The tiny arrow beside the fuel gauge
Look at the fuel-pump symbol on the dashboard. On many cars, a small arrow or triangle beside it points toward the side of the vehicle where the fuel-filler door is located. If it points left, the filler is on the driver’s side in a left-hand-drive car; if it points right, it’s on the passenger side.
The mark is easy to miss because it sits right next to the gauge, often no larger than a dashboard icon. It can be especially useful in a rental or borrowed car, when you reach a gas station and can’t remember where to pull up.
A design cue, not a live detector
The indicator doesn’t sense the fuel door’s position each time you start the car. It reflects a fixed choice made in the vehicle’s design: the tank opening and its fuel line are installed on a particular side, and the dashboard symbol is set to match.
That makes the arrow a simple example of information placed where it is useful. The fuel gauge tells you when to refuel; the adjacent pointer helps you position the car at the pump without getting out to check. Not every dashboard uses the same clear arrow, but when one is present, it can save an awkward loop around the car before you fill up.
