Petrol Stations
There are various rules about how petrol stations and other shops and services display their prices, so that consumers can make price comparisons and informed choices. There are two issues with regard to pricing that you need to address:
- The price of fuel dispensed by pump such as petrol and diesel
- The price of all other products sold in the forecourt premises, ranging from motor accessories, to food, to grocery items
Specific price displays
By law, petrol stations must display price notices on their premises. This legislation is known as the Retail Price (Diesel and Petrol) Display Order, 1997 and is enforced by the CCPC.
You must display the prices of your petrol and diesel, and this price display must be legible and visible to potential customers from the side of the road nearest your premises. The figures appearing to the left of a decimal point on these notices must be at least 20 centimetres high.
- The price displays for petrol and diesel should give the prices per litre.
- In addition, the actual price charged must match the price you display.
If you fail to display your prices, you may be in breach of the regulations.
If the prices you charge for services or products are different to the prices displayed, this constitutes a misleading price indication, and you may be in breach of the Consumer Protection Act. We have the power, if such breaches are found, to take enforcement action, including the issuing of a compliance notice.
Product pricing
You must display the final price of any goods you have for sale. This includes products in forecourt shops, home heating fuel products sold on the premises such as a coal and briquettes, items at your deli counter, if you have one, and car wash facilities. Prices must be displayed in euros. The price must be for a single item of that product, such as one chocolate bar, or a given number of items, such as six eggs in a box. You must clearly display the price on or near the product.
Unit pricing
For any product that you sell by volume or by weight or measure, you must give consumers the actual selling price. You also must give the product’s unit price; how much it would cost for a given quantity of the product, such as a litre of engine lubricant or a kilogram of potatoes. This unit price should be displayed on or near the item.
Tax inclusive prices
Service stations and other retailers also have to display prices that are complete and tax inclusive. This means the price on display must include all taxes and not have any extra hidden charges. If the price doesn’t include the relevant VAT element, for example, you are misleading consumers and in breach of consumer legislation.
Café/food court
If you run a forecourt café with a seated area for diners, there is specific legislation about how you display these food prices.
This particular regulation is called the Retail Price (Food in Catering Establishments) Display Order 1984 and is enforced by us.
Where prices are not displayed, we have the option of taking enforcement action, including the issuing of fixed payment notices.
Learn more
- Read the full legislation about petrol and diesel price display orders
- Learn about your obligations if you run a forecourt dining area
- Find out how you’re affected by the laws on selling products to consumers
- Read the guide to product prices
- Discover what to expect if a consumer decides to take a dispute with you to the Small Claims Court
- Learn about the rules on advertising your petrol station
- Petrol stations which offer additional retail services may also be affected by the laws on:
