Filling Up In Italy – Self Service Pumps

There are lots of petrol/gas stations around, although they can become a little scarce in the more remote mountain areas, you will rarely be far from fuel in central Italy. Finding one may be harder though, as is typical with the region businesses rely far more on word of mouth and local knowledge and while the trend is changing, your sat nav or navigation app might not have the most up to date information. But, on the plus side, most places have a 24 hour service thanks to automated payments. There are a few things it’s good to know before you arrive at the pump though.

Most stations have two different lanes, a ‘Servito’ and a ‘Self’ lane. Servito will have an attendant fill up for you and take your payment. Self will mean using the pay station that you will find somewhere between the pumps (not necessarily in your ‘lane’. ‘Servito’ fuel is charged at a premium!! Don’t worry if the attendant is offers you help at the ‘Self’ pump, (s)he’s just being nice, not trying to rip you off.

Paying at the pay station is simple, most have English as a language option, they all take credit/debit cards and most take cash payments in notes too. 

Park by your chosen pump.
Go to the pay station.
Put in your payment.
Enter your PIN
Take out your card
Enter the pump number.
Ordeer a receipt if you need one
Fill up
Fetch the receipt if you ordered it.
Done!

The type of pay station can vary quite a bit, from older, faded models with an old LCD display to modern, spangly things with big touch screens, but the process remains the same.

Unless you have a very weird bike you want Benzina (petrol/gas). Gasolio is Diesel.

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