Fueling Up Abroad: What's Different From Home

Fuel is sold by the liter in almost every country you'll visit — the same as it is at home, unlike the gallon pricing south of the border. Where it does matter is fuel type: confirm whether your rental takes petrol or diesel before you fill up, since mixing them up is still one of the most common rental mistakes worldwide.

Full-service stations remain common across parts of Europe and Asia, where an attendant pumps for you and a small tip is customary. Self-service stations increasingly take card payment right at the pump, though rural stations can still be cash-only.

Return the car with the same fuel level you picked it up with, and hang onto the receipt — agencies often charge a steep premium for refueling a tank that wasn't topped off as agreed.