Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke today encouraged motorists to download the NSW Government’s free FuelCheck app and save money at the bowser over the Easter and school holiday break.
Ms Cooke said the app enables drivers to find out where on their journey they can find the best prices for a wide range of fuels, and whether a short detour may be a worthwhile option.
“This is such a useful app which will not only show you where fuel stations along your journey are, it also shows up-to-date information on the price of fuels including E10, Premium 95 and LPG,” Ms Cooke said.
“The price of fuel can be a major factor in our weekly budgets, which means small savings can add up in the long run, and on longer journeys this app could help you make some significant savings.
“This is a large electorate and travel by car is commonplace, so it’s fantastic to see the NSW Government making it easy for drivers to make significant savings using any smartphone.
“Recent figures show the free app has been downloaded half a million times since its launch in 2017, and that is a lot of household and small business budgets feeling the benefit of cheaper fuel.”
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the NSW Government gives drivers more control over their spending.
“Whether you are visiting friends and family, or planning a trip out of town, FuelCheck can help you find the cheapest fuel anywhere in NSW in real-time,” Mr Dominello said.
“Half a million people can’t be wrong. This is about making life easier for citizens by taking power away from big oil and putting it in their hands.”
The app includes a Favourite Stations function, allowing users to save their favourite petrol stations. A My Trip function utilises Google Maps to enable users to find the cheapest petrol station on their journey and direct them to the station. There is also a Trends page, showing the cheapest day of the week to fill up and the day’s price range.
Data gathered from FuelCheck shows that independent service stations consistently sell cheaper fuel, there can be more than a 20 cent price difference in fuel between service stations in the same suburb, and the cheapest day to fill up is Saturday.
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said the app is a big win for motorists by giving them a bird’s-eye view of the market.
“NSW Fair Trading officers often conduct compliance checks to ensure service stations are updating their fuel prices in real-time. If the price at the pump does not match what is shown on the app, motorists can make a complaint directly to Fair Trading,” Mr Anderson said.
The app is one of a raft of measures helping to ease cost of living pressures for households. Others include cheaper Green Slips and refunds, free rego for regular toll users and Energy Switch.
