Fuel tank location indicator on vehicle dashboards

Drivers can identify the location of a vehicle's fuel filler neck by checking a specific indicator on the dashboard. Most modern vehicles feature a small arrow or triangle next to the fuel pump symbol; the direction of this arrow indicates whether the fuel tank is on the left or right side of the car.

While there is a popular theory that fuel tank placement is determined by the country of origin and its driving side—such as German brands like Volkswagen and BMW often having tanks on the right, while Japanese brands like Toyota and Honda often favor the left—this is not a universal rule. There are no strict regulations dictating which side the fuel neck must be on. Instead, placement is a construction decision based on the vehicle's layout, including the positioning of the exhaust pipe, electrical wiring, and drive shaft.

Safety regulations do exist, but they focus on where the tank cannot be placed. To prevent fire risks and ensure safety during collisions, the fuel tank must be located away from deformation zones and kept at a safe distance from heat sources like the exhaust system.