Still not the time to fill up

Petrol price slowly falling

MOTORISTS are being advised to top up rather than fill up at the bowser, with petrol prices still high.

But prices are on the way down, after peaking at an average of 166.5 cents per litre in Geelong last week.

The petrol price peak was hitting hip pockets in the middle of school holidays.

Unleaded fuel was priced between 155.2-160.2 cents a litre at most of the Geelong region’s petrol stations yesterday, according to the RACV’s petrol prices online tool.

Drysdale stations were selling unleaded for 160.2-165.2 cents a litre, it showed.

The highest price was in Breakwater between 165.2 and 170.2 cents a litre.

RACV manager vehicle engineering, Michael Case, said the average price in Geelong reached a peak of 166.5 cents a litre last week and had been discounted by about 1 cent per litre each day since.

“Prices are high in the cycle but on their way down,” Mr Case said.

Mr Case said a petrol price cycle exists in metropolitan areas that involves price discounting and price increasing phases.

“The best way for motorists to save is to buy when prices are low in the cycle, and when they buy to encourage cheap prices through purchasing at retailers which price below the market,” Mr Case said.

“RACV advises motorists to top up rather than filling up when prices are high.

“This helps to average out your fuel budget.

“While the price cycle has recently peaked, there are still opportunities to find cheaper retailers.”

Mr Case said RACV provided fuel price information for motorists to “find the cheapest prices in the area or along their journey”.

“As a general guide, regular searches for the cheapest fuel can save motorists hundreds of dollars a year,” Mr Case said.