The price data collected by the unit are also meant to improve the Bundeskartellamt’s possibilities to intervene in the case of illegal predatory strategies and other forms of market power abuse.

Since 31 August 2013 companies which operate public petrol stations or have the power to set their prices are required to report price changes for the most commonly used types of fuel, i.e. Super E5, Super E10 and Diesel “in real time” to the Market Transparency Unit for Fuels. This then passes on the incoming price data to consumer information service providers, which in turn pass it on to the consumer.

Via the internet, a smartphone or navigation system, motorists will be able to obtain information on the current fuel prices and find the cheapest petrol station in their vicinity or along a specific route. This allows for a better overview of prices and an informed choice, which increases competition.

The Market Transparency Unit for Fuels will not offer price information directly to the public itself. It receives the price data from the mineral oil companies and petrol station operators and passes these on to private consumer information service providers, which in turn inform the consumer.

A list with consumer information service providers that are registered with the system and obtain the price data directly from the Market Transparency Unit for Fuels is available here.