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Anyone pulling up to the petrol pumps over the last couple of weeks would be forgiven for thinking the attendant had made a mistake when changing the billboards. In response to the crisis in Iran and well before the cost implications hit fuel buyers, filling stations started hiking up their prices to eye-watering figures.

 

Diesel has increased by 31% since February 28, adding 44.8 cents a litre, while petrol has risen by 19%, or 28.2 cents a litre, following the outbreak of war in the Middle East. Drivers across Spain are already feeling the impact, with the rise being particularly noticeable at low-cost stations, where smaller profit margins make even modest increases more visible.

 

Analysis from the Spanish Consumers and Users Organisation (OCU), which looked at more than 12,000 service stations, found that diesel already costs more than €2 a litre at 6% of pumps run by the major chains.

 

If prices continue to climb by just three cents, a pattern seen in the past few days, that figure could rise to 28%, putting almost a third of stations above the €2 mark. Petrol is also creeping towards €2, with several stations already charging more than that.

 

This echoes the pattern seen when war broke out in Ukraine, with stations passing on price increases almost immediately. For everyday drivers, this can translate into spending up to €20 more than they did just weeks before the conflict escalated.

 

To help drivers navigate the rising costs, the OCU has created an online tool that links directly to a petrol price calculator. This tool makes it easy to locate the cheapest filling stations nearby, saving both time and money.

 

The best part is that you can add the tool to your smartphone, so you quickly click on anytime you need to fill up. By visiting the OCU website and selecting the 'Download shortcut' option, a prompt will appear asking to place the icon on the home screen, where it functions like any other app.

 

For those who prefer not to install it, the OCU also provides a web-based search engine. Drivers can enter the address or postcode of interest and click 'Find me'. Results can be refined using filters for distance, station, fuel type or tank capacity.

 

With either option, once the search is submitted, a map appears showing stations colour-coded by price: green for cheapest, orange for average and red for the most expensive.

 

Clicking on any station reveals the price, location, distance and directions, allowing drivers to plan the most cost-effective route for filling up.

 

Image: Radar OCU