Ever wonder why some gas tanks are placed on the right side of vehicles and why others are placed on the left side? It’s a question that has been asked often, but there is no uniform reason.

You would think it would be easier for the gas tank to be in the middle of the back side of all vehicles, so it wouldn’t matter which side of the fuel pump the gas tank is located. For safety reasons it is illegal to have the gas tank there because an impact on the rear side of the vehicle could lead to gas splashing and the car exploding.

While there are requirements that the gas tank be on the widest part of the car, away from the fuel lines, the exhaust, electrical wiring and the like, no regulations specify where the gas tank should be located. One reason for placing the fuel tank on one side of the vehicle versus another and most logical has to do with engineering, the vehicle’s design and underbody packaging of its components.

There is also speculation that most automakers place gas tanks on the driver’s side for convenience. In the U.S. and Germany, where motorists drive on the right side of the road and sit on the left side of the vehicle, it is easier for drivers to place the vehicle’s left side close to the fuel pump. In other countries where motorists drive on the left side of the road and sit on the right side of the car, the fuel tanks are on the right side. There are, of course, exceptions. Nissan and other auto manufacturers have vehicles with gas tanks on either side, depending on the model.

There is also speculation that it’s not efficient to have all vehicles with gas tanks on the same side because this would cause long lines in gas stations. Having fuel pumps on both sides enables motorists to line their cars on either side of the pump and gas up quicker, but it is doubtful automakers have efficiency at gas stations in mind when they choose the location of a vehicle’s gas tank.

When you purchase your used car, remember to check which side the gas tank is located. Nearly all newer model cars built in the last 10 years have a small diamond-shaped arrow on the fuel gauge on the dashboard that points to the side of the vehicle where the fuel tank is located. For what it’s worth, if you happen to pull in a gas station and find out the fuel pump happens to be on the opposite side of your gas tank, all you need to do is pull the hose over to the side of your gas tank and fill up.

When in the market for a used car, stop by Carousel Preowned. Carousel Preowned serving Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, North Liberty, Marion, and Coralville, IA, is proud to be an automotive leader in our community. We do our best to ensure your complete satisfaction every time you step into our car dealership. This is why we offer the widest selection of used and pre-owned cars, trucks, and SUVs and provide true ease of purchase in Iowa.