Opening hours are trickier than they look. Here's how to read them properly so a posted schedule doesn't mislead you.
Posted hours vs reality
A station's listed hours tell you its normal schedule — but "normal" bends around holidays, staffing, deliveries and outages. Refuelia shows an Open now or Closed badge from the posted hours and your local time, which is the right starting point. Just don't treat it as a cast-iron guarantee, especially at odd hours or on public holidays.
The overnight trap
Plenty of stations that look "24 hours" actually switch to pay-at-pump only overnight — pumps live, shop closed. If you need the shop, air, toilets or a specific payment method, an "open" badge at 3am might not mean what you want. Look for detail beyond the badge.
Breaks are common in rural areas. Smaller stations often close for a midday or evening break. Where that data exists, Refuelia shows "on a break — reopens at…", so you can time your stop rather than arrive during the gap.
Why hours change without notice
- Holidays: reduced or closed on public holidays, sometimes at short notice.
- Staffing: a single-staff site can close unexpectedly.
- Deliveries and maintenance: pumps can be briefly out even during listed hours.
- Seasonal schedules: tourist-area stations may run longer in summer, shorter off-season.
How to be sure
The most reliable signal is a recent driver confirmation on top of the posted hours. If someone fuelled there twenty minutes ago, you have real evidence. When there's no recent report and the hours look marginal, line up a backup station nearby on the map before you go — and confirm the status yourself when you arrive.
Ready to use it? Open the live map to find real stations and chargers near you, check their current status, and add what you see for the next driver.