PetrolWatch.co.uk v1.3.0
I recently rebranded the app to PetrolWatch.co.uk so I suggest you re-install it from it's new permanent home at some point soon. It'll still be fully functional from the old URL for some time though.
The expandable Facilities box has been revamped to now include navigation, supporting Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze. Also the Map tab petrol station markers now invoke a Navigate popup when tapped. Navigation was not a complicated update but is a significant functional improvement.
Price updates are now retrieved from the government database every hour rather than twice daily. When station map markers are bunched up lowest prices are now on top, or lowest distance if that's the sort field. High location accuracy is now requested if available, to enhance location precision. Colour coding has been added to how long ago site staff updated prices, with orange and red for 10 and 20 days older than the local average.
Brand icons have been added to the search results and map. The Android home screen icon has been fixed so it now fits well. The install instructions have been tweaked for different browsers.
Many other minor bug fixed and improvements have been made, mostly in the back end to retrieve newer, fresher data more often and more reliably.
Install App
Although you can use this app directly at PetrolWatch.co.uk you can also install it as an app and add a shortcut to your home screen on ANY phone, tablet or laptop. Click the new 'Add to Home Screen for Quick Access' link at the bottom of the 'Save Cash' tab.
If you have an Android device tapping the link installs the app and adds the shortcut automatically. If you have an iPhone/iPad, Apple don't allow automatic installation so you'll see very simple instructions on how to 'Add to Home Screen' which installs the app too. Simple, I hope.
I highly recommend doing this as it works so much slicker as an app than in the browser. Also, you'll receive any new updates (like this one) automatically, so you'll only need to install it once. Oh and once you've installed it that link dissapears.
Location Services
I appreciate that not everyone has phone/browser location services ON and maybe you just don't want to switch them on. You can now just drag the map marker around to different parts of the UK. If you still want the convenience of finding fuel prices automatically for your location then hit the green 'Locate Me' button. If you have location services ON it'll do just that.
Data Source
As of the 2nd February 2026 under the Motor Fuel (Open Data) Regulations 2025 all petrol stations in the UK have a legal obligation to inform the government Fuel Finder service of a change of prices within 30 minutes of the change. All fuel price data in my app is provided by the UK Government Fuel Finder service, which contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
I currently update the fuel price database every hour but plan to make it update every fifteen minutes soon. At the last count there were over 7,600 petrol stations in the database but if you notice any missing it's likely to be because their data failed my data validity checks. More on this next.
Disclaimer
As for the data validity I mentioned earlier, some of the petrol stations report their fuel prices at under 2p a litre and some at over £20 a litre, oh and some put their location in the middle of the ocean, so I removed most of these from the database but some may remain. If they correct their data they'll go back in but I'm afraid I can't be responsible for incorrect data if the petrol station staff are reporting incorrect data, or just slow doing it. The government will be tightening up on this so the data will become more accurate and up to date with time.
All trademarks belong to their respective owners. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.
Cookies
I guess I should declare that this app only uses essential cookies required for the app to function, basically to store the app state between uses, fuel type, map type, last marker position etc. Just to clarify, they're all stored only on your device and none of your data is stored anywhere else.
Support Development
I must have put well over 150 hours into this app so far, much of it into the back end, running separate fuel data servers at home as well as my live web server.
Anyway, If you find this app useful and it saves you some money then feel free to...
This will help support development (I really do drink a lot of coffee) and it'll keep me awake whilst I'm sat developing and maintaining this thing. I do love doing it though.
You can always opt for the free way to help and Share the app with your friends. Also if you find any errors or have any comments then you can email me at: Jason@Jason-King.co.uk
Thanks,
Jason King BSc MBCS CITP
