Tips and guides

Get more from Fuel Beacon

Shortcuts and features that make the app quicker and more useful, from the tips it shows you.

Search smarter

• Search the way you talk

  Type a brand, a facility, a price limit or a place, and Fuel Beacon turns it into filters straight away.

• Search hands-free

  Tap the microphone in the search bar and say what you need: the fuel, the brand or your budget.

• Sort as you search

  Add “cheapest” or “closest” to a search to put the results in that order.

• Spell brand fuels with hyphens

  Search for “v-power”, not “vpower”, to find branded fuels.

• Use full place names

  Write places out in full, such as “Staines-upon-Thames”.

• Pick your spot

  Type an area into the search bar, or tap the map, to see fuel nearby.

• Clear filters in one tap

  Tap Clear in the search bar, or switch your profiles off in My Account.

Read the map at a glance

• Spot your brands

  Pins use each brand's own colours, such as red and yellow for Shell.

• Know your fuels by colour

  Unleaded is green, diesel is purple and HVO is orange.

• Decode fuel codes

  Not sure what E10 or B7S means? Tap the ? on a forecourt card or beside the fuel chips.

• See prices for each grade

  Pick a fuel from the chips at the bottom of the map, or include it in your search, to see that grade's price on every pin.

• Automatic fuel fallback

  If a forecourt doesn't sell the fuel you picked, its pin shows the nearest match, such as unleaded instead of super unleaded.

• Looking for HVO?

  The orange HVO chip appears when a forecourt selling HVO is in your search area. Select it to see only those forecourts.

• Map or list?

  Tap the toggle on the map to switch between the map and a list of forecourts. To choose which one the app opens in, use Open in under My Account.

• Forecourts too close to tap?

  Switch to the list view in the corner of the map to see each one clearly.

• Find a forecourt on the map

  Tap the pin icon beside a forecourt's address to zoom straight to it.

• Name but no price?

  If the official data has a problem, we hide the price until it's verified, so you never see a wrong figure.

Make it yours

• Set your defaults

  Choose your main fuel and default search radius (up to 20 miles) in My Account.

• Save search profiles

  Build profiles for your car or the way you drive, then apply them from the search bar or My Account.

• Lock in your favourite brands

  Turn on Always apply brands in a vehicle profile, and the map shows only your preferred brands every time.

• Supermarket or motorway?

  Narrow a search profile to supermarket forecourts or motorway services.

• Choose your zoom

  In My Account, switch between the + and − buttons and zooming by a fixed radius.

• Control how forecourts load

  In My Account, turn on Load all stations when stopped to see every forecourt in range once you stop moving, and set how long it waits. Or turn on Show all forecourts in view. Loading everything can be slow, so apply your filters first.

• Litres or gallons

  Choose litres, UK gallons or US gallons in My Account.

• Sync your devices

  With a free account, your vehicles, profiles and favourites follow you across your phone, tablet and the web.

• Your analytics, your choice

  Turn anonymous search analytics off at any time under Privacy in My Account.

Track what you spend

• Log fuel three ways

  Log a fill-up from a forecourt card, from the Fuel log, or by typing something like “log 30L for £45” in the search bar.

• Track several vehicles

  Assign each fill-up to a car, such as a work car or family car, to keep their costs apart. The price per litre is worked out for you.

• Keep fuller records

  Add odometer readings, the forecourt name and notes to each fill-up.

• See your average spend

  Filter your logs by fuel type, week, month or year.

• Back to today

  Browsing past months? Tap the calendar icon to jump back to the current date.

• Fix a mistake

  Edit any entry, or delete a duplicate, in the Fuel log.

On the road

• Keep your favourites close

  Tap the star on a forecourt card, and find all your favourites in the Favourites tab.

• Call or get directions in one tap

  Open a forecourt card to call ahead, or get directions in your usual maps app.

• Wrong price or closed pump?

  Tap the flag on the forecourt card to report it and help other drivers.

• No signal? Keep going

  Offline, you can still see maps you've already loaded, log fill-ups, check your vehicles and use the Emergency Roadside Location.

• Skip pricey motorway services

  Motorway services usually charge more than other forecourts. Use Fuel Beacon to find a cheaper one just off the motorway before you set off.

• Filled up with the wrong fuel?

  Don't start the engine. If you only notice once you're driving, pull over as soon as it's safe, turn the engine off and put your hazard lights on. Then call your breakdown provider. Emergency Roadside Location in My Account gives you your exact location and a nearby landmark to tell them.

• If you break down

  Emergency Roadside Location in My Account gives your exact coordinates and a nearby landmark, with one-tap options to call for help or tell your contacts.

Ways to save fuel

Small habits add up. None of these need special kit, and most cost nothing at all.

Before you set off

• Clear out the boot

  Extra weight makes the engine work harder. Take out anything you don't need for the trip, such as sports kit, tools or boxes waiting for the tip.

