New App Uses Car Reg to Find Cheapest Route

BIRMINGHAM, UK. April 17, 2024 - Amid escalating fuel prices in the United Kingdom, where petrol costs have increased by more than 40% since 2020, British drivers are grappling with soaring expenses at the pump. In response, ‘Roadtrip’, an innovative fuel cost calculator app, is now available in the UK, designed to help drivers save money while driving.

After initially launching in New Zealand by founders Ben Robertson and Emory Fierlinger, Roadtrip quickly ascended to the #1 spot on the NZ App Store and has already been downloaded by 1 in 50 New Zealanders. Its groundbreaking ability to provide accurate petrol cost estimates based on car number plates, garnered immense popularity amidst soaring fuel prices. In response to overwhelming demand and the UK's brand new Pumpwatch fuel scheme, Roadtrip has now made its highly anticipated debut in the UK. 

"After our app featured in a viral TikTok video, a comment saying 'we need this in the UK' received over 3000 likes. That was a clear signal of the strong demand for our app in the UK," Fierlinger noted.

“Based on the huge demand we saw, we immediately began work on the UK version, and after months of dedication, we're thrilled to finally release it today. We're so excited to bring Roadtrip to such a large audience in the UK, especially at a time when the cost of living is a challenge for so many."

The app allows you to simply enter your destination and your car’s reg plate – Roadtrip then instantly calculates the cost of the petrol for the trip using the exact MPG from your specific vehicle model, and local petrol prices along the route.

Roadtrip will intelligently show the 10 cheapest petrol stations along your route, helping drivers save money on a long road trip or when commuting to the office. Using this data, Roadtrip shows which route would be the cheapest to drive, so you can decide if the scenic route is worth the extra petrol cost, for example. 

Roadtrip also helps consumers find the cheapest petrol or diesel nearby on the map, using real-time prices from over 4000 stations across the UK, sourced directly from major fuel retailers including BP, Tesco, Shell, Sainsbury’s and more. It can also show you if there’s a cheaper station nearby that you might have missed by comparing all the prices in your area. Prices are updated instantly using the UK Government’s brand new Pumpwatch scheme. 

Roadtrip's features are particularly beneficial for splitting petrol costs among friends, holiday travel cost comparisons, and choosing the cheapest car to take on a trip. 

Roadtrip's services also work internationally, catering to drivers across Europe and even in rental cars. Whether cruising the highways of the US, navigating the streets of Europe, or exploring the scenic routes of New Zealand, Roadtrip works wherever you go.

"For us it's about providing a tool that can make a real difference in how people can save money on petrol day to day." says Emory Fierlinger. "Our mission is to help drivers make informed decisions about their travel costs, ultimately leading to massive savings over time".

The app is available for free download on both iPhone and Android devices, offering users a convenient and effective tool to navigate the challenges posed by fluctuating fuel prices.

For more information about Roadtrip and to download the app, please visit Roadtrip's website.