Supermarket shopping dockets don’t always equal better value at the bowser.
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New data on petrol prices has shown shopping independent is still the best way to get the most for your dollar in the Highlands.
According to the NRMA FuelCheck app, the Westside Petroleum in Bundanoon (unleaded for 133.9 cents per litre and diesel 127.9 c/l), an independent in Moss Vale (unleaded 91 for 134.0 c/l, diesel 130.0 c/l) and the Enhance station in Mittagong (unleaded 91 for 129.7 c/l and 129.7 c/l for diesel) are the best value stations for the area.
Meanwhile, filling up at chains in Bowral will cost you on average 136.7 c/l for unleaded 91 and 133.9 c/l for diesel.
By shopping around, you could save yourself 2.8 c/l on unleaded and 6 c/l for diesel.
While a four cent discount docket could cover the difference for unleaded, you would still be paying more for diesel – plus you would have to shop at the appropriate supermarket to secure a discount docket.
More than 2000 service stations in NSW must provide information to the Fair Trading website FuelCheck every time they change the price board, giving the first real-time data on prices.
NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said he was unsurprised small service stations were the cheapest option.
"The independents can only compete on price. They have no other way to stay in the market,” he said.
“By contrast, the majors are interested in margins. They are less interested in competing on price.
“Until recently this strategy was working, because people didn't know the difference. But the data blows it away."
Minister for better regulation Victor Dominello said about 5500 motorists were using the data each day.
"The data confirms what we've thought for a while – that independent service stations consistently sell cheaper fuel and deliver motorists a better deal," he said.
“[FuelCheck] transfers power from oil companies to motorists and allows them to save up to hundreds of dollars a year.”
Mr Khoury said there were early signs that publication of the data already had an impact on pricing behaviour by service stations.
"In the past people would complain that the price shot up overnight and would take weeks to fall. The trend we are starting to see is the margins are shrinking and the price is falling quicker," he said.
