Getting to refuel mum or dad’s car at a petrol station is just one of the many little steps to adulthood for a young person. But depending on your state, there is such a thing as too young. So what is the legal age to fill a car with petrol in Australia?

The danger present when refuelling a car is something we take for granted. Pull the nozzle out too soon and fail to relieve your grip on the pump, and you could cover your car, the service station forecourt and potentially yourself in highly flammable liquid. There are plenty of ways a hot car can ignite fuel too – especially an older vehicle.

In this article, we speak to police and transport bodies around Australia to determine the legal minimum age for refuelling a car in Australia – and get the facts from the service station providers themselves.

What’s the legal age to fill a car with petrol in Australia?

While there are no specific road rules concerning the legal age for refuelling in Australia, various health and safety regulations seem to stipulate a minimum age of between 15 and 16 years old depending on the service station’s terms of service.

A spokesperson for Shell told Drive “Even before the dangers are considered, you must be over 16 years of age to legally refuel a car”.

Meanwhile, a BP spokesperson said “It’s against the law for children under 15 to operate petrol pumps, even under adult supervision”.

Finally, a United Petroleum spokesperson said “Do not allow a child under 15 years of age to hold or operate the petrol nozzle”.

New South Wales

A Transport for NSW spokesperson told Drive “The NSW Road Rules do not regulate the age of a person that can refuel”.

However, NSW service stations may impose a minimum age as part of their terms of service.

Victoria

“Under Occupational Health and Safety laws it’s illegal for children under 15 to operate petrol pumps, even under adult supervision,” a spokesperson for the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning told Drive.

Queensland

“For safety reasons, a person must be at least 16 years old to operate a fuel pump in Queensland,” a Transport and Main Roads spokesperson told Drive.

“Significant penalties apply for fuel stations that let children operate fuel pumps.”

Western Australia

In Western Australia, a police spokesperson told Drive “Children under 15 are not permitted to refuel a car.  This is part of the Australian Standards (AS1940), not a state legislation”.

South Australia

In South Australia, the legal minimum age a person can refuel a vehicle at a petrol station is 16, a police spokesperson told Drive.

Tasmania

In Tasmania, a spokesperson for the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management cited section 336 of the Work, Health & Safety Regulations 2023: the “restriction on age of person who can supply hazardous chemicals”.

Section 336 states “A person conducting a business or undertaking must not direct or allow a worker to supply a hazardous chemical that is a flammable gas or flammable liquid to another person into any container or vehicle provided by that other person unless the worker is at least 16 years of age”.

Australian Capital Territory

In the Australian Capital Territory, a spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police told Drive: “There are no specific legislative provisions … purchasing fuel is a civil transaction between the petrol station and the motorist, which may have conditions nominated, such as age, not smoking, or mobile phone use (as per signage often seen at petrol stations)”.

Extracted in full from: https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/legal-age-to-fill-car-with-petrol-australia/

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