Consumer Watch with Natasha Pirrottina: How smart motorists can save more than $1300 a year on fuel bill

Every dollar counts right now but smart motorists can save more than $1300 a year by using the FuelWatch website to shop around before they fill-up.

And data showed independent retailers dominated the list of cheapest outlets across WA in 2024.

Selling the cheapest fuel in the Mid West was Liberty Dongara, with an average unleaded petrol (ULP) price of 178.5 cents per litre, followed by United Rangeway with an average price of 179.6 and Metro Geraldton with 180.2.

Liberty Dongara also sold the cheapest diesel in the region with an average price of 179.5, followed by United Rangeway with 181.3.

The overall average ULP price in WA last year was 184.4 and for diesel the average was 189.0. When it comes to diesel, country areas often pay less than Perth motorists due to competition, but it’s always worth shopping around by using the FuelWatch service.

For those who travel to Perth, Vibe and Atlas Fuel outlets led the top 10 list of cheapest non-membership stations across the metro area last year, while BP outlets accounted for the majority of spots on the list of most expensive sites.

Costco outlets at Casuarina and Perth Airport topped the cheapest list overall for ULP and diesel, but an annual membership is required to access these sites.

With significant savings to be had it makes sense to spend 30 seconds to shop around on the FuelWatch website for the cheapest fuel. This free service is the only one in Australia that gives you the opportunity to access tomorrow’s fuel prices today. The good news is these prices are locked in for 24-hours from 6am.

When FuelWatch was introduced in 2001, it required WA regional fuel retailers to display their prices on visible price boards. The website also has an interactive map so you can plan to fill up at the cheapest places when you’re on a road trip. This is another way the service continues to help WA motorists by making sure there are no surprises when they get to the bowser.

Based on FuelWatch data, Perth was the cheapest of the five major capital cities for ULP in 2024 and has been the cheapest or second cheapest since 2019.

The best thing you can do is use the FuelWatch website to find the cheapest fuel and reward the most competitive retailer with your business.

Fuel price information is available at fuelwatch.wa.gov.au and, after 2.30pm each day, motorists can compare both today’s and tomorrow’s prices.

Natasha Pirrottina is senior regional officer for Consumer Protection in the Mid West