Feeling the fuel pressure? Here’s how we’re driving circles around the system.
This post is brought to you by bp to celebrate theirBP RewardsDouble Points offer. Join BP Rewards via the BPme app and scan to earn double points between the 1st and 28th of July 2026.
Beep, beep. We’re going on a savings savvy road trip, and we’re picking up all of the docket discounts and fuel pump hacks we can find along the way. Make way for money habits to help you win when you’re behind the wheel.
Track your local price cycle.
It’s the oldest trick in the book and for good reason, too. We know for a fact (according to the ACCC) that petrol prices move up and down in regular patterns in Australia’s largest cities. And while not every vendor participates in these cycles, they tend to range between 1-6 weeks depending on which state or territory you’re in.
In 2025, the average duration of petrol price cycles was around:
5 weeks in Sydney
6 weeks in Melbourne
6 and a half weeks in Brisbane
2 and a half weeks in Adelaide
1 week in Perth.
While current circumstances have meant that these cycles are a little less predictable, the following rules still apply:
Petrol prices usually peak just before a long weekend, the school holidays, or the weekend
Petrol is usually cheaper towards the beginning of the week
2.Set up price alerts.
Some chains give you the option to lock-in a particular price, while others share alerts once the fuel reaches a certain value in your area. Right now it pays to pay attention.
See if your local offers this service and, if it doesn’t, check out platforms likeFuel Price Australia, Fuel Radar and Fuel Watch (for WA readers) who monitor fuel prices in real time.
3.Get onto supermarket fuel discount dockets and in-app offers.
You might already have unlocked fuel discounts without even noticing. Some petrol stations are linked to specific supermarket chains or companies and offer lucrative fuel discounts when you spend in-store or simply join their app. Compare the offers among the places you shop with most to see which are most competitive for you.
4.Stack points among loyalty programmes and service providers.
Many Australian utility companies, banks, insurance providers and superannuation funds offer exclusive member perks as part of their services. Suss out if the ones you’re already paying for offer discounts on fuel or whether they’re linked to a points system that you can use to your advantage.
For example: This applies to loyalty programmes like BP Rewards where you can earn or redeem BP Points or Qantas Points on eligible fuel and shop products.
5.Car pool where you can.
Hear me out, but getting a lift in with your mates or picking up a friend along the way is one of the most underrated ways to travel. If you share plans, workplaces, or even routes, why not set up regular car pooling to help curb petrol costs while also doing the environment a solid on emissions? Car pool karaoke is calling.
Wait, are there any other systems in place to help me save money at the pump?
Yes, and while theFuel Exciseis something that was implemented in March 2026, and extended until the 2nd of August, it always pays to make savvy money habits a part of your everyday, so that you can save even when others are sweatin’.
Thank you to BP Rewards for supporting this post and the work we do.Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. See bp.com.au/doublepointsfor details.
***Please remember our blogs aren’t intended as financial advice - they’re intended only as a starting point to give you a little extra info! For more in-depth advice catered to your personal financial position, please see a certified financial advisor