Victoria’s new daily fuel price cap is now law — here’s how it works

The Victorian government has introduced the second phase of its Fair Fuel Plan, which requires every petrol station across the state to set a maximum fuel price each day and stick to it. The new laws took effect on 10 March and build on the Servo Saver tool that launched on the Service Victoria app last October, which has already been used by more than 265,000 Victorians.

Under the daily cap, retailers must submit their maximum price for each fuel grade by 2pm. That capped price is then published on Servo Saver by 4pm, giving motorists a clear view of what they’ll pay before they fill up. From 6am the next morning, the cap locks in for a full 24 hours. Stations can drop their prices throughout the day, but they cannot increase them once they’ve gone down.

How the daily fuel price cap works

• Retailers set their maximum price between 8:30am and 2pm each day
• The capped price appears on Servo Saver at 4pm
• The cap applies from 6am the following day for 24 hours
• Prices can decrease during the day but cannot increase
• If a retailer doesn’t submit a cap, the previous day’s price rolls over

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.

What happens if servos don’t comply with Victoria’s fuel price rules

Petrol stations that fail to register or report their prices correctly now face infringement notices from Consumer Affairs Victoria. Fines exceed $3,000 per breach, with more serious or repeated offences attracting court action and penalties of more than $24,000. It’s a significant escalation from the voluntary reporting system that existed before the Fair Fuel Plan’s first phase rolled out.

Servo Saver and the Fair Fuel Plan so far

The Servo Saver feature launched on the Service Victoria app in October 2025, requiring fuel retailers to report their prices in real time for the first time in Victoria. The state was the last in Australia to introduce mandatory fuel price reporting, with Western Australia’s FuelWatch system running since 2001. According to ACCC data, Melbourne motorists who fill up at the lowest point of fuel price cycles could save up to $333 a year — and the daily cap aims to make that easier by eliminating the mid-day price spikes that catch drivers off guard.

Premier Jacinta Allan said the scheme was designed to stop families from being overcharged. “How often do you see a cheap price in the morning, only for it to jump by the afternoon?” she said. “We’re stopping families from getting ripped off at the servo and helping them save hundreds a year.”

Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos said the cap would create more competitive conditions. “The new 24-hour price cap will help you shop around for the best deal and put more downward pressure on prices,” he said.

The daily fuel price cap is part of a broader suite of cost-of-living measures from the Victorian government, which has also introduced free public transport for under-18s and free weekend travel for seniors and concession holders. For anyone filling up across Melbourne and regional Victoria, the cap means you can check your fuel price the night before and know it won’t jump by the time you get to the bowser.

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