Fuel Types & Quality
Supermarket Fuel
Is supermarket fuel bad for your car?
CheckFuelPrices Editorial
Expert Written • 4 industry sources
No, supermarket fuel is not bad for your car. All petrol and diesel sold in the UK must meet the same British Standards (BS EN 228 for petrol, BS EN 590 for diesel), whether it comes from Asda, Tesco, or a branded forecourt like Shell or BP.
All UK Fuel Is Held to the Same Legal Standard
Legally regulated quality:
Every litre of fuel sold at UK pumps must comply with strict British and European specifications. Supermarkets cannot legally sell substandard fuel.
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Same refineries, different branding:
Supermarket fuel and branded fuel frequently originate from the same refineries and distribution networks. The base fuel is chemically identical at the point of production.
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E10 is standard everywhere:
Standard unleaded petrol at all UK stations — supermarkets and branded alike — is now E10, containing up to 10% bioethanol. This applies equally across all retailers.
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Where Supermarket Fuel Differs
Additive packages:
Branded fuels typically include higher concentrations of proprietary cleaning detergents. Supermarket fuel meets the legally required minimum additive standard but uses a simpler package.
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Negligible for most drivers:
For everyday petrol and diesel cars driven at normal loads, the difference in additive concentration has no meaningful impact on engine health or performance.
Premium fuels are the exception:
If you drive a high-performance vehicle and want maximum cleaning additives, branded premium grades like Shell V-Power or BP Ultimate are formulated for that purpose — but standard supermarket fuel remains safe for any compatible car.
The Cost Case for Supermarket Fuel
Typically 3–8p per litre cheaper:
Supermarkets routinely undercut branded stations on both petrol and diesel prices, using fuel as a footfall driver. On a 50-litre fill, that saves up to £4.
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Prices vary even between supermarkets:
Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons do not always price identically. The cheapest option depends on your location and the day.
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Finding the Cheapest Fuel Near You
Live data updated every 30 minutes:
CheckFuelPrices pulls CMA government open data to show real-time prices at over 4,000 UK stations, including all major supermarkets and branded forecourts.
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Search by postcode or town:
Enter your postcode or town on CheckFuelPrices to compare supermarket and branded prices side by side before you fill up.
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Sources
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