Confirm the fuel before opening the filler
Read the filler-flap label, vehicle handbook and rental instructions together. If they disagree or are unclear, ask the supplier before dispensing. Do not identify fuel from nozzle colour alone, and do not assume a familiar model uses the same fuel as the version you drive at home.
Numbers such as 95 and 98 on petrol refer to its Research Octane Number, or RON. They do not mean petrol is interchangeable with diesel. The manufacturer's requirement controls the suitable grade and fuel specification. A higher number is not permission to ignore a biofuel restriction or other requirement.
If you suspect wrong fuel has been dispensed, stop and contact the rental provider or professional assistance. Do not start or restart the vehicle to test it, and do not attempt to drain the tank yourself. Tell the operator which product was used and whether the engine has run.
Check the station and payment arrangement
Choose a station that fits your route while you still have a comfortable fuel margin. Confirm its current opening and self-service arrangements directly. A map listing or a payment terminal does not guarantee staffed help, a particular card's acceptance or overnight access.
At an automated terminal, read the displayed sequence. Confirm the pump number, selected product and any amount limit before authorizing payment. If the screen or instructions are unclear, ask for assistance instead of experimenting across several pumps. Keep your card and receipt secure.
Some pay-at-pump card transactions involve an authorization hold before the final purchase amount is known. Visa describes this mechanism, but the amount and release process depend on the transaction and issuer. Do not apply a hold amount quoted for another country to a Cyprus station. If the bank entry seems wrong, compare the final receipt and ask your issuer whether the amount is pending or settled.
Refuelling is part of the rental agreement
A full-to-full arrangement, a same-level return and prepaid fuel are different products. Read the terms for your offer and record the starting gauge. Ask how missing fuel, unused prepaid fuel and service charges are handled. A fuel receipt is useful evidence but does not, by itself, prove the vehicle was returned at the agreed level.
Plan the final fuel stop around the actual return branch and opening arrangements. Keep a second suitable option in mind in case the first is inaccessible. Do not turn a low-fuel warning into a race to the cheapest listing.
Keep a simple record
Save the receipt showing the station, time, product, litres and amount where provided. Photograph the fuel display while parked at return and keep it with the return checklist. For airport-specific arrangements, use the Larnaca Airport or Paphos Airport guide.
For electric rental cars, read the separate charging guide. Charging access, connector compatibility and the return state of charge need their own plan.