Katerina Swanson
If you're driving in France, you'll need to know how to fill up your car at a French petrol station ('station-service' or 'stations essence'). In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about fuelling your car in France, from finding a petrol station to choosing the right type of fuel and making payment. We'll also provide some tips on how to find the cheapest fuel and what to do if your card doesn't work at the pump. So, whether you're a tourist exploring the country or a resident going about your daily life, read on to learn how to fuel your car in France.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel types | Diesel, unleaded, 4-star, LPG, premium unleaded |
| Fuel colours | Diesel (black), unleaded (green), 4-star (red) |
| Fuel names | Diesel (gazole or gasoil), unleaded (essence) |
| Fuel prices | Vary by area, town, and petrol station |
| Cheapest fuel sources | Hyper/supermarkets |
| Most expensive fuel sources | Rural petrol stations |
| Average fuel prices (2006) | €1.10 (diesel), €1.25 (ordinary unleaded), €1.30 (premium unleaded), €0.85 (LPG) |
| Petrol station locations | Found in most towns, motorway service areas, and large supermarkets |
| Petrol station services | Toilets, car wash, vacuum cleaners, air, shop, motoring accessories, snacks, newspapers, magazines |
| Payment methods | Cash, card, cheque |
| Self-service | Available at most motorway and supermarket stations |
| Payment process | Insert card, select fuel type, confirm fuel type, enter PIN, select receipt option, fill up |
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What You'll Learn
Fuel types and colour codes
Diesel fuel is called "diesel" (pronounced 'dee-ezel'), "gazole", or "gasoil" (both pronounced 'gazwal') and is available at all service stations. Petrol pumps and pipes are colour-coded to prevent errors when fuelling your car. Unleaded petrol pumps are green, 4-star petrol is red, and diesel is black. The nozzles of 4-star petrol pumps are usually larger than those of unleaded pumps and won't fit the petrol filler hole of a car fitted with a catalyser. However, it is always good to pay attention, especially when an attendant is filling your car.
Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) is also available at around 1,800 petrol stations, particularly on motorways. A free map is available from petrol stations showing the locations of LPG stations. The general word for fuel in French is "carburant", and petrol is "essence". Fuel or "fioul" refers to heating oil, and "pétrole" means paraffin or oil (the black substance extracted from the ground).
In France, fuel prices in motorway service areas tend to be more expensive than in supermarkets or regular garages. Hypermarkets and supermarkets usually offer the cheapest fuel prices, while rural petrol stations are typically the most expensive. Self-service petrol stations (libre service) are common in France, especially at motorway and supermarket stations. Many supermarkets have fuel pumps on-site, which are manned at certain times during the day. These times vary by supermarket and area, often closing for the obligatory lunchtime break from 12:00 to 14:00.
To find the best fuel prices in France, you can use the government website Prix-Carburants.gouv.fr. This website provides information on petrol and diesel prices in all areas of France. You can specify the type of fuel and the town you are interested in, and the website will show you the nearest garage with the corresponding fuel prices. Additionally, petrol stations within 10km of a motorway are allowed to advertise their prices on the motorway. A leaflet called "La Carte de l'Essence Moins Chère" is available from French Government Tourist Offices, indicating supermarkets that are a short detour from the main routes.
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Payment methods
Paying at the pump with a card is a common payment method at French gas stations. However, some pumps only accept cards with an offline PIN, which most US-issued cards do not have. If your card does not have an offline PIN, you may be able to add one by contacting your credit card company. Some pumps may also accept cards with a chip and signature, but this is not guaranteed. If you are having trouble paying with a card at the pump, you can try going to a gas station with a cashier or attendant, who may be able to process your card manually.
If you are paying with a card at the pump, the pump may pre-authorise a certain amount, usually around €100-€150, and then refund the difference after you have filled up. This process can take several days or even up to a month, depending on your bank. If you are using a debit card, there may be no pre-authorisation, and the gas station will instead take a full "authorisation" amount, which will be refunded after you have filled up.
