What is the Fuel Finder Scheme?
The Fuel Finder Scheme is designed to collect and openly publish near real-time road fuel price data from all UK motor fuel retailers so it can be made accessed by the consumer more easily.
The scheme is a statutory open data scheme established under The Motor Fuel Price (Open Data) Regulations 2025.
Delivery of increased price transparency was a recommendation of the Competition and Market Authority’s consideration of the road fuel market which started in 2022. Since 2024, some companies have reported prices voluntarily to the CMA, with the Fuel Finder Scheme expanding that reporting to all petrol filling station owners and making it a legal requirement.
For PFS Operators: Your Obligations and Compliance
The introduction of the Fuel Finder scheme places a mandatory obligation on all forecourts to submit their pricing data electronically which comes into force in early 2026.
Who Must Participate?
All petrol filling stations in the United Kingdom must participate in the scheme. This applies whether you are an independently operated site or part of a larger group.
You are required to register and report if you sell any of the following fuels for retail use: E5, E10, Diesel, Super Diesel, B10, or HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil).
What PFS Operators need to do
To comply with the Regulations, you must provide:
- Registration Information (Static Data): This includes your site's trading name, address, latitude and longitude, usual trading hours, available amenities and facilities (8 items), and contact details for the motor fuel trader and the designated ‘reporter’. This information must be registered between 18 December 2025 and 2 February 2026 and changes should be reported within 3 days thereafter.
- Price Information (Real-Time Data): The selling price of each grade of motor fuel offered for sale. PFS operators must share price information for each grade of motor fuel with the designated aggregator (VE3 Global Ltd). This information must be shared from 2 February 2026 and be updated within 30 minutes of any price change at the pump.
Methods for Reporting Price Changes
The aggregator is establishing four methods for motor fuel traders to submit their price updates:
- Application Programming Interface (API): For forecourts with electronic point-of-sale (EPOS) systems, an API allows for automatic, real-time integration and price reporting.
- Secure Web Portal: A dedicated web page where prices can be manually updated by an authorised user. http://www.fuel-finder.service.gov.uk
- Short Message Service (SMS): To use the SMS fuel price update service, a user must have registered a mobile phone number when their account was registered.
- Interactive Voice Response (IVR): An automated telephone system which allows for manual price updates through voice or keypad input.
Government has provided this key information paper for obligated suppliers which has more details on the requirements and registration phase.
More guidance will be shared with obligated companies when the registration window opens on 18 December, while the links below will be updated as they become available.
Key dates
| Date | Action | Compliance Note |
| 18-Dec-25 | Official guidance issued on GOV.UK. Registration opensat the official service website. | This is the start of the preparation period. |
| 02-Feb-26 | Mandatory Reporting Commences. All forecourts must be registered and start reporting all price changes within the 30-minute window. | This is the statutory deadline for registration and the start date for full compliance. |
| 2 February 2026 – Early May 2026 | Transition Period. | The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will focus on supporting businesses to comply rather than enforcement action for at least the first three months. |
Relevant Legislation and Enforcement
The scheme is enforced by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which was granted the necessary powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. As per their November blog, the CMA's focus for enforcement in the first 3 months of the scheme is on ensuring businesses register and that pricing information is accurately provided.
For Consumers: What to expect
The Fuel Finder Scheme will allow consumers to access near live, reliable fuel price information across the UK.
Accessing the Data
You will not be able to use a single "Fuel Finder" app from the Government. Instead, the price data is being made openly available to third-party developers. It is expected you will be able to access the data through:
- Third-party fuel price comparison apps.
- In-car systems and satellite navigation devices.
- Map services and other online tools.
While petrol stations will be registering for the scheme from the end of 2025, the live price data is expected to be launched from 2 February 2026, and it is from this point that you may see new apps or other data sources using the data.
Official Guidance and Links
| Resource | Description |
| The Motor Fuel Price (Open Data) Regulations 2025 | The primary legislation that establishes the scheme and sets out the statutory obligations for motor fuel traders. |
| GOV.UK Official Guidance | The full guidance document for PFS operators can be found on GOV.UK here and here. |
| Fuel Finder Helpdesk | For questions or support with the scheme, operators can contact the aggregator's helpdesk: fuel.finder@ve3.global. |
| CMA Enforcement Guidance | Final guidance on the Competition and Markets Authority's enforcement functions to provide clarity on compliance is available here. |