LPG refillable tanks Spain problems

[Moped]

Apparently Repsol and others have been preventing motorhomes and campers topping up refillable LPG bottles, even those installed with an external outlet, if the LPG is percieved as being for domestic consumption and not for powering the vehicle engine.

This move has been in place since October 2025.

Has anybody had any issues with their refillable LPG needs?

 

[UFO]

This is from 2024

LPG refused in Spain?

I'm sure I've read about people being refused LPG / Autogas (for heating, cooking) by some service stations in France, where they only allow it if that's what your vehicle runs on. We've just been refused in Spain, at a Repsol station. Has anyone come across this, are we likely to have...

wildcamping.co.uk

Looks like there has been issues on and off in a number of countries.

We are heading for Spain this year, so interested in folks' current experience.

 

[Moped]

I did note that earlier thread.

The new policy came into effect in October 2025 and when checking the mylpg.eu app they now state on each Repsol GPL station entry that refilling is for vehicle use only. This was not the case prior to this date.

 

[Sidders]

Filled up 3 times at different locations, no problems near mazarron

 

[marchie]

No problem at Repsol in Benicarlo (almost opposite Autocaravanas Tambo on N340A) where they will lend you a Spanish adapter, and even help you with the filling (i.e. invite you to stand back and watch how it's done by an expert ...). Petromirallas at Vilafranca del Penedes happy to refill, Gasoprix at Puerto Sagunto (the female assistant will lend you an adapter, and help you to refill). Remote filling stop at Multigrupo Ampolla, and only 0.84€ per litre.

Steve

 

[Phantom]

Repsol at San Sebastion would not allow any bottle filling even from an external filler. But absolutely no problem at Estation de Servico Aralar in Pampalona. Despite the new rules it does not seem to be any great issue getting LPG

 

[marchie]

Also BP fuel station, about 1.5 miles from the the Aire at Baeza, delighted to let me fill with LPG. And the station is just about within spitting distance of Mercadona, which has onscreen parking within 200m max, and about 600m from the laundrette, so 3 birds with the 1 stone, figuratively speaking

Steve

 

[Moped]

As an update from the topic originator I did fill up with LPG at a BP station. It seems BP stations are happy to have motorhomes fill up their domestic supplies. This was with a Gaslow external filler point not Safefill bottles.

What I have noticed is that, unlike the UK, BP stations in Spain have expanded their provision of LPG pumps.

It seems that Repsol and Censa are a bit hit and miss as to whether they will permit motorhomes to fill up.

 

[Nabsim]

Am I remembering wrongly (again) or wasn't this to do with how they tax log in Spain? Isn't it reduced tax as road fuel and that's why Repsol stopped filling habitation?

Or have I got it the wrong way round and its cheaper to use the Spanish bottles in Spain as they are reduced tax?

I don't go so only what I read and bad memory

 

[YeoBlade]

Am I remembering wrongly (again) or wasn't this to do with how they tax log in Spain? Isn't it reduced tax as road fuel and that's why Repsol stopped filling habitation?

Or have I got it the wrong way round and its cheaper to use the Spanish bottles in Spain as they are reduced tax?

I don't go so only what I read and bad memory

Spanish bottles are cheaper than pump LPG. The bottles are monitored by gov. and adjusted Price: Around €15-€18 for a refill about 22 litres and LPG pumped up nearer a euro/l.

 

[marchie]

Spanish bottles are cheaper than pump LPG. The bottles are monitored by gov. and adjusted Price: Around €15-€18 for a refill about 22 litres and LPG pumped up nearer a euro/l.

Depends where you refill the lpg. We have been paying 0.84-0.88€ per litre around 73p-75p per litre. Refilled today at Gasoprix Porto Sagunto because the first 11kg bottle was 1/2 way into the red zone, but the refill only required 16.4 litres, so I would have been giving the bottled gas supplier about 25% of the original bottle back ...

Steve

 

[runnach]

Am I remembering wrongly (again) or wasn't this to do with how they tax log in Spain? Isn't it reduced tax as road fuel and that's why Repsol stopped filling habitation?

Or have I got it the wrong way round and its cheaper to use the Spanish bottles in Spain as they are reduced tax?

I don't go so only what I read and bad memory

Neil, B's uncle who lives near Blesle France. He has a villa at Penascola Spain, when he returns back to Blesle, his camping car is rammed with Spanish LPG tanks, as it is cheaper to buy in Spain compared to France. He is out in the sticks and the lpg is for cooking.

No way would I travel within his camper with the amount of full tanks he carries, damn idiot!!

 

[YeoBlade]

Depends where you refill the lpg. We have been paying 0.84-0.88€ per litre around 73p-75p per litre. Refilled today at Gasoprix Porto Sagunto because the first 11kg bottle was 1/2 way into the red zone, but the refill only required 16.4 litres, so I would have been giving the bottled gas supplier about 25% of the original bottle back ...

Steve

Didn't quite get that Steve, are you refilling a Spanish bottle from LPG pump?

 

[Moped]

Bottled gas in Spain is generally cheaper than LPG at the pump because bottled is state regulated with a maximum price set.

We do have a Gaslow filler point to bottled gas connector hose and as long as we have a Gaslow bottle less than 50% full, and at the same time stop for an extended 30 day site stay which benefits from the very low camping tariff, will use Spanish bottled gas. You do need a Spanish bottle regulator €10 from a local China shop

Very low bottle deposit required and Repsol lorry even tours the site daily to exchange empty bottles left at pitch entrance. The cost is taken out of the advanced credit left with the campsite office.

Electric generally metered far cheaper on a longer term stay to use gas for heating and cooking.

 

[YeoBlade]

Neil, B's uncle who lives near Blesle France. He has a villa at Penascola Spain, when he returns back to Blesle, his camping car is rammed with Spanish LPG tanks, as it is cheaper to buy in Spain compared to France. He is out in the sticks and the lpg is for cooking.

No way would I travel within his camper with the amount of full tanks he carries, damn idiot!!

We're paying about 43 euro 13 kg in France at our local Mr.Briccolage , so it's half the price in Spain, If so keen on savings on gas, try Morocco about a fiver a bottle there I think. All sounds a bit dangerous and heavy, cooking with gas doesn't take much really.

 

[runnach]

We're paying about 43 euro 13 kg in France at our local Mr.Briccolage , so it's half the price in Spain, If so keen on savings on gas, try Morocco about a fiver a bottle their I think. All sounds a bit dangerous and heavy, cooking with gas doesn't take much really.

Agreed, very dangerous, Gendarmerie would throw the book at him if he got pulled over!!

 

[marchie]

Didn't quite get that Steve, are you refilling a Spanish bottle from LPG pump?

No, I now have 2 x 11kg Gasfill Refillable bottles which work out far cheaper than the Spanish 'swap bottle' Calor equivalent. I bought a Spanish bottle for the caravan in 2018 and gave CEPSA about 5kg of gas back when I swapped it for a full bottle at the Border

Steve