Before you go
At a full-service gas station, an attendant fills your tank for you.
There are just two words to remember.
「レギュラー、満タン」
(Regyurā, mantan.)
Once you pull in, follow the signals to stop
When you pull into the station, a staff member waves you to where you should stop, calling out 「オーライ」 (all right) (according to Cosmo Oil Sales).
Stop with the side of the car that has the fuel door next to the pump.
Once you’ve stopped, turn off the engine.
Open your window and say the two words
Open your window and tell them the kind of fuel and how much.
「レギュラー」 (regular) is the kind of fuel, and 「満タン」 means filling it all the way up.
If your rental car takes high-octane, it’s 「ハイオク、満タン」 (Haioku, mantan. — high-octane, fill it up), and if it takes diesel, it’s 「軽油、満タン」 (Keiyu, mantan. — diesel, fill it up). Say the name of the fuel you were told when you rented the car in place of 「レギュラー」.
You don’t have to fill it all the way. You can also ask by amount or by price, like 「20リットル、レギュラー」 (Nijū rittoru, regyurā. — 20 liters, regular) or 「2,000円、レギュラー」 (Nisen-en, regyurā. — 2,000 yen, regular).
You may be asked about cleaning your windows
According to Cosmo Oil Sales, after you order, you’re asked whether you’d like your windows cleaned or your ashtray emptied.
Answer yes or no.
If you ask for it, stay in your seat and wait while the windows are cleaned.
You pay from the car, too
According to the same guide, when it’s done, you open your window and pay without getting out. You also tell the staff how you’ll pay when you order.
Some stations take only cash and don’t accept credit cards.
Pay from your seat, and you’re done filling up.
Even if you can’t read Japanese
At a full-service station, you don’t have to read the pump’s screen.
Start by saying the two words you learned to the staff through your window.
※ How filling up works, services such as window cleaning, and payment methods differ from station to station. When you actually fill up, follow the signs on the spot and the staff’s instructions.
