If you’re used to pulling up to the pump and filling up your own tank, you may not even remember what a full service gas station is. On the other hand if you live in certain parts of the US, like Oregon or New Jersey, you may have never pumped your own gas, since these states mandate that each gas station is a full service gas station. For those not in the know, and as a reminder for those who fondly remember, a full service gas station is a gas station where an attendant pumps your gas.

The full service gas station used to be the standard in many states, but an interest in cutting costs led many stations to begin offering self-pumping stations. Since no attendant was required to pump your gas, this usually translated to a slightly lower cost in gasoline. Especially as gas prices rose in the 1970s, many were interested in saving even a few cents if they could. With gas prices climbing in the 2000s, yet more aren’t interested in being charged extra when they can get out and pump the gas themselves.

In addition to providing gas-pumping services, an attendant at a full service gas station may also wash your windows, and some may even check the oil and water levels in your car. This is indeed full service, and most agree that such attendants should receive a tip. The standard for tipping these attendants is one to two US Dollars (USD) if windows are washed and gas is pumped, and about five USD if the attendant also checks oil and water levels. If you don’t want to offer this high a tip, you can always ask the attendant not to do these additional checks.

Since you will pay more in price for gasoline, especially in stations that offer both full serve and self serve, some people contend that attendants should not be tipped. It is true you are paying extra for the service of having your gas pumped. However, most gas attendants at a full service gas station aren’t getting paid any extra to perform their jobs. A tip is a nice gesture if you can manage it. Furthermore, many attendants will go the extra mile and check air pressure in tires if you request it, at no extra charge to you.

Some states may require that certain people don’t have to pay the extra price for gasoline if they use a full service gas station. In California, for instance, someone with an updated handicapped sticker is usually charged the self-serve price and it is the attendant’s obligation, provided the station offers full serve, to pump gas for the person. A tip should definitely be offered when these services are rendered because they don’t profit the gas station, and certainly don’t profit the attendant.