Big penalties are coming for service stations in Victoria that don’t follow new rules aimed at making fuel more affordable.
New rules that mandate live reporting and setting of a daily maximum cap on fuel prices come into force next month, along with significant fines for fuel retailers that fail to comply.
A Victorian Government spokesperson told Drive: “Under new laws set to come into effect next month, Consumer Affairs Victoria will be given greater powers to issue fines to retailers who fail to register or report changes in their fuel prices.”
Drive understands that from 10 March, fuel retailers who don’t comply could be fined more than $3,000 for each breach of the rules, or face higher penalties of more than $24,000 and convictions if taken to court.
Each afternoon by 2:00 pm, service stations will have to report what their maximum fuel prices for each fuel type will be the following day.
Motorists will then be able to use the Service Victoria app to see what each service station’s maximum fuel price will be the following day, with the information becoming available on the app at 4:00 pm each afternoon.
MORE: Petrol-price clarity for Victorian motorists with new law
The new rules will also prevent service stations from increasing their fuel prices again each day once they have been dropped. According to the government’s website, prices may only be reduced until the next day’s cap applies and caps apply for 24 hours from 6:00 am each day.
The Victorian Government’s rollout of the new measures has faced scrutiny after inconsistent communications regarding when Victorians would be able to access real-time fuel prices.
The Service Victoria app does not yet have live reported prices for all service stations. This is despite some government websites and social media accounts describing since last year that real-time fuel prices are already available on the app.
Fuel retailers have been obliged to report their prices since August last year under a new statutory rule. Drive understands Consumer Affairs Victoria is responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with fuel reporting requirements, and is supporting retailers to understand and meet their obligations under the Fair Fuel Plan.
MORE: Victorian petrol price app still inconsistent, with data deadline looming
The Victorian Government announced the two-phase ‘Fair Fuel Plan’ last year to assist Victorians with accessing cheaper fuel.
The statutory rule introduced in August 2025 constituted ‘phase-one’ of the plan, with ‘phase-two’ including the price capping element. The price cap was introduced as part of legislation that passed parliament on 25 November and comes into force from 10 March 2026.
Victoria is the last Australian state to implement some form of mandatory live fuel price reporting. A Victorian Government spokesperson told Drive the new rules would help address cost-of-living issues in Victoria.
“The Allan Labor Government focused is on delivering real cost of living relief for all Victorians and that’s why we’re making it faster, easier and more affordable for motorists to fill their tanks,” the spokesperson said.
“Our Fair Fuel Plan means motorists can easily identify the best deal when they head to the pump, putting money back in their pockets and saving time for hardworking families.”
The post Petrol stations that don’t follow new price rules in Victoria will face big penalties appeared first on Drive.
