Petrol and diesel prices in Chennai change every morning at 6 am, when the oil marketing companies reset the rate at every outlet. The quickest official way to see the rate at a particular pump is an SMS: type RSP, a space and the pump’s dealer code, and send it to 92249 92249, the number Indian Oil publishes on its price page. The dealer code is displayed at the outlet.
We do not publish a “today’s price” for fuel, because it can differ between outlets and changes daily. What follows explains how the number on the pump is put together, why Chennai pays more or less than other cities, and where to check official figures.
How daily pricing works
India moved from fortnightly revisions to daily pricing of petrol and diesel in June 2017. The Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC), under the Union petroleum ministry, keeps a record of metro city retail prices since 16 June 2017, and its current file was last updated on 16 October 2026.
The companies that run most outlets in Chennai are Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum. Each sets its own retail price, so a small difference between an IOCL pump in Anna Nagar and an HPCL pump on OMR is normal. Indian Oil’s page notes that SMS prices are indicative and can vary from outlet to outlet, mainly because freight from the depot differs.
The pump price is built from several pieces:
- the base price, which reflects international crude and product prices and the rupee;
- freight to the outlet;
- Central excise duty, a fixed amount per litre;
- the dealer’s commission;
- State sales tax or VAT, which in Tamil Nadu is partly a percentage and partly a fixed sum.
Why Tamil Nadu’s tax matters
Petrol and diesel are outside GST, so each State sets its own tax. According to PPAC’s State tax table, updated 16 October 2026, Tamil Nadu levies:
| Fuel | Tamil Nadu sales tax/VAT |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 13% plus ₹11.52 per litre |
| Diesel | 11% plus ₹9.62 per litre |
This is why the Chennai price is not the same as Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru even on the same morning. When the base price rises, the percentage part of the State tax rises with it; the fixed part does not.
Petrol sold today is also blended with ethanol. PPAC reports the national blending level at 20 per cent for the ethanol supply year from November 2025 to August 2026.
Where to check official rates
- SMS: RSP followed by the dealer code to 92249 92249. Indian Oil lists a specimen Chennai dealer code, 133649, on its price page if you want a city reference rate.
- Company websites and apps: Indian Oil’s price page lists rates for major cities; BPCL and HPCL publish their own.
- PPAC: the metro city file on PPAC’s site gives the record for Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
- The pump display: outlets are required to show the current rate. If the board and the dispenser do not match, ask before you fill.
CNG is priced differently
CNG is not part of the daily 6 am revision. It is sold by the city gas distribution company authorised for your area, which sets its own retail price and revises it from time to time, usually announcing changes in advance. Two inputs matter. One is the government-set domestic natural gas price, fixed monthly; PPAC lists it at $11.22 per MMBTU for October 2026. The other is a price ceiling for gas from difficult fields, set at $9.89 per MMBTU from October 2026 to March 2027. Imported LNG also feeds into what a CNG station charges.
Chennai’s CNG network is still smaller than in northern cities. Nationally, PPAC counted 9,158 CNG stations as of 31 August 2026. Before converting a car or buying a CNG model, check how many stations lie along your daily route, from Tambaram to Guindy or along the ECR, and check the distributor’s published rate.
Getting what you pay for
- Check that the dispenser shows zero before fuelling starts.
- Ask for a printed or digital receipt; it records the rate and quantity.
- If you suspect short delivery, ask the outlet to check with its certified measure and note the dispenser number.
- Complaints can go to the oil company’s customer care listed at the pump, or to the National Consumer Helpline on 1915.
Quick answers
What time do fuel prices change in Chennai?
Daily changes for petrol and diesel take effect at 6 am, according to Indian Oil.
Why is the price different at two pumps?
Each company sets its own price and freight costs vary by outlet, so small differences are expected.
Is fuel under GST?
No. Tamil Nadu charges its own sales tax: 13% plus ₹11.52 a litre on petrol and 11% plus ₹9.62 on diesel, per PPAC.
Does CNG change daily?
No. The local gas distributor revises CNG prices periodically.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
