Price matters, but convenience matters too
A lower station price is helpful when the station is nearby or already on your route. If it requires a detour, the real saving should include distance, time and fuel used.
Supermarkets are a major part of UK fuel buying, but scale alone does not make every supermarket stop the right choice. The useful driver decision is still local: compare the actual price today, the detour, the fill amount and the practical value of the stop.
What to compare
- Price per litre: the headline comparison.
- Whether the stop is worth the extra drive: whether the station is on the way or out of direction.
- Fuel type: petrol, diesel and premium fuels can vary by station.
- Station details: opening times, facilities and payment preferences can affect the practical choice.
- Price change time: published station prices can lag after a price change, so check when the price last changed before filling up.
Are supermarkets always cheaper?
Not always. Supermarkets often compete strongly on station price, but the cheapest local station can change by area, fuel type and time of day. A supermarket near a congested retail park can also be worse for a driver than a slightly dearer branded station already on the route.
The CMA's road fuel market work is one of the reasons the UK now has a stronger focus on fuel price transparency. The useful takeaway for drivers is simple: compare the actual local price today, not the reputation of the logo above the canopy.
What about branded fuel?
Branded stations may be more convenient on A-roads, motorways or routes where supermarket sites are off-direction. Some drivers also prefer a particular premium fuel, loyalty scheme, payment method or station layout. Those are legitimate practical factors, but they should be compared against the full stop cost.
For standard E10 petrol and B7 diesel, Route & Fuel keeps the comparison grounded in latest station prices. For super unleaded E5, the app and public pages separate RON 97+ and RON 99 searches from wider E5 prices. Premium petrol availability varies by site.
When a supermarket stop makes sense
- You are already shopping there: the route cost may be zero.
- The price difference is clear: a several-pence-per-litre difference can matter on a larger fill.
- The station is easy to access: no awkward queue, junction or long loop from your route.
- The facilities match the trip: shop, toilets, air or water may make the stop more useful.
When a branded station can be the better decision
- It is directly on the route: a lower detour can beat a lower station price.
- You need motorway or late-night access: availability can matter more than a small price difference.
- You need a specific fuel: premium petrol, super diesel or HVO availability can vary.
- You value time: a quick stop can be the better real-world result even if the litres cost slightly more.
The Route & Fuel angle
The app is designed to help drivers compare useful stops, not just cheaper names on a list. That is especially valuable when several stations are close in price.
Bottom line
Choose the station that gives the best real result for your route, vehicle and fill-up. not just the lowest number on the board.
For many drivers, a supermarket will be the right answer some of the time. For others, the right answer is the station that is closest to the journey they are already making. Route & Fuel is built to make that comparison visible.