Iowa · IA · Vehicles
Iowa: Is it legal to pump your own gas?
Self-serve allowed
Iowa allows drivers to pump their own gas. State law sets rules for self-service fuel dispensers at retail stations.
An Iowa statute titled 'Self-service motor fuel dispensers' covers pumps at retail fuel sites. It allows a nozzle latch that holds the pump open only if the nozzle shuts off automatically. Iowa's fire rules adopt the 2024 International Fire Code chapter on fuel stations. The state did not amend its self-service sections.
What the law says
A self-service motor fuel dispenser operating a motor fuel pump located at a retail motor fuel site may be equipped with an automatic latch-open device on the fuel dispensing hose nozzle only if the nozzle valve is the automatic closing type.
Sources
- Iowa Code § 214.9 (Self-service motor fuel dispensers), 2024 Code Official · legis.iowa.gov
- Iowa Admin. Code r. 661-221.5 Mirror of official text · law.cornell.edu
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Iowa State Fire Marshal Division, Iowa Department of Public Safety
- Phone
- 515.725.6000
- Website
- dps.iowa.gov
How bordering states compare
- Illinois Self-serve allowedIllinois allows drivers to pump their own gas at self-service stations supervised by an on-duty attendant.
- Minnesota Self-serve allowedMinnesota allows self-service gas; stations offering both full and self-service must pump for drivers with disability plates at the self-service price.
- Missouri Self-serve allowedMissouri allows self-service gas, and state rules even cover unattended stations where customers fuel up with no attendant present.
- Nebraska Self-serve allowedNebraska has no ban on self-service gas; its fire code adopts the national motor fuel code, which covers self-service.
- South Dakota Self-serve allowedSouth Dakota allows self-service gas; its state fire rules adopt the International Fire Code, which permits self-service stations.
- Wisconsin Self-serve allowedWisconsin allows self-service gas; state fueling rules cover both attended and unattended self-service stations.