Asda makes major change at 321 petrol stations – and it can help drivers save money

DRIVERS will now be able to look up Asda’s daily petrol prices online making it easier to find the best value pumps.

Price conscious motorists can check costs before they get in the car and head to fill up.

The latest fuel prices will be available on Asda's store locator page at 10.30am each morning and will show the previous day’s closing price. 

The supermarket said it is developing a system that will show real-time pricing at 321 forecourts and says this is set to be in place in the coming months.  

It comes after pressure from MPs and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regarding fuel pricing in the sector.

The CMA found that average supermarket fuel margins rose by 6p per litre between 2019 and 2022 after it looked into concerns over profiteering on fuel.

That led to an estimated combined additional cost of “around £900 million” for customers of Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, a CMA report said.

Asda bosses came under particular scrutiny over pricing and bosses were called back in front of MPs last month to defend their pricing.

The CMA had said Asda’s pence-per-litre fuel margin targets were three times their 2019 level by 2023 and it deliberately passed on reductions to retail prices more slowly in areas where it had no competition.

Energy Secretary Grant Shapps has also met with supermarket and petrol station bosses to tell them “enough is enough” over petrol prices for customers.

The government called on supermarkets to sign up to the CMA’s voluntary scheme to share up-to-date petrol and diesel prices.

An Asda spokesperson said:  “Asda is proud to be the price leader in the fuel and by sharing our prices online customers will be able to find the best value at the pumps before they get in the car.”  

Cut fuel costs

The government has promised a Pumpwatch scheme to help drivers find the best deals, but in the meantime you can use the handy PetrolPrices.com website.

The little-known tool can help you find the cheapest petrol near you in a matter of seconds - including supermarkets.

Drivers could save £226 a year when they fill up simply by plotting in their postcode to an online comparison site.

Here are four more easy ways to cut down your petrol bills by hundreds of pounds a year.