If you... run a petrol station
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 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 National Consumer Agency.
You must display the prices of your petrol and diesel, and this price display must be legible and visible from the side of the road nearest your premises to potential customers. The price 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 at the petrol pump must match the price you display.
If you fail to display your prices or charge more than the price displayed, you may be in breach of the regulations.
Product pricing
Petrol stations must display the final price of any goods for sale in euros. The price must include VAT and any other taxes and not have any "hidden" charges. 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.
Remember that this includes 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, and carwash facilities.
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 Value Added Tax (VAT) element, for example, you are misleading consumers and in breach of consumer legislation.)
If you run a forecourt café with a seated area for diners, there is specific legislation about how you display these food prices.
These particular regulations are called the Retail Price (Food in Catering Establishments) Display Order, 1984 and this is enforced by the National Consumer Agency.
Learn more
Read the full legislation about petrol and diesel price display orders
Find out more about your rights and obligations when selling products in general to consumers
Learn about your obligations if you run a forecourt dining area