In nearly every U.S. state, pumping your own gas is just something drivers do. Pull up, swipe your card, grab the nozzle—it’s part of the routine. But there are still a couple of places where that’s not the case. If you’re in New Jersey, for example, it’s actually illegal to get out and pump it yourself. In Oregon, it depends on where you are.
A map by The World in Maps below clearly lays it out. New Jersey is shown in red, where self-service is banned statewide. Oregon is marked in yellow, where full-service still has to be available by law, even though self-service is now allowed in most areas.
This kind of rule might feel unusual today, but it made more sense in the past. When fuel stations first became widespread in the early to mid-20th century, gasoline pumps weren’t as safe or easy to use. Gasoline is flammable, and early pumping equipment required some skill and caution. Having attendants on-site was a way to reduce risks and make sure fueling was handled safely.
Over time, as pump technology improved and became more user-friendly, most states dropped the full-service requirement. But in New Jersey, the state passed a law in 1949—the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act—that made self-service illegal. The argument was safety, but the law also became a way to protect jobs, limit liability for station owners, and offer a service that some people still value.
Oregon followed a similar path for many years, but has eased up more recently. In rural counties, self-service became legal in 2018. Then, in 2023, Oregon changed the law again, allowing self-service at all stations statewide—but with one condition: full-service must still be available for those who want or need it. So while you can pump your own gas in Oregon now, the full-service option isn’t going away.
Not everyone agrees on whether these rules should still exist. Supporters point to job preservation, convenience for elderly or disabled drivers, and a bit of local tradition. Others say it’s outdated, inefficient, and unnecessary in an era of automatic shut-off valves and modern safety systems.
Whatever your take, it’s something to keep in mind if you’re traveling. In most of the U.S., self-service is the norm. But in New Jersey, it’s still against the law to touch the pump yourself. In Oregon, you might find yourself at a station where an attendant is waiting for you, even if you’re happy to do it solo.
