That is why two cars from the same brand can have fuel doors on opposite sides. Their platforms, wheelbases, underbody layouts, and structural designs can differ significantly. The driver’s side is not automatically the correct choice. Some vehicles place the filler door on the passenger side simply because that is where the plumbing and surrounding structure fit best. What looks random at a gas station is actually the result of separate engineering decisions.

Fortunately, drivers do not need to memorize every vehicle’s fuel-door location. The dashboard fuel-pump icon usually includes a small triangle or arrow. That mark points toward the side where the filler door is located. Checking it before pulling into a pump can save you from stopping on the wrong side and having to awkwardly reposition the car.