Heading away for Christmas? This is when you should fill up your tank

Are you heading away over Christmas? Image: Getty

Are you heading off on a road trip this Christmas? Here’s when you should fill up.

According to Compare the Market the optimum time to fill up your tank depends on where you live as prices are varying drastically state by state.

There can be as much as a 70 cents per litre (CPL) price difference at petrol stations within a few minutes of each other, which is a potential $35 saving when filling up a standard 50-litre tank.

Here’s what we can expect for petrol prices in each Aussie city this festive season:

Sydney: pause if you can

Petrol prices in Sydney are decreasing, and are likely to fall further, so if you can hold off filling up, you could save.

Melbourne: hold off

Melbourne prices are decreasing but they will also continue to fall, according to the ACCC’s petrol price cycles.

It could be a long wait before prices are at their lowest again, so Melbourne motorists should hold off if possible before filling up.

Brisbane: prices are at their highest

Brisbane is currently at the top of its price cycle with some petrol stations just starting to decrease prices.

If you can hold off buying right now, that would be a good idea.

Adelaide: cheap but getting cheaper

Adelaide petrol prices are falling, but they’re likely to continue to fall for several more days. That means that those who can avoid buying now could snag themselves a bargain.

Perth: predictable cycle

Perth has a predictable 7-day petrol price cycle, with Tuesdays being the cheapest day to fill up before prices spike again on Wednesdays, Compare the Market’s Abigail Koch explains.

City average ULP price between 14 September 2020 and 14 December 2020

City	ULP average price over last quarter (CPL)
Greater Melbourne	123.9
Greater Hobart	122.6
ACT	121.3
Greater Brisbane	120.9
Greater Sydney	119.7
Greater Darwin	116.7
Greater Perth	116.7
Greater Adelaide	111.4

Source: The Pricing Project / Compare the market, prices effective 14/12/20

City average price spreads (the difference between the highest and lowest ULP price) between 14 September and 14 December 2020

City	Average $ difference between highest and lowest ULP price (CPL)	Savings on a 50-litre tank* ($)
Greater Melbourne	72.40	36.20
Greater Hobart	22.31	11.15
ACT	21.42	10.71
Greater Brisbane	49.30	24.64
Greater Sydney	64.65	32.33
Greater Darwin	20.94	10.47
Greater Perth	49.43	24.72
Greater Adelaide	61.02	30.51

* Multiplying the average of weekly spread result by 50L (being an average fill quantity), expressed in dollars

Source: The Pricing Project / Compare the market, prices effective 14/12/20

Suburbs with the lowest average ULP price between 14 September to 14 December 2020

City	Suburb	ULP average price over last quarter (cpl)
Greater Melbourne	Cranbourne North	104.5
Greater Hobart	Sandfly	112.9
ACT	Crestwood	113.6
Greater Brisbane	Logan Village	103.9
Greater Sydney	Airds	98.7
Greater Darwin	Holtze	109.9
Greater Perth	Perth Airport	98.1
Greater Adelaide	Springwood	91.8

Source: The Pricing Project / Compare the market, prices effective 14/12/20

Suburbs with the highest average ULP price between 14 September to 14 December 2020

City	Suburb	ULP average price over last quarter (cpl)
Greater Melbourne	Werribee	150.0
Greater Hobart	Richmond	130.6
ACT	Hawker	129.5
Greater Brisbane	Dunwich	142.0
Greater Sydney	Edgecliff	145.8
Greater Darwin	Berry Springs	122.9
Greater Perth	South Yunderup	135.9
Greater Adelaide	Kangarilla	132.8

Source: The Pricing Project / Compare the market, prices effective 14/12/20

So how do I go about comparing prices?

Money saving comparison tools like Compare the Market’s app Simples, enable motorists to quickly and easily compare petrol prices from participating servos in their area or pinpoint the best places to fill up along their route, Koch said.

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