Motorhome LPG in Europe: refilling & adapters (2026)

By Rovee · Reviewed and updated 2026-07-12

To refill LPG (liquefied petroleum gas, also sold as autogas) in a motorhome across Europe, remember four couplings: ACME, Dish, bayonet, and Euronozzle (EN 13760). The right one depends on the country — the UK and Ireland use the bayonet (and ACME), while Euronozzle is mostly Spain and Portugal, not France (France is Dish). The safe answer: carry a full set of all four adapters, because the type varies by country and sometimes by station. Filling stops automatically at 80% as a safety measure — don't force it. Find stations and their coupling type on myLPG.eu.

LPG makes motorhome life easier — heating, cooking, sometimes propulsion — but one detail catches you out at the first border: the fill coupling isn't the same everywhere. This page runs through the four European adapters, gives a clear table of the dominant coupling by country, explains that a fixed tank and refillable bottles refill at the same pump (with the 80% cut-off), and points you to where the stations are. The through-line is simple: a full adapter set spares you any nasty surprise. The facts are dated and sourced — always check before a long trip.

Four couplings, one kit

Europe = 4 fill types: ACME (screw-on), Dish ('Italian', the most common), bayonet ('UK/Dutch'), Euronozzle / EN 13760 (the newer European standard). Carry a full set of all four adapters.

UK/Ireland = bayonet (+ ACME)

The UK and Ireland run on the bayonet coupling, with ACME also in use. Watch the common mix-up: Euronozzle is mostly Spain/Portugal, and France is Dish — not Euronozzle.

Fixed tank or refillable bottles

Fixed tank or refillable bottles (Gaslow, refillable CampingGaz, Campko): same LPG/autogas pump, same country adapter. Automatic cut-off at 80% (safety valve) — don't force it.

Where to refill

Good density in France, Italy, Germany, and Benelux; sparser in Spain and Portugal (plan a detour). The myLPG.eu app lists stations and each station's adapter type.

The 4 LPG adapters in Europe

LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is the same fuel everywhere, but the pump coupling changes from one country to the next. Four types coexist in Europe. Knowing them is understanding why a single adapter is enough to refill anywhere.

• ACME — a screw-on coupling that threads onto the fill point. Common in Germany, Belgium, and Austria.
• Dish — the 'Italian' coupling, the most common on the continent. You press it against the fill point. It's the one for France and Italy.
• Bayonet — the 'UK/Dutch' coupling. A quarter-turn locks it. Standard in the Netherlands, the UK, and Ireland.
• Euronozzle / EN 13760 — the newer European standard, meant to harmonise refilling. You meet it mostly in Spain and Portugal.

None of the four is 'the right one' in absolute terms: each dominates in certain countries. That's why kits sold for travelling bundle all four. This logic of anticipating by country sits at the heart of motorhome navigation in Europe.

Which adapter by country

Here is the dominant coupling by country, per the myLPG.eu station directory. Where two types coexist (mixed), the rule is clear: carry both — or, more simply, the full set of four.

The lesson of the table: several countries are mixed, and the type can change from one station to the next. Rather than bet on a single coupling, carry a full set of all four adapters (sold as a kit — compact and inexpensive). You'll never be left at a pump unable to refill.

Fixed tank or refillable bottles

Whether your motorhome has a fixed LPG tank or refillable bottles (Gaslow, refillable CampingGaz, Campko), the principle is the same: you refill at the same LPG/autogas pump, with the right country adapter. The difference isn't in the refill, but in the installation on board.

• Fixed tank: the fill point sits on the bodywork; you screw or press the country adapter on, then refill at the pump.
• Refillable bottles: designed to be filled (unlike standard exchange cylinders, which you never refill yourself). They recharge at the same pump, via the same country adapter.
• Automatic cut-off at 80%: in both cases, a safety valve stops the fill at 80% of the volume. It's intended — LPG expands with heat, and that 20% margin prevents over-pressure. Don't force past it.

Where to refill / availability

The LPG station network isn't uniform across Europe. Plan by destination:

• Good density: France, Italy, Germany, and Benelux — you'll find a pump without a major detour.
• Sparser: Spain and Portugal, where LPG stations are further apart. Refill ahead and accept the occasional small detour.
• Finding stations: the myLPG.eu app and map list LPG stations by country and show the adapter type of each station — handy for confirming the coupling before you arrive.

LPG is one logistics layer among several on a long motorhome trip: it sits alongside your rig's size and the winter equipment the mountains ask for. Good route planning keeps them together — and a France trip checklist is where they meet the paperwork.

Sources

Facts verified 2026-07-12: the European station directory myLPG.eu (stations and adapter type by country), and the Gaslow documentation (refillable bottles, adapters, and the 80% fill limit). Availability and coupling type change over time; always confirm on myLPG.eu before a long trip. Something look out of date? Write to hi@rovee.io.

Rovee plans your motorhome route around its size, low-emission zones, and tolls, so the trip's logistics — refills included — fall into place calmly. Closed iPhone beta today; public launch Friday, August 7, 2026; waitlist below.

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FAQ

