The CNMC warns of non-compliance with regulations by 1,700 gas stations: these stations face penalties.

02/11/2026 11:00

Updated to

02/11/2026 11:00

The National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) has found that 1,674 Spanish gas stations failed to report their prices to the Ministry for Ecological Transition for at least one week during August 2026. This represents 13.36% of the 12,527 gas stations included in the analysis, meaning more than one in eight. Failing to meet this requirement can constitute a serious offense, punishable by fines of up to 600,000 euros. The regulatory body is stepping up oversight to identify which facilities are violating the regulations and ensure price transparency.

Almost 1,700 gas stations failed to report prices for at least one week

Data from the CNMC shows a significant increase in incidents related to price reporting. In July, the agency identified 1,072 stations that failed to report their rates for at least one week, accounting for 8.56% of the stations analyzed. A month later, this figure rose to 1,674 gas stations, representing 13.36% of the total.

Not all stations are in the same situation. Among those identified in August, 913 stopped reporting prices for one week, while 370 failed to do so for two weeks.

The issue is more concerning in cases of repeated non-compliance. A total of 164 stations failed to submit information during any of the five weeks of the month, although CNMC still needs to verify whether some of them were actually still in operation. Independent stations account for approximately 68% of the cases detected.

Fines of up to 600,000 euros for failing to report prices

The requirement to report prices is not new. Spanish regulations mandate that gas station owners submit their prices every Monday, or the next working day if it is a holiday, and whenever they make any changes.

These data feed into public tools that allow comparison of refueling costs. Non-compliance can be considered a serious administrative offense, with possible fines ranging from 60,000 to 600,000 euros, according to the Ministry for Ecological Transition.

However, the identified stations are not automatically penalized. The CNMC must examine each case and determine whether it is appropriate to initiate an investigation.

The industry also calls for improvements to warning systems and an update to the inventory of facilities to prevent administrative errors from being mistaken for non-compliance.

A problem for those looking for the cheapest gas station

Lack of information can directly affect consumers. The Ministry’s Gas Stations Geoportal allows users to locate service stations and compare gasoline and diesel prices. If a station fails to update its rates properly, drivers may encounter incomplete or outdated information.

This does not prove that those gas stations are charging illegal prices or that there is deliberate manipulation. The situation becomes particularly significant amid rising fuel costs. In August, the average price of 95 gasoline on the Peninsula and Balearic Islands reached 1.725 euros per liter, while diesel A reached 1.852 euros.

The CNMC will continue to monitor non-compliances and verify the information submitted by operators. For drivers, the issue is simple: comparing prices is only useful when gas stations provide accurate and up-to-date data.