What's live, what's indicative, and why you should always verify with the supplier
No price shown on PriceTank is a confirmed binding quote. Before placing any order, always contact the supplier directly to get a confirmed price for your specific postcode, volume, and delivery date.
There are three types of prices you'll see on this site. Understanding which type you're looking at helps you use the information correctly.
| Price type | What it is | How current | How to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live scraped price | A price pulled directly from a supplier's public website (currently HomeFuels Direct) | Updated up to 3× daily by our automated scraper | A close indication of what that specific supplier is currently advertising. Still verify directly before ordering. |
| National average | An average across multiple supplier data points, calculated by our scraper | Updated up to 3× daily | A market benchmark. Your local price will vary based on your postcode, supplier competition, and delivery access. |
| Reference / estimated price | An estimate based on the national average, used where we don't have a supplier's confirmed price | Derived from the latest average. Labelled "Ref." or "~" on the site | An orientation only. Do not use as the basis for ordering. Always get a direct quote from the supplier. |
Heating oil is one of the most localised commodity markets in the UK. Even if we show you an accurate national average, the price you're quoted may differ for several legitimate reasons:
Under the CMA's Price Transparency Guidance (published November 2025 under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024), price comparison websites must clearly indicate when prices shown are not confirmed quotes available to all consumers. We label all non-confirmed prices clearly as indicative, reference, or estimated.
This isn't just legal compliance. It's genuinely the honest thing to do. A number that looks precise but isn't actually what you'll pay does you a disservice. We'd rather show you an honest range and tell you to verify than give you a false sense of certainty.
PriceTank publishes price forecasts, market commentary, and buying advice in our guides and on the homepage. These are based on available public information including analyst reports, OPEC announcements, Brent crude price trends, and historical seasonal patterns.
They are not financial advice. They are general information to help you understand the market context. We cannot predict future prices. Past seasonal patterns do not guarantee future price movements. Global events. Conflicts, supply disruptions, currency movements. Can and do override seasonal trends without warning.
Decisions about when and how much oil to buy are entirely yours. We accept no liability for losses arising from purchasing decisions made in reliance on our forecasts or commentary.
Price alerts are triggered when our scraped national average price falls to or below your target threshold. This means:
Use PriceTank's reference price to understand the current market. Then click through to two or three suppliers, enter your exact postcode and required volume on their site, and compare their confirmed quotes. The confirmed quote you receive directly from a supplier is the only reliable basis for placing an order.
PriceTank is built on the principle that buyers deserve clear, honest information. We will always:
If you ever see something on this site that you believe is misleading or inaccurate, please tell us: hello@pricetank.co.uk