On a longer drive, it helps to know where you could fill up before you set off. The pump price matters, but so does how far you would have to go out of your way to get it.
I've just released a new Tools menu on Fuel Finder, bringing together Filters, Route planner, Cheapest along route and Price key. On your phone, you'll find the Tools button at the bottom right of the map.
The main addition is Cheapest along route. Enter your destination, choose your fuel and set how many extra minutes of driving you are willing to allow. It compares a selection of suitable stations on or near your route, so you can look at your options before choosing a stop.
Each result shows the reported pump price, the extra miles and driving time involved, and an estimate of the fuel cost of that detour. You can adjust your fuel economy in UK MPG to make the estimate more useful for your own car. The results also show how far the station is from your starting point, how recently its price was reported and whether it is expected to be open when you arrive.
You can sort by pump price, extra fuel cost, extra driving or distance from the start. Once you've chosen a station, open the route in Google Maps with that fuel stop included.
For example, a station that is 3p a litre cheaper saves £1.50 on a 50-litre fill, before the cost of getting there. If reaching it means a long detour, some or all of that difference could disappear. Seeing the price and the extra driving together gives you a better basis for deciding whether the stop makes sense.
The detour fuel cost is an estimate based on your MPG and the station's reported price. It doesn't include time spent refuelling or vehicle wear, and it doesn't automatically calculate the cheapest total bill for a particular fill amount. Check the price age, opening information and final directions before travelling.
The Route planner is there for journeys where you also want help working out when you will need fuel. Enter your vehicle details and how much fuel you have now, and it can suggest suitable stops and estimate how much to add. If you have enough for the journey, it can tell you that a top-up isn't needed. It also supports EV journey planning using your charge level, range and connector settings; Cheapest along route compares liquid fuels.
Filters and Price key are now in the same Tools menu. Filters lets you narrow your search by distance, brand, opening hours and facilities, or change how the results are sorted. That can help when you need a 24-hour station, somewhere with toilets, or a stop closer to you.
Price key explains the colours on the map. The bands reflect the prices in the area you are searching, and you can tap a band to show stations in that price range. When viewing EV chargers, the menu shows a Charging key instead.
Local price comparison, Filters and Price key remain available without an account. Sign in to a free account to use the two journey tools from your current location. Free accounts have a shared allowance of three route calculations a day and 18 a week. Pro adds a starting place of your choice, up to two intermediate stops, and saved trips in the Route planner.
You can open Fuel Finder and try the Tools menu now. If you use it for your next journey, I'd be glad to hear how you get on through the feedback page.