• Take off roof bars and boxes

  They spoil the car's shape and add drag, especially at motorway speeds. Remove them when you're not using them.

• Check your tyre pressures

  Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and wear out faster. Check them monthly and before long trips, using the pressures in your handbook or on the door frame.

• Keep the car serviced

  Clean filters, fresh oil and the right tyre alignment all help an engine run efficiently.

Plan the trip

• Combine short trips

  An engine uses most fuel when it's cold. Doing several errands in one go, while the engine is warm, uses less than lots of separate short trips.

• Avoid the busiest times

  Stop-start traffic burns fuel without getting you anywhere. If you can, travel outside rush hour.

• Don't drive around looking for fuel

  Check prices before you go, and fill up when it suits your route rather than waiting for the warning light.

• Walk or cycle the shortest journeys

  Very short trips are the least efficient, because the engine never warms up. For a mile or two, leaving the car at home saves the most.

How you drive

• Drive smoothly

  Accelerate gently and look well ahead, so you can ease off early instead of braking hard. Keeping the car moving uses less fuel than stopping and starting.

• Change up early

  Change to a higher gear as soon as it's comfortable. Many cars show a gear-change light to help.

• Watch your speed

  Fuel use rises quickly at higher speeds. Sticking to the limit, and cruising a little slower on the motorway, can make a noticeable difference.

• Coast up to junctions

  Leave the car in gear and lift off the accelerator early; most modern engines use little or no fuel when slowing down like this.

• Use cruise control on open roads

  It keeps your speed steady on flat, quiet roads. Turn it off on hills and in traffic.

• Don't sit with the engine running

  If you're parked or waiting, switch off. Idling burns fuel and adds to local air pollution.

In the car

• Use the air conditioning wisely

  Air conditioning uses fuel, so turn it off when you don't need it. At motorway speeds, though, it's usually more efficient than driving with the windows open.

• Close windows and the sunroof at speed

  Open windows add drag, which matters more the faster you go.

• Switch off what you don't need

  Heated rear windows, heated seats and other electrical extras put more load on the engine. Turn them off once they've done their job.

At the pump

• Compare before you fill up

  Prices can vary a lot between nearby forecourts. Fuel Beacon shows the latest reported prices, so you can choose before you go.

• Buy the fuel your car needs

  Unless your handbook recommends it, premium fuel is unlikely to save you money. Check which fuel your car is designed for.

• Track what you spend

  Log each fill-up in Fuel Beacon's Fuel log. Over time you'll see your price per litre and whether your new habits are paying off.

What to keep in your car for emergencies

A breakdown is far less stressful when you're prepared. Keep these in the car all year, and add the winter extras when the weather turns.

Always carry

• A charged phone and a charger

  Keep a car charger or a charged power bank, so a flat phone doesn't leave you unable to call for help.

• Your breakdown cover details

  Keep the phone number and your membership or policy number somewhere you can find them without your phone.

• A high-visibility vest

  One for each regular passenger, ideally kept within reach rather than in the boot.

• A warning triangle

  For use on ordinary roads, placed well behind the car. Never use one on a motorway.

• A torch

  With spare batteries, or a wind-up torch. Breakdowns often happen in the dark.

• A first aid kit

  Check it now and then, and replace anything that's been used or is out of date.

• Water and a snack

  You may have a long wait. Something to drink and eat makes a real difference, especially with children.

• Something warm

  A blanket or spare coat, in case you have to wait outside the car.

For the car

• A spare wheel or repair kit

  Check which your car has. Make sure the spare is inflated, and that you have the jack, the wheel brace and the locking wheel nut key.

• Jump leads or a jump starter

  A portable jump starter means you don't need another car to get going.

• Screenwash

  A clear windscreen is a legal requirement, and it's easy to run out on a long trip.

• A pen and paper

  For taking down names, registration numbers and insurance details if you're in an accident.

Winter extras

• Ice scraper and de-icer

  You must clear all the snow and ice from your windows, lights and number plates before you drive.

• Warm clothes and boots

  Gloves, a hat and sturdy footwear in case you have to walk or wait in the cold.

• A small shovel

  To dig the wheels out of snow, plus an old mat or a bag of grit for grip.

• A full tank

  Keep it above a quarter full in winter, in case you're stuck in long delays.

If you break down

• Get somewhere safe

  Move off the road if you can, put your hazard lights on, and get yourself and your passengers out of the car on the side away from the traffic.

• On a motorway

  Use an emergency area or the hard shoulder if you can reach one. Leave by the left-hand doors, get behind the barrier, and don't try to fix the car yourself.

• If you're in danger, call 999

  Otherwise, call your breakdown provider. On a motorway without a hard shoulder, call 999 if you're stuck in a live lane.

• Know exactly where you are

  Open Emergency Roadside Location in Fuel Beacon's My Account to see your coordinates and a nearby landmark to give the person you call. It works offline too.