Keep in mind that the Dominican Republic does not produce or refine oil, so comparing local gasoline prices with the US is not really useful. The country is multicultural and mixed in its habits, so milk is sold by the liter here, while gasoline is sold by the gallon.

An American gallon works out to 3.785411784 liters. Prices at the pump are listed in the local currency, the Dominican peso.

Lately the tourist area of Punta Cana has had a decent number of gas stations, though there used to be only two. Most have a minimarket that carries whatever you might need, but they do not all run around the clock. You will find the odd 24/7 station, but they are few, so if you plan an early start, fill up the night before, ideally before 10:00 PM. And for a safe trip, read up on the traffic rules in the Dominican Republic.

HOW TO REFUEL


Forget self-service; here an attendant handles everything for you. They will even wash your windows and offer to check the car's fluids (we suggest declining, since our rental cars are serviced on a regular schedule). You may not even need to step out of the car. If you pay by card, every pump has a mobile payment terminal, and some take PayPass.

Paying in cash in the local currency, the Dominican peso, is the best value (at the time of writing, 1 US dollar equals 53 Dominican pesos). If all you have is dollars, check the rate before you fill up so you know roughly what you are spending. That is the ideal fill-up, but we still recommend getting out of the car and watching the whole process:

  • The pump should be reset to zero before refueling.
  • After refueling, the display should show the total amount and the number of gallons filled (otherwise the attendant could bill you for the next customer's fuel).
  • The type of fuel should match what the rental company recommends.
  • Check every calculation, especially anything involving the exchange rate.
  • The amount on the receipt should match the total of the fill-up (that figure includes the 18% VAT charged nationwide).

In Spanish, gasoline is "Gasolina." It comes in two grades:

  • Regular Gasolina: 220 DOP (Dominican peso) per gallon, $1.09 per liter.
  • Premium Gasolina: 235 DOP (Dominican peso) per gallon, $1.16 per liter.