How to find the cheapest petrol near you in Australia

Fuel is one of the biggest week-to-week costs of running a car, and most of us pay more than we need to, filling up on the wrong day, at the wrong servo, with fuel our car doesn't even need. A little knowledge turns that around. Here's the practical version for everyday drivers.

Understand the price cycle

In most Australian capital cities, unleaded petrol moves in a rough cycle: prices jump up sharply, then drift down over the following days or weeks before the next spike. The ACCC tracks these cycles for the major cities. You don't need to obsess over it, just learn the shape for your city, and try to fill near the bottom rather than the day after a jump.

E10, 91, 95, 98: know what your car needs

Paying for premium your car doesn't need is money straight down the drain. Most cars run perfectly on regular 91, and many are happy on E10, which is usually a few cents cheaper. Some engines do require 95 or 98. Check inside your fuel flap or the owner's manual. If it says 91 or E10, that's all you need to buy.

Check live prices before you commit

Two servos a block apart can differ by 20 cents a litre or more. A live price map like WayBeacon shows the cheapest petrol near you, so you're not filling up on impulse at the dearest bowser on the strip. Set the fuel type to what your car takes and the cheapest nearby rises to the top.

Don't chase a saving that costs more

Driving across town to save four cents a litre usually burns more than it saves, once you count the fuel and the time. Pick the cheapest servo that's already on your way, not the cheapest in the whole city.

Save your regulars and track what you spend

Star the servos you pass often so you can compare their prices at a glance, and log your fill-ups to see what you actually spend each month and your real cost per kilometre. Small habits, but over a year of driving they add up to a genuine saving.