Sydney motorists now have the power to put pressure on petrol companies to lower fuel prices, the NRMA says, after releasing figures showing the top-10 cheapest service stations to fill up.
The NRMA analysis shows BP Loftus in southern Sydney has consistently been the cheapest of about 450 service stations in the city so far this year.
The outlet's average price for regular unleaded has been 103.7¢, more than 10¢ cheaper than the average price in Sydney.
The motoring group has launched its My NRMA smartphone app, which releases real-time price data from about 2000 service stations in NSW.
It comes just days after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission raised fresh concerns about petrol companies making their highest gross margins since it began monitoring fuel prices in 2002. Gross retail margins are the difference between retail prices and published wholesale prices.
The analysis also showed that none of the top-10 cheapest service stations were aligned to Coles and Woolworths, which now sell about half of the country's petrol.
NRMA president Kyle Loades said real-time data in the hands of motorists would result in a significant power shift in the public's favour.
"By forcing service stations to post prices in real time, the industry will receive some much needed transparency and more of the power will rest in the hands of the informed motorists rather than the oil companies," he said.
Mr Loades said it was not uncommon for price discrepancies of 35¢ a litre between petrol stations located close to each other, which meant that motorists who searched for the cheapest fuel could make considerable savings in a year.
Following law changes, service stations in NSW are now required to update their fuel prices with the Department of Fair Trading when they change their boards.
The state government has also launched FuelCheck, a website that publishes fuel prices ay every service station in NSW in real-time.
The ACCC has also been encouraging motorists to use smartphone apps such as the NRMA's and MotorMouth to gain real-time petrol price information and in turn put pressure on oil companies.
The NRMA's analysis of 450 service stations in Sydney showed the cheapest 10 outlets for regular unleaded so far this year were:
1. BP Loftus (average price of 103.7¢ a litre)
2. BP Carrington (104.5¢)
3. BP Belfield (106.1¢)
4. Metro Mortdale (107.1¢)
5. Metro Peakhurst (107.7¢)
6. Metro South Hurstville (108¢)
7. BP Sunnyholt Road Blacktown (108.2¢)
8. BP Express Condell Park (108.3¢)
9. BP Connect Bonnyrigg (108.5¢)
10. BP Connect Cabramatta (108.7¢)
