In this blog post, we will review some of the best apps for finding cheap fuel in Australia. These apps can help you compare petrol prices across different locations, get alerts when prices change, and even pre-purchase fuel at a discounted rate. Whether you are driving in the city or the country, these apps can help you save money on petrol.

Save Money on Petrol with MotorMouth

MotorMouth is one of the most popular apps for finding cheap fuel in Australia. It reports prices from around 4500 Australian service stations daily¹. You can search for the cheapest fuel near you or along your route, filter by fuel type and brand, and view historical price trends. You can also set up price alerts and notifications to get informed when prices drop or rise in your area.

MotorMouth is available for free on iOS and Android devices.

GasBuddy

GasBuddy is another app that helps you find cheap fuel in Australia. It relies on user-submitted data to provide real-time prices from over 3000 service stations². You can search for the best fuel deals near you or anywhere in the country, filter by fuel type and amenities, and view price history charts. You can also earn points and rewards by reporting prices and participating in challenges.

GasBuddy is available for free on iOS and Android devices.

Save Money on Petrol with Refueler

Refueler is an app that combines live fuel prices with the option to pre-purchase fuel¹. You can search for the lowest fuel prices near you or in any location in Australia, filter by fuel type and distance, and view price trends and forecasts. You can also lock in a price and pre-purchase fuel using the app, then redeem it at any participating service station within 24 hours.

Refueler is available for free on iOS and Android devices.

FuelMap

FuelMap is an app that helps you find cheap fuel in Australia using crowd-sourced data². You can search for the nearest and cheapest fuel stations near you or anywhere in the country, filter by fuel type and brand, and view price history graphs. You can also contribute to the community by reporting prices and updating station information.

FuelMap is available for free on iOS and Android devices.

PetrolSpy

PetrolSpy is an app that helps you find cheap fuel in Australia using both government data and user-submitted data². You can search for the cheapest fuel prices near you or anywhere in Australia, filter by fuel type and brand, and view price history charts. You can also report prices and station details to help other users.

PetrolSpy is available for free on iOS and Android devices.

Simples: Compare & Save by Compare the Market

Simples is an app that helps you find cheap fuel in Australia using government data from NSW, QLD, SA, NT and WA¹. You can search for the best fuel deals near you or anywhere in these states, filter by fuel type and distance, and view price trends and predictions. You can also compare other products and services such as car insurance, energy, health insurance, home loans, etc.

Simples is available for free on iOS and Android devices.

These are some of the best apps for finding cheap fuel in Australia. By using these apps, you can save money on petrol and make smarter decisions about when and where to fill up your tank. Try them out today and see how much you can save!

References

1. autoguru.com.au
2. petrolspy.com.au
3. choice.com.au
4. petrolprices.com

Drive efficiently!

Avoid speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking, as these can increase your fuel consumption by up to 40%¹. Use cruise control on highways and maintain a steady speed. Shift to a higher gear as soon as possible and avoid over-revving the engine. Turn off the engine when you are idling for more than a minute.

Maintain your car!

A well-maintained car can improve your fuel efficiency by up to 10%². Check your tyre pressure regularly and keep them inflated to the recommended level. Change your oil and air filter according to the manufacturer’s schedule. Use the right type of fuel and oil for your car.

Reduce drag and weight. 

Remove any unnecessary items from your car, especially from the roof or the boot. Extra weight can increase your fuel consumption by up to 2% for every 50 kg³. Aerodynamic drag can also reduce your fuel efficiency by up to 10%⁴. Avoid using roof racks, bike carriers, or open windows when driving at high speeds.

Plan your trips!

Combine multiple errands into one trip and avoid peak hour traffic. Use a map app or Google Maps to plot a route that avoids traffic jams, roadworks, or frequent stops. You can also use public transport, carpooling, cycling, or walking for short trips or when possible.

Use technology and save money on petrol.

There are many apps and devices that can help you monitor your driving habits and fuel consumption. Some examples are:

• Fuelio
• Fuelly
• Drivvo
• Automatic
• GoFar.

These tools can give you feedback on how to improve your driving efficiency and save money on petrol.

References:

1. accc.gov.au
2. accc.gov.au
3. accc.gov.au
4. abc.net.au

Is it true that to save money on fuel, you should think about turning off your air conditioner?

Turning off your air conditioner can indeed save you some money on fuel, but it may not be as much as you think. The effect of air conditioning on fuel consumption depends on many factors, such as the outside temperature, the intensity of the sun, the speed of the vehicle, the size and power of the engine, and the efficiency of the air conditioning system.

According to the EPA¹, using the air conditioner in very hot weather can reduce the fuel economy of a conventional vehicle by more than 25%, especially on short trips. However, this effect may be smaller for hybrid or electric vehicles, or for vehicles with more powerful engines. The EPA also suggests that rolling down the windows at low speeds can be more fuel-efficient than using the air conditioner, but not at highway speeds, where open windows create more aerodynamic drag.

Therefore, if you want to save money on fuel, you should consider the following tips:

• Use the air conditioner only when necessary and set it to a moderate temperature.
• Park in the shade or use a sunshade to prevent the cabin from getting too hot.
• Drive with the windows open for a short time before turning on the air conditioner to let out the hot air.
• Avoid idling with the air conditioner on before driving. Start driving as soon as possible and turn on the air conditioner after a few minutes.
• Maintain your car and your air conditioning system regularly to improve their efficiency.

References:

1. fueleconomy.gov
2. motorbiscuit.com
3. express.co.uk
4. prairiesmokepress.com
5. nrel.gov

In this blog post, we will explain what petrol price cycles are, how they work, how long they last, and how you can use them to save money on your fuel expences.

What are petrol price cycles?

Petrol price cycles are the result of pricing policies and not from changes in the wholesale cost of fuel¹. They are a movement in the retail price from a low point (or trough) to a high point (or peak) to the following low point. Petrol prices steadily decrease for a period followed by a sharper increase. This pattern is also known as a sawtooth pattern².

Petrol price cycles occur in Australia’s major cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. They do not occur in Canberra, Hobart and Darwin¹.

Petrol price cycles are the result of competition among petrol retailers. Retailers try to attract customers by lowering their prices until they reach a point where they can no longer afford to do so. Then they raise their prices to recover their losses and make a profit. This cycle repeats itself over time.

How do petrol price cycles work?

Petrol price cycles vary in duration and magnitude depending on the city and the time of the year. The duration of each petrol price cycle varies from cycle to cycle and by location. The length of price cycles in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane was around 5 weeks in 2022, and in Adelaide it was just over 2 weeks. Perth currently has regular weekly price cycles³.

The magnitude of petrol price cycles is the difference between the peak and the trough prices. The magnitude of price cycles in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane was around 30 cents per litre in 2022, and in Adelaide it was around 20 cents per litre. Perth’s weekly price cycles have a smaller magnitude of around 10 cents per litre³.

The timing of petrol price cycles is not random, but influenced by factors such as demand, supply, competition, market conditions and consumer behaviour. For example, petrol prices tend to be higher on weekends, public holidays and during school holidays when demand is higher. Petrol prices also tend to be higher when oil prices are high or when the Australian dollar is weak.

How long do fuel price cycles last?

There is no definitive answer to how long petrol price cycles last, as they are unpredictable and subject to change. However, historical data can provide some indication or suggestion of the cheapest and most expensive days to buy petrol in the future.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) monitors petrol price cycles in Australia’s major cities and provides buying tips for consumers as a guide³. The buying tips are updated on weekdays (at least Monday, Wednesday and Friday) around midday.

The ACCC also provides historical data on the past 5 price cycles for each city on its website³. You can use this data to see when the last peak and trough occurred, how long the cycle lasted, and how much the prices changed.

How can you use fuel price cycles to save money?

By understanding how fuel price cycles work and using the available information from the ACCC, you can plan your fuel purchases accordingly and save money on your fuel expenses.

Here are some tips on how to use petrol price cycles to your advantage:

• Buy petrol when prices are low or decreasing. Avoid buying petrol when prices are high or increasing.
• Use online tools or apps that compare petrol prices across different stations and locations. You can find the cheapest or nearest station that suits your needs.
• Shop around for the best deal. Don’t assume that all stations have the same prices or that your usual station has the best prices.
• Be flexible with your timing. If you can wait for a few days or weeks until prices drop, you can save more money than buying at the peak.
• Be aware of external factors that may affect petrol prices. Keep an eye on oil prices, exchange rates, demand and supply conditions, and other events that may influence petrol prices.

By following these tips, you can make informed decisions about when and where to buy petrol and save money on your fuel expenses.

References

1. accc.gov.au
2. accc.gov.au
3. accc.gov.au
4. abc.net.au