saving is small, but it adds up over a year.
• Try a price lock app. The 7-Eleven fuel app, in most recent versions, lets you lock in the lowest price you find for up to seven days, then use it at any 7-Eleven station. It is worth checking if you have a 7-Eleven on your route.
• Consider warehouse clubs. Costco fuel is for members only, but its prices are often among the cheapest in the area. If you already have a membership, the fuel saving alone can be worth the trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best app to find cheap petrol in Australia?

It depends on your state. FuelCheck is best in New South Wales and FuelWatch in Western Australia, while PetrolSpy is the main crowdsourced option in Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory. Google Maps also shows fuel prices at many stations.

When is petrol cheapest in Australia?

In the big east coast cities, petrol is usually cheapest near the bottom of the price cycle, after prices have drifted down for days. Watching prices for a few weeks in your city will show you the pattern, and filling up just before the next sharp rise saves the most.

Is E10 cheaper than regular unleaded petrol?

E10 usually costs less per litre than regular unleaded, but cars tend to use slightly more of it, so the real saving is smaller than the pump price suggests. Check your car manual first, because not every car can use E10.