Which states do not allow you to pump your own gas

As of 2025, New Jersey is the only U.S. state that still prohibits drivers from pumping their own gasoline at retail stations; attendants are required to dispense fuel. Oregon, which long shared that restriction, changed its law in 2023 to permit self-service statewide while still ensuring attended service remains available.

The current landscape of self-serve gasoline laws

Self-service fueling is the norm across the United States, with one remaining statewide exception. Understanding where attendants are still required—and how recent reforms reshaped the rules—can help drivers plan stops and avoid confusion at the pump.

The following list identifies the state that prohibits motorists from pumping their own gasoline and notes key caveats relevant to travelers and residents.

• New Jersey — Self-service gasoline is prohibited statewide; an attendant must pump the gas. Common exceptions include diesel fuel, which is generally allowed to be self-serve, and some practical accommodations for motorcyclists under attendant supervision. Numerous proposals to legalize self-serve have been introduced in recent years but none have passed as of 2025.

Outside of New Jersey, self-service is available across the country. Many stations still offer—or in some locations are required to offer—attended service alongside self-serve, but motorists are not barred from pumping their own gas.

What changed in Oregon

For decades, Oregon restricted self-service fueling. That ended in 2023, when lawmakers approved and the governor signed legislation allowing drivers to pump their own gas statewide. The law also preserved access to attended service: stations in more populous areas must offer staffed fueling alongside self-serve and cannot charge a higher price for full-service than for self-service. As a result, Oregonians now see both options at many stations, but the historic statewide ban is gone.

Why New Jersey still bans self-serve

New Jersey’s prohibition dates to mid-20th-century public safety and consumer protection concerns, including fears about fire risk, exposure to fumes, and price manipulation. While modern equipment and national norms have shifted, the state’s Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act remains in force. Supporters say the rule ensures jobs and assistance for drivers who want or need help; opponents argue it keeps prices higher and limits convenience.

Practical tips for drivers

If you’re traveling through areas with differing rules, a few practical points can smooth your stop at the pump.

• In New Jersey, wait for an attendant; do not remove the nozzle yourself for gasoline.
• Expect self-service nearly everywhere else, with attended help often available on request.
• Diesel rules can differ: in New Jersey, self-serve diesel is commonly permitted, especially at truck stops.
• Stations that provide attended service must assist drivers who request help, including those with disabilities.

These practices reduce the chance of a violation and ensure you get the assistance you need, regardless of local rules.

Summary

Only New Jersey continues to prohibit drivers from pumping their own gasoline statewide. Oregon ended its long-standing ban in 2023, now allowing self-service while guaranteeing that attended service remains available. For most U.S. motorists, self-serve is standard; in New Jersey, wait for the attendant—especially for gasoline—while noting that diesel self-serve is generally allowed.

What happens if you pump your own gas in New Jersey?

If you pump your own gas in New Jersey, you will be acting illegally, and the gas station owner or attendant is legally responsible for preventing it and can be fined. While drivers are usually not ticketed directly, the law is enforced by citing the gas station for allowing self-service. 
What the Law Says

• The state’s Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act of 1949 bans self-service gas, making it unlawful for customers to pump their own gas. 
• The law is designed to ensure safety through professional handling of fuel and provides a luxury service for customers. 

Who Gets the Penalty

• If a customer is caught pumping their own gas, the gas station attendant or owner is the one who is cited for the violation. 
• For a first offense, a penalty of $50 to $250 can be issued, with subsequent offenses potentially incurring up to a $500 fine. 

Why the Law Still Exists

• New Jersey is the only state in the U.S. that does not allow self-service gas. 
• While there are ongoing legislative efforts to allow self-service options, a bill to allow drivers the choice to pump their own gas failed to get enough votes in 2022 and has faced resistance from residents and some politicians. 
• Some New Jersey residents enjoy the service of having an attendant pump their gas, even in cold weather, and some believe it creates jobs and offers convenience, according to a YouTube video. 

Why can’t you pump your own gas in Oregon and New Jersey?

You can’t pump your own gas in New Jersey because its ban on self-service gas began in 1949 to protect jobs and prevent harm, although its origins were also influenced by efforts to limit price competition. Oregon previously had a similar ban for job creation and safety reasons but fully legalized self-service in 2023, leaving only New Jersey with a complete prohibition on drivers pumping their own fuel. 
New Jersey

• Job Creation: The law was enacted to preserve jobs for gas station attendants. 
• Safety Concerns: The ban has been supported by arguments related to public safety, including concerns about potential accidents, fire hazards, and the effects of gasoline fumes. 
• Historical Context: The ban was passed in 1949, partly as a way to thwart the growth of self-service gas stations that threatened the business of existing gas stations. 
• Public Opinion: Despite ongoing debates, polls have shown that a significant portion of New Jersey residents favor maintaining the full-service policy. 

Oregon

• Job Creation: Opens in new tabThe original law in 1951 aimed to create jobs during a time of high unemployment in the state. 
• Safety Concerns: Opens in new tabWorries about fire safety and other dangers also contributed to the ban, which included concerns about leaving unattended children at the pump. 
• Shift to Self-Service: Opens in new tabIn 2023, Oregon voted to lift its ban, allowing for self-service at gas stations. 

In 2025, New Jersey remains the only state in the U.S. that prohibits drivers from pumping their own gas.

Why is it illegal to top off gas in Oregon?

It’s no longer illegal to “top off” gas in Oregon because the ban on self-service refueling was lifted in August 2023, allowing drivers to pump their own gas. Prior to this, the practice was discouraged because it could cause harmful spills, damage vapor recovery equipment, and release pollutants into the air. 
Why topping off was prohibited in Oregon:

• Environmental reasons: Topping off a gas tank can cause fuel to drip and spill, which releases harmful gasoline vapors and other pollutants into the environment. 
• Vehicle damage: Overfilling can damage a vehicle’s onboard refueling vapor recovery system, specifically the charcoal canister, which is designed to capture fuel vapors. A damaged system can lead to a lit check-engine light and prevent proper vapor recovery. 
• Equipment malfunction: Gas stations have vapor recovery systems to capture fuel vapors. “Topping off” can cause these systems to malfunction by saturating the charcoal canister. 

The current situation in Oregon:

• Self-service is now allowed: In August 2023, Oregon’s 72-year-old ban on self-service gas stations was lifted by the governor, allowing customers to pump their own fuel. 
• Focus on responsible refueling: Because customers can now pump their own gas, the focus has shifted to informing them about proper refueling practices to avoid spills and damage. 

In what state is it illegal to run out of gas?

It’s illegal to run out of gas in Youngstown, Ohio
There are often-reprinted lists of the strangest driving laws in all 50 states.