California: Is it legal to pump your own gas?
California allows self-service gas; state law assumes self-service and makes stations pump for disabled drivers who ask.
California's service station law makes most stations pump gas, when asked, for drivers with a disabled person's plate or placard. They cannot charge more than the self-service price. Stations are exempt during hours when only one employee is on duty, or two with one assigned only to food. The California Fire Code allows self-service if a qualified attendant supervises, and allows unattended stations where approved. This answer is inferred, because no state law says in so many words that customers may pump their own gas.
What the law says
Every person, firm, partnership, association, trustee, or corporation that operates a service station shall provide, upon request, refueling service to a disabled driver of a vehicle that displays a disabled person’s plate or placard, or a disabled veteran’s plate, issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The price charged for the motor vehicle fuel shall be no greater than that which the station otherwise would charge the public generally to purchase motor vehicle fuel without refueling service.
Sources
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 13660 (CDFA extract, Jan. 2018) Official · cdfa.ca.gov
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 13660 Mirror of official text · california.public.law
- 2025 California Fire Code § 2304 (Title 24, Part 9) Secondary · gocodebook.com
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- California Office of the State Fire Marshal (CAL FIRE)
- Website
- osfm.fire.ca.gov
How bordering states compare
- Arizona Self-serve allowedArizona allows self-service gas; the State Fire Code adopts the model fire code's fuel-station rules, which permit self-service.
- Nevada Self-serve allowedNevada allows self-service gas; state law sets price-sign rules for self-service and full-service fuel and covers unattended pumps.
- Oregon Self-serve with limitsOregon allows self-service at up to half a station's pumps; 20 rural counties have broader self-service, including when no staff are present.
All 50 states for this question · Other topics in California