Gas stations in England (which they call `petrol stations`) are quite similar to the ones in the United States. Nearly all gas stations are self-service, although you will find a few full-service stations in rural areas. You can pay at the pump or inside and credit/debit cards are taken at nearly every gas station. Unlike in the U.S., you typically pay for gas after you filled up, not before. Most gas stations also offer a convenience store component and many (but not all) offer bathrooms. As a rule, it is usually cheaper to get your gas in towns and cities instead of at service parks along busy motorways.

Unleaded (95 and 98 octane) and diesel fuel are the most popular fuel options; make sure you figure out which type of fuel your car needs, and make sure you pick the right one before filling up. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is also an option at many locations for certain car types. As far as business hours are concerned, 24-hour gas stations exist in the United Kingdom, but they are not as ubiquitous as in the United States. Gas stations tend to open early, between 5 and 7 a.m., and stay open until at least 9 or 10 p.m., if not as late as midnight.