New Jersey · NJ · Vehicles
New Jersey: Is it legal to pump your own gas?
Attendant must pump
New Jersey bans self-service gas; only station attendants may pump gasoline into your car.
Under the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act, a station attendant may not let anyone who is not an attendant dispense fuel into a vehicle or container. An attendant means the station operator or an employee, and stations face fines for violations. The state rules do not apply to diesel, marine or aircraft fueling, or private employee-only stations. A 2026 bill (S1047) would allow self-service, but we found no sign it has passed.
What the law says
It shall be unlawful for any attendant to: ... d. Permit any person who is not an attendant to dispense fuel into the tank of a motor vehicle or any container.
Sources
- N.J.S.A. 34:3A-4 to 34:3A-10 and N.J.A.C. 12:196 (NJ Department of Labor reprint) Official · nj.gov
- Senate Bill No. 1047 (2026 session), Motorist Fueling Choice and Convenience Act Official · pub.njleg.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Office of Public Safety Compliance
- Phone
- (609) 292-2096
- Website
- nj.gov
How bordering states compare
- Delaware Self-serve allowedDelaware allows self-service gas; state law recognizes self-serve-only stations and requires them to help disabled and older drivers.
- New York Self-serve allowedNew York allows self-service gas; state law regulates stations that offer both self-service and full-service pumps.
- Pennsylvania Self-serve allowedPennsylvania rules expressly allow attended self-service gas stations, with an attendant on duty at the controls.
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