New Jersey is the only state where you can’t pump your own gas. Oregon used to be the second, but it legalized self-service in 2023 under a hybrid system that still requires attendants at half the pumps in populous counties. A handful of towns in other states keep local bans on the books, so the full list of places where you can’t pump your own gas is slightly longer than one state.
New Jersey: A Full Ban Statewide
Under the 1949 Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act, only a trained attendant can pump fuel at a retail station in New Jersey.1State of New Jersey. Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act and Regulations If you reach for the nozzle, the attendant is required by law to stop you.
Enforcement falls on the station, not the driver. A station that lets customers pump their own fuel faces fines of $50 to $250 for a first violation and up to $500 for each subsequent offense, with every day of noncompliance counted separately.1State of New Jersey. Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act and Regulations
A 2025 bill called the Motorist Fueling Choice and Convenience Act would have allowed self-service as an option alongside full-service. It died in committee in early 2026 without a vote, so the full-service mandate remains in effect.
Oregon: Hybrid Rules Since 2023
Oregon was the second state where self-service was illegal until Governor Tina Kotek signed House Bill 2426 on August 4, 2023.2Oregon State Legislature. House Bill 2426 – Enrolled The law took effect immediately, but it didn’t flip the state to full self-service. The rules now depend on which county you’re in.
In the 16 non-rural counties, which include Multnomah, Washington, and Lane, stations can offer self-service at no more than half their pumps. The other half has to be staffed by an attendant, self-service is only available while an attendant is on-site, and prices must be identical at both types of pump.3Oregon State Fire Marshal. Self-Serve Fueling
In the 20 rural counties, stations can allow self-service at every pump, with or without an attendant on duty.2Oregon State Legislature. House Bill 2426 – Enrolled
Driving through Portland or Eugene, you’ll still find attendants working roughly half the pumps. In rural parts of the state, self-service may be the only option at a smaller station that no longer keeps an attendant on the clock.
Diesel and Motorcycle Exceptions
Both states carve out exceptions worth knowing about before you pull in.
New Jersey’s ban applies only to gasoline and other flammable liquids. Diesel is explicitly exempt, so a diesel truck or car can legally be fueled by the driver.4Cornell Law School. N.J. Admin. Code 12:196-1.1 – Purpose; Scope The exemption also covers marine fuel stations, aircraft fueling, and private employer stations that aren’t open to the public.1State of New Jersey. Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act and Regulations
Motorcyclists are treated differently in each state. In New Jersey, the attendant still pumps, and the rider has to dismount while fuel is being dispensed. In Oregon, motorcyclists can pump their own fuel in every county regardless of the rules that apply to cars.2Oregon State Legislature. House Bill 2426 – Enrolled Oregon also exempts diesel vehicles from its attended-service requirements.3Oregon State Fire Marshal. Self-Serve Fueling
Local Bans in Other States
A few towns have their own full-service rules that exist independently of state law. Weymouth, Massachusetts, has prohibited self-service stations since 1977 under local zoning. Huntington, New York, has kept a similar ban in place since at least the 1970s and reaffirmed it as recently as 2019.
These ordinances are rare, and you’re unlikely to run into one unless you live near or travel through one of these communities. If an attendant walks up to your car outside New Jersey, a local rule is the usual explanation.
Getting Pumping Help If You Have a Disability
If you’ve relied on New Jersey’s or Oregon’s full-service rule because pumping gas isn’t practical for you, the Americans with Disabilities Act gives you a backstop everywhere else. Gas stations have to provide pumping assistance at no extra charge when a customer with a disability requests it, and the station must charge the self-service price even when an attendant uses the full-serve pump.5U.S. Department of Justice. ADA Business Brief: Assistance at Gas Stations
Stations are required to post signs or notices near the pumps explaining how to request help, usually by honking, pressing a call button, or signaling an employee. The one exception is a station running on remote control with a single employee on duty, where assistance is encouraged but not required.5U.S. Department of Justice. ADA Business Brief: Assistance at Gas Stations