How to Refuel a Car in Italy: Guide for Tourists

Gas stations in Italy often close for lunch breaks and on Sundays. Stay alert so you don’t end up running out of fuel.

Self-Service (Self) or With Attendant (Servito)

In Italy, many gas stations don’t have attendants, so you pay and pump the fuel yourself.

Some stations offer both options: self-service or with an attendant. Pumping the fuel yourself is usually about 20% cheaper than choosing the “Servito” service.

If you choose the automatic self-service option, follow these steps:

Paying With Credit Card

1. Insert your credit card into the machine.
2. Enter your card PIN.
3. The system will display the maximum fueling limit (usually up to 100 EUR) and block that amount on your card.
4. Select the pump number you’ll use (next to your car).
5. Take the nozzle and fill the tank with the amount you want (or until it’s full).
6. Once you place the nozzle back, any unused balance will be refunded to your card, usually within a few minutes.

We never had any issues, but keep the receipt just in case.

We always pay with our Wise international credit card. If you don’t have one yet, it’s worth getting it to save on fees abroad.

Paying With Cash

1. Insert the banknote(s) into the machine.
2. Select the pump number you’ll use (next to your car).
3. Take the nozzle and fill the tank with the amount you want (or until it’s full).
4. When you put the nozzle back, any unused balance will not be refunded.
5. If you’re using self-service, we only recommend cash if you plan to put in a small amount. For a full tank, paying by credit card is the best option. If there’s an attendant, you can normally pay in cash. So always watch out for these details.

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Fuel in Italy: Everything You Need to Know Before Driving Abroad

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