Have you ever pulled into a gas station and suddenly realized you couldn’t remember which side of your car has the fuel door? This common situation happens to many drivers, especially when driving a rental vehicle, a borrowed car, or a newly purchased automobile.

Fortunately, most modern vehicles include a simple dashboard feature that makes finding the correct side surprisingly easy.

Look closely at the fuel pump symbol on your vehicle’s instrument panel. In many cars, a small arrow appears beside the icon, pointing either left or right. This arrow indicates which side of the vehicle contains the fuel filler door.

If the arrow points left, the fuel door is on the driver’s side in a typical American vehicle. If it points right, the fuel door is on the passenger’s side.

The placement of fuel doors varies between manufacturers and models. Engineers consider several factors when designing vehicles, including fuel system components, exhaust positioning, safety requirements, and manufacturing efficiency.

Although some drivers believe fuel doors are always positioned according to the country where a vehicle is manufactured, there is no universal rule.

It is also worth remembering that not every vehicle includes this helpful dashboard arrow.

This small feature can save time, reduce confusion, and make refueling more convenient.

Next time you approach a gas station, take a quick glance at your dashboard. That tiny arrow might be more useful than you ever imagined.