What are CMA fuel prices?

The Competition and Markets Authority fuel price scheme makes it easier to compare forecourt prices. Here is what the data means, how it is collected and why coverage is not the same as every petrol station in the country.

Updated 16 August 2026 · Written by the Fuel Finder UK team

What does CMA stand for?

CMA stands for the Competition and Markets Authority, the UK body responsible for promoting competition and protecting consumers. Its fuel price data scheme gives drivers a clearer view of prices submitted by participating retailers.

How does the scheme work?

Retailers provide prices for their participating forecourts through official data feeds. A comparison service can use those feeds to show petrol and diesel prices by station, fuel type, brand and location. The price shown is the latest available submission, not a guarantee that the pump will never change.

Why is a station missing?

Not every UK forecourt is currently in the dataset. Large retailers have reporting obligations and smaller retailers can join voluntarily. A station may also be absent because it has not joined the scheme, does not sell the selected grade or has not supplied a usable recent price.

How current is the information?

Available feeds are refreshed regularly, with current comparisons updating every 30 minutes. Always check the timestamp and consider the distance before making a special journey for a small price difference.

Where can I see the prices?

Read the Government’s fuel price data guidance for the source scheme, or view participating stations in the live comparison.