Gasoline Station

A filling station, fueling station, gas station, service station, petrol station, Garage (British English), gasbar, petrol pump or petrol bunk (India) is a facility which sells fuel and lubricants for motor vehicles. The most common fuels sold are petroleum (gasoline in U.S. and Canada) or diesel fuel.

The first places that sold gasoline/petrol were pharmacies, as a side business. In fact, the first gas/petrol station was the city pharmacy in Wiesloch, where Bertha Benz refilled the tank of the first automobile on its maiden voyage from Mannheim to Pforzheim.

Most filling stations are built in a similar manner, with most of the fueling installation underground, pump machines in the forecourt and a point of service inside a building. Single or multiple fuel tanks of varying sizes, dependant on the needs of the local market, are usually deployed underground.

Local regulations and environmental concerns may require a different method, with some stations storing their fuel in container tanks, entrenched surface tanks or unprotected fuel tanks deployed on the surface. Fuel is usually offloaded direct from a tanker truck into the tanks through a separate valve, located on the filling station's permitter.

Fuel from the tanks travels to the dispenser pumps through a system of underground pipes. For every fuel tank, direct access has to be granted at all times. Most tanks can be accessed through a service canal directly from the forecourt.

Many gas stations also have convenience stores which sell food, beverages, cigarettes, lottery tickets, motor oil, and sometimes auto parts. Prices for these and other items tend to be higher at convenience stores than they would be at a supermarket or discount store. Sometimes, cigarettes are priced higher than normal.

Many gas stations also provide squeegees, towels, and toilet facilities for customer use, but a large number of discount gas stations do not provide these amenities. Many gas stationshave air compressors with tire gauges and water machines. Some machines are free of charge.

Some gas stations are equipped with car washes. Car washes are sometimes offered free of charge or at a discounted price with a certain amount of gas purchased. Conversely, some car washes operate gas stations to supplement their businesses.

There are a number of gas stations with a fast food outlet inside, such as McDonald's, Jack in the Box, Pizza Hut, Sbarro, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell, or Wendy's. These are usually "express" versions with limited seating and limited menus, though some may be regular-sized and have spacious seating. These larger-sized restaurants are common at truck stops and toll road service plazas. In Canada, it is common to find a small Tim Hortons outlet inside gas stations.