At a Gas Station in Brazil: Ask About Fuel in Portuguese
Use short phrases to ask for fuel, confirm the car’s fuel type, and check how to pay.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Abastecer means to fuel a vehicle, and tanque is the tank. If you are using a rental car, check the rental instructions before choosing gasoline, ethanol, or diesel. Ask the attendant or rental company when you are unsure; do not guess from the model name.
Ask for the fuel your car requires
Some stations have attendants who fuel the car, while others may work differently. You can state the fuel type you need, ask whether the tank can be filled completely, and confirm which pump or payment step to use.
Pode abastecer com gasolina, por favor?
Could you fill it with gasoline, please?
Qual combustível este carro usa?
Which fuel does this car use?
Pode completar o tanque?
Could you fill the tank?
Confirm the pump, payment, and receipt
After fueling, ask whether you should pay at the pump or inside the shop. Caixa means cashier or checkout, and nota fiscal is the tax receipt. Keep your rental agreement and station receipt together in case you need to document the purchase.
If you need fuel for a rental return, check the contract for its instructions and ask the rental company if anything is unclear. A language guide can help you ask the question, but the rental company sets the return requirements.
Eu pago no caixa ou aqui?
Do I pay at the cashier or here?
Você pode me dar a nota fiscal?
Could you give me the receipt?
Preciso devolver o carro com o tanque cheio?
Do I need to return the car with a full tank?
Put it into practice
Check the required fuel first, ask the attendant which step to follow, and confirm rental return rules with the rental company.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Do I need to return the car with a full tank”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.