Using cash is another option. If you are paying at the pump, you can simply insert the cash into the machine. If you are paying at a kiosk or to a cashier, you can tell them your pump number and how much fuel you want, or you can ask them to "remplir le réservoir" (fill the tank).
Finally, if you are having trouble with your card, you can purchase a prepaid gas card with a US card, which you can then use at the pump without any issues.
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Petrol station locations
Petrol stations, or 'stations-service' in French, can be found in most towns across France. They are also located at 'aires' (service stations) along the country's motorways. Most large supermarkets and hypermarchés have fuel stations, too.
To find the closest petrol station to you, you can use the government website 'prix-carburants'. This will also help you to compare prices. Simply select your department from the dropdown list, and a list of fuel stations will appear, along with their location and price.
There are also several interactive maps available that allow you to compare fuel prices and find the cheapest stations near you. These include the prix carburants map from the Ministry of the Economy, which covers the cost per litre of all main types of petrol at every service station in France. French media outlet BFMTV has also released an interactive 'fuel map', which shows the three cheapest petrol stations in each department for diesel, SP-95 and SP-98 petrol. You can search by department or commune name. Plein-moins-cher.fr also offers an interactive map of fuel prices, updated every 10 minutes.
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Fuel prices
In September 2006, the costs per litre were around €1.10 (diesel), €1.25 (ordinary unleaded), and €1.30 (premium unleaded). LPG cost around €0.85 per litre. As of December 2024, the price of diesel was €1.64 per litre, including all taxes, which typically make up around 50% of the motor fuel pump price.
To find the best prices, you can use the French government website Prix-Carburants.gouv.fr. This website provides information on petrol and diesel prices in all areas of France. You can specify the type of fuel and the town, and the website will bring up the nearest garage with the corresponding fuel prices. Around 50% of garages in France have signed up for the website and are required to update their fuel costs daily.
Additionally, to help tourists and travellers on motorways locate inexpensive petrol, petrol stations within 10km of a motorway are allowed to advertise their prices on the motorway. A leaflet called "La Carte de l’Essence Moins Chère" is also available from French Government Tourist Offices, showing supermarkets that are a short detour from the main routes.
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Additional services
French petrol stations offer a variety of additional services. Many stations have toilets, which may be located outside the main building, and you may need to ask an attendant for the key. Some stations also offer car washes, vacuum cleaners, and air pumps. Most stations have shops selling snacks, drinks, newspapers, magazines, and motoring accessories.
Some stations also provide routine servicing and repairs. If you need to fill up your car, you can ask for 'le plein s'il vous plaît'. Service may include cleaning your windscreen and checking your oil and tyre pressures. Tips are not expected but are appreciated.
When paying at self-service stations, simply tell the cashier your pump number. Most stations accept debit and major credit cards, but some may only take cards with chips, rather than magnetic strips. You can also pay in cash.
If you are driving on toll roads, you will need to pay when you exit the highway. There are different payment methods available, including paying on the machine, by card, or through manual payment. If you pay by card, your card will be charged immediately when inserted. For manual payment, there will be staff available to help you pay by card or cash.
To find the best fuel prices in your area, you can use the government website, Prix-Carburants.gouv.fr. This website provides information on petrol and diesel prices in all areas of France. You can also use the website to locate your closest petrol station.
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Frequently asked questions
Gas stations in France are called 'stations-service' or 'stations essence'. They can be found in most towns and along the autoroutes (motorways). You can also use Google Maps to find the nearest gas station.
The different types of fuel available in France are diesel, unleaded petrol, and premium unleaded petrol. Diesel is usually orange or yellow and marked as "Diesel", while unleaded fuel is green and marked as "E5" or "E10".
Most gas stations in France accept payment by cash, card, or cheque. Some gas stations will place a hold on your credit card when you pay at the pump, so it is recommended to pay inside if your credit card has a low limit.
