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Its well known using a Dash Mounted GPS systems saves gas by finding the shortest distance to a location. What’s not well known or widely communicated is which GPS models have the ability to give you Real Time Fuel Prices. Not all can. Locating the cheapest gas closest to you as you drive along with directions to the station may be the most important feature to have these days. Here is a brief overview of Fuel Pricing Data Collection and Service Providers:

The Flow Diagram below (copied from the INRIX Site) shows how Data Sources are collected, combined, and passed on for use on your GPS:

When you pay for gas at the station with your credit card, the price per gallon part of the receipts are collected by companies that provide a specialized Fuel Price Data Service (Represented in Orange). The Service is then Shared with other Service Providers that combine Data Services for use by GPS Devices (Represented in Teal and light Blue). Some of the key Service Providers to be familiar with:

OPIS - (Oil Price Information Service) is the world’s largest source of Fuel Pricing Data and news information. Used by INRIX as its Fuel Price Data Source.

INRIX - INRIX is Combines Data sources for GPS use, known as “Connected Services”. Available on Select TomTom GPS Receivers where its known as “Plus Fuel Price Service”. Price is $14.95 (USD) for a one-year subscription

MSN Direct - The MSN Direct Service is similar to INRIX in its function of combining Data sources for use with MSND Compliant Devices. Microsoft provides no internal detail of its data sources, other than a relationship with INRIX in some way. Assumption - because MSND offers a wider range of features to a wider range of devices, MSND uses the entire INRIX service as one of its options (please post comment if you have better info) MSN Direct is available on select Garmin GPS Receivers. Price is $49.95 year or $129.95 life time.

Click Here for a Current list of all GPS Receivers capable of viewing Fuel Prices.