How to refuel quickly without queuing: proven methods

At petrol stations, it is common to see long queues forming while waiting to refuel. However, it is worth remembering that some citizens are entitled to priority service. Let us recall all the federal concessionary categories and private options, and also look at how to avoid queues at petrol stations altogether.

Who is entitled to skip the queue at petrol stations

At the federal level, the law establishes only one category of citizens entitled to priority service at petrol stations: people with disabilities. According to paragraph 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1157 of 2 October 1992, the following citizens have this right:

• Group I disabled persons
• Group II disabled persons
• disabled children and persons accompanying such children

It should be noted that petrol stations are not specifically listed in the decree's concessions, but they are undoubtedly included: paragraph 1 states that 'Group I and II disabled persons, disabled children and persons accompanying such children are served out of turn at trade enterprises and other organisations serving the public.' Since petrol stations engage in the retail sale of fuel, they fall under trade enterprises.

To receive this concession, proof of disability must be provided by presenting:

• a document confirming the disability
• an identity document
• disability certificates – both paper and electronic – do not contain a photograph, so a passport or other identity document is required to verify that the certificate matches the person presenting it.

It is also worth noting that persons accompanying a disabled child are entitled to priority service only if the child is present in the vehicle. The status of guardian or companion alone does not grant the right to skip the queue.

The law does not directly stipulate that the vehicle must be registered to the disabled person – the concession is granted to the citizen, not the vehicle. Therefore, it is not necessary to prove ownership or affix a special 'Disabled' sign to the vehicle.

It should be borne in mind that the concession applies to receiving the service out of turn, but not to other conditions. For example, if a petrol station imposes limits on the volume of fuel dispensed per person, these also apply to concessionary categories.

In addition to federal law, various regions may have regional laws establishing concessions for other categories of citizens – for example, veterans of the Great Patriotic War, as well as vehicles from emergency, road maintenance and municipal services. In such cases, it is important to remember that these concessions apply only within the region, and recipients must also prove their entitlement to them.

Another mention of special vehicles appears in GOST 58404-2019. Paragraph 8.2.6 states that 'refuelling of vehicles is carried out in the general queue order; priority service is provided for special vehicles (vehicles equipped with blue or blue and red flashing beacons), as well as vehicles of persons who, in accordance with the law, have the right to priority service at trade and service enterprises.'

However, it is important to understand that, unlike the aforementioned Decree No. 1157, GOST is a technical standard, not a normative legal act. Simply put, it is not a law that all citizens must comply with, so it cannot be used as a legal argument.

If a citizen from a concessionary category is refused priority service, they may hold the petrol station administratively liable under Article 14.8, Part 3 of the Code of Administrative Offences. This states that 'failure to provide a consumer with benefits and advantages established by law entails the imposition of an administrative fine on officials in the amount of 500 to 1,000 roubles; on legal entities – from 5,000 to 10,000 roubles.' To record the refusal to grant the concession, it is advisable to call the police or obtain a written refusal from the petrol station staff regarding priority service.

If you do not have the right to skip the queue, it is worth considering how to avoid the queues themselves.

The first option is to choose the best time to visit the petrol station. For example, in the morning and early evening, petrol stations are typically busy, and there is little point in queuing in the morning rush, risking being late for work. However, late in the evening, early in the morning, or at night, there may be fewer customers, so you could refuel without queuing.

The second option is to choose the least busy petrol stations. For instance, stations in the city centre are almost always in high demand. Meanwhile, on the outskirts, outside the city limits, at exits, or at intersections with bypass roads around populated areas, there are also many petrol stations, and some may be significantly less busy, especially at certain times. Therefore, it might be more sensible to spend half an hour travelling than an hour in a queue.

The third tip is to know and correctly use the layout of the petrol station. For example, if you have a diesel car, remember that many large stations have separate pumps for diesel fuel. These are primarily designed for lorries, but there is no rule against refuelling cars at them either. So, even if there is a queue, you can sometimes save time by choosing the right pump.