Shop around and save €300 on petrol

MOTORISTS can save up to €300 a year on average by shopping around for petrol, according to the results of a major survey on fuel prices.

Fine Gael yesterday released details of prices charged by 160 petrol stations in 18 counties around the country.

It revealed that petrol prices between garages within a short distance of each other can vary by at least 10 cent per litre in several parts of the country, including Dublin, Waterford and Cavan.

Such a difference can result in savings of around €5 on a full tank of petrol.

The figures were based on a survey carried out by the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs last week.

Fine Gael finance spokesperson Richard Bruton said the statistics should be made easily available to all consumers, in what may be regarded as an implied criticism of the Director of Consumer Affairs, Carmel Foley.

"While the director used the survey to highlight disparities between the price displayed on forecourts and the price at the pump, she did not publish the results of her survey of 160 garages on her website," said Mr Bruton.

"Consumers are constantly told to shop around for the best value. If information which can help consumers shop around is collected by a State agency, it should be made accessible."

However, a spokesperson for the Director of Consumer Affairs said the details of its petrol price survey were not published on the office's website due to technical reasons.

The spokesperson said Ms Foley had no difficulty in releasing the prices of individual outlets. She pointed out that the results of the survey were available on request to all callers.

The price of petrol and diesel charged by the 160 stations has been posted on the specialist Fine Gael website for consumers www.ripoff.ie.

The survey shows that Dubliners can achieve the biggest savings by shopping around as petrol prices in the capital can vary by almost 16 cent per litre.

Such a price difference can translate to annual savings of around €300 with an average family car.

It also revealed that the most expensive motor fuel in Ireland is the Shell outlet on the Clontarf Road, Dublin, where unleaded petrol costs 108.6c per litre.

In contrast, the cheapest petrol in Dublin can be found at the Texaco outlet on the Malahide road and the Tesco forecourt on Finglas Road which both charge 92.9c per litre.

The survey suggests the least price competition between garage forecourts is found in Cork, Limerick, Roscommon and Louth.

Last week, Ms Foley warned motorists to ensure that they were not charged more for petrol than the prices which stations must legally show on large display signs.

She claimed this problem had emerged in relation to a number of small petrol stations in the south-east of the country.

"The misleading price indication issue is not widespread yet, but if the price of petrol continues to increase, the potential exists for it extending nationwide," said Ms Foley.