I tried a cheap and expensive petrol station – is paying more worth it?

Sunday, 22 March 2026

Stuff checks out a cheap and expensive petrol station.

ANALYSIS: Petrol prices can vary wildly.

Terry Collins, the AA’s fuel prices spokesperson, said the cheapest fuel is usually at unstaffed stations where drivers fill up themselves and pay using a card reader.

Collins said they have far lower operating costs than full-service stations that provide staff, convenience stores and other facilities.

But is it worth paying the extra at a pricier station? Or is it just as good pulling onto a windswept concrete forecourt, tapping your card and getting on with your day?

Stuff decided to visit examples of both in Auckland.

I’ve only just started driving on my own. Which might make me the perfect person tester because I don’t really know what to expect.

When I was told one of the stops would be a staffed BP in New Lynn, my brain went straight to how a senior editor once described petrol stations, “back in the day”.

Apparently someone would come out, fill your car for you, maybe check your oil, clean your windscreen. So it’s fair to say at a more expensive station a red carpet wouldn’t have surprised me. (That part is a joke.)

The reality is … less dramatic.

At almost $3.47 for a litre of 91 on Friday, this BP is among the more expensive places to fill up in Auckland.

First stop: BP New Lynn

At almost $3.47 for a litre of 91 when Stuff visited on Friday, this is among the more expensive places to fill up in Auckland. The kind of place where you assume – or at least hope – you’re getting a bit extra for your money.

Inside, the shop felt pretty stripped-back, with the shelves largely empty.

There was one staff member behind the counter when I walked in. She was friendly, no issues there, but it didn’t quite line up with the “full-service” image I had built in my head.

Outside, there was an air pump for tyres. Except when I visited, there was no hose attached, so it couldn’t actually be used.

There’s also a customer toilet … It’s there. That’s about as much as I’ll say.

Inside, the shop felt pretty stripped-back. The shelves were largely empty. Maybe it was just bad timing, maybe I caught it between deliveries, but it gave the place a slightly eerie vibe.

And yet, it’s still a BP. Which means it’s almost impossible not to feel a bit nostalgic.

You see the ice blocks, the drinks fridge, the snacks and suddenly you’re not thinking about fuel prices any more. You’re thinking about quick stops with mates, running in with loose change, grabbing something cold on a hot day.

That part hasn’t changed.

They had hot food too. I grabbed a hot dog; warm, slightly questionable in appearance, but actually pretty good.

It’s almost impossible not to feel a bit nostalgic at a BP. You see the ice blocks, the drinks fridge, the snacks and suddenly you’re not thinking about fuel prices any more.

But if you were planning to do anything resembling a grocery shop here, you’d be out of luck. You’re getting the basics. Snacks, drinks, the essentials.

Which raises the question: is it worth it?

A short drive away, things look a little different.

The forecourt shares space with a few other shops - a fried chicken spot, a liquor store, a vape shop, and what looks like a cake store.

Gull in Ōtāhuhu

This is what’s often called an “unmanned” site. No shop. No counter. No small talk. You pull in, pay at the pump, and leave.

91 here was about $3.19 a litre when I visited - noticeably cheaper. And straight away, you can see why.

This site feels built for simplicity - fewer extras, less to maintain, and a quicker stop overall.

There’s no dedicated dairy, but the forecourt shares space with a few other shops - a fried chicken spot, a liquor store, a vape shop and what looks like a cake store.

The fried chicken caught my eye. In a previous life, I reviewed a fried chicken restaurant and confidently declared myself a fried chicken connoisseur. So yes, I noticed it. And yes, I was tempted.

Out on the forecourt, I spotted someone cleaning the pumps, who said the site is cleaned daily. Beyond that, though, it’s minimal.

No toilet that I could see. No tyre pump either. No extras. And that seems to be the point. Built for simplicity - fewer extras, less to maintain and a quicker stop overall.

That doesn’t mean every Gull looks exactly like this one, but here, the focus is clearly on getting in, filling up, and moving on.

So faff or no faff?

In the end, it really comes down to what you prefer.

Sometimes you just want to pull in, fill up and leave without speaking to anyone - you know, those late-night or early-morning runs when you’re wearing your “hope I don’t see anyone I know” outfit. And sometimes, you want to step inside, grab a snack and take a minute. It just depends what you’re in the mood for.

There’s probably a part of me that wouldn’t mind a bit more of that old-school service people talk about. Maybe not a red carpet - but I wouldn’t complain.