37 Gas Station Signs and What They Mean

When pulling into a gas station, you’ll notice there are quite a few signs displayed.

While some are pretty straightforward, others may leave you scratching your head.

This article will explain 37 common gas station signs you’ll see and what they communicate.

Safety Signs

1. No Smoking – Indicates smoking is prohibited, often within a certain distance of the gas pumps. This is for safety reasons since gasoline is highly flammable.
2. Shut Off Engine – Tells drivers to turn their vehicle engines off when refueling to prevent fires.
3. Emergency Shut Off – Marks the emergency shut off switch to quickly stop the flow of gasoline in an emergency.
4. Fire Extinguisher – Shows the location of a fire extinguisher that can be used if a fire breaks out.

Direction Signs

5. Restrooms – Points out where the men’s and women’s restrooms are located.
6. ATM – Lets people know an ATM or cash machine is available on the premises.
7. Air/Water – Indicates air and water hoses for inflating tires or filling tanks.
8. Propane – Marks where propane tanks can be refilled.
9. Diesel – Identifies which pumps have diesel fuel available.
10. Kerosene – Signals kerosene pumps for customers needing heating fuel.

Service Signs

11. Mechanic on Duty – Shows a mechanic is available to provide car repairs and maintenance.
12. Auto Inspection – Indicates state inspection services are offered for vehicle registration.
13. Car Wash – Points out the entrance to an automated or self-serve car wash.
14. Air Conditioning Service – Means A/C system service, repairs, or recharging is available.
15. Oil Change/Lube – Signifies oil changes, filter replacements, and lubrication is offered.

Purchase Point Signs

16. Pay Inside/Pre-Pay – Means payment must be made inside the station store before pumping.
17. Credit/Debit Cards – Displays which credit/debit cards are accepted at the pumps.
18. No Credit Cards – Warns that only cash or debit cards are accepted for payment.
19. Minimum Octane – Shows the minimum fuel octane rating required for that pump.
20. Ethanol – Indicates the gasoline contains ethanol, usually E10 (10% ethanol).

Product & Price Signs

21. Unleaded – Identifies pumps with regular, unleaded gasoline.
22. Plus/Premium – Denotes pumps with higher octane, premium gasoline.
23. Super – Signals pumps with super or supreme high-octane gasoline.
24. Prices/Grade Selection – Displays current fuel prices for each grade.
25. Cash or Credit Price – Shows different prices for cash vs. credit purchases.

Warning Signs

26. No Cell Phones – Prohibits use of cell phones while refueling due to fire risk.
27. Static Electricity – Cautions against re-entering your vehicle during fueling because of static electricity buildup.
28. Don’t Top Off – Warns against overfilling or topping off the tank which can cause spills.
29. Leave Nozzle in Vehicle – Instructs to leave the nozzle in the fill pipe when refueling a hot engine to prevent fires.
30. Out of Service – Indicates a pump is not working and is closed for repairs.

Other Signs

31. Open/Closed – Displays the station’s hours of operation and if it is currently open.
32. Restrooms Code/Key – Provides a door code or shows where to obtain a restroom key.
33. Report Spills – Instructs people to report any gasoline spills to the attendant.
34. Maximum Fill – Shows the maximum amount that can be pumped into a portable gas can due to fire codes.
35. Diesel Exhaust – Warns that breathing diesel exhaust fumes are harmful to your health.
36. No Trespassing – Prohibits unauthorized people from being on the property after hours.
37. Speed Limit – Shows the maximum safe speed allowed on the property, usually 5-10 mph.

So next time you’re fueling up, take a look around at the signs posted to see what services, products, warnings, and rules apply at that station.

Observing the signs can make for a safer, smoother fueling experience.