Petrol stations

What are your businesses obligations for displaying prices at a petrol station?

Petrol stations in Ireland must comply with strict rules for displaying prices on fuel, products, and services. This includes clear, visible fuel price signage, accurate product pricing, unit pricing for weighed or measured goods, and tax-inclusive prices. Forecourt cafés must also follow specific display regulations. Non-compliance can result in enforcement action by the CCPC.

Petrol stations in Ireland are required by law to display prices in a way that allows consumers to make informed choices and compare prices easily. There are two main areas you must address:

• The price of fuel dispensed by pump, such as petrol and diesel
• The price of all other products sold in the forecourt, including motor accessories, food, and grocery items

How must you display fuel prices at your petrol station?

By law, you must display price notices for petrol and diesel on your premises. This is set out in the Retail Price (Diesel and Petrol) Display Order, 1997, enforced by the CCPC.

• Prices for petrol and diesel must be legible and visible to potential customers from the side of the road nearest your premises
• The figures to the left of the decimal point on these notices must be at least 20 centimetres high
• Prices must be displayed per litre
• The actual price charged must match the price displayed
• The price charged and reflected on the receipt-as applicable, must match the price displayed on the road signs
  

Failure to display your prices may result in a breach of regulations. If the prices you charge differ from those displayed, this is a misleading price indication and may breach the Consumer Protection Act. The CCPC can take enforcement action, including issuing a compliance notice

How should you display prices for other products and services?

You must display the final price of any goods for sale, including:

• Products in forecourt shops
• Home heating fuel products sold on the premises, such as coal and briquettes
• Items at your deli counter, if you have one
• Car wash facilities

Prices must be displayed in euros. The price must be for a single item (e.g. one chocolate bar) or a defined quantity (e.g. six eggs in a box). You must clearly display the price on or near the product.

When is unit pricing required and how do you display it?

For any product sold by volume, weight, or measure, you must provide both the actual selling price and the unit price (the cost for a given quantity, such as a litre or kilogram). The unit price should be displayed on or near the item.

• Example: price per litre of engine lubricant or per kilogram of potatoes
• Unit price must be shown on or near the product

Do you need to include VAT in displayed prices?

Yes. All displayed prices must be complete and tax inclusive. This means the price must include all taxes, with no hidden charges. If the price does not include the relevant VAT element, you are misleading consumers and are in breach of consumer legislation.

There must not be misleading price indication and traders are required to clearly, visibly and proximately indicate the selling price/unit price where products may be for sale at less than the price previously applicable.

This relates to meal deals and clearly visible, easily identifiable and prominent pricing information and signage being provided at the entrance, at the hot food counter or till, outlining promotional offers and/or multi-buy deals.

What are the rules for displaying prices in a forecourt café or food court?

If you operate a forecourt café with a seated area, you must comply with the Retail Price (Food in Catering Establishments) Display Order 1984, enforced by the CCPC.

• Prices for food must be clearly displayed
• Failure to display prices may result in enforcement action, including fixed payment notices

Learn about your obligations if you run a forecourt dining area.

Where can you find more information about petrol station pricing rules?

For further guidance and to ensure compliance, see the following resources:

• Read the full legislation about petrol and diesel price display orders.
• 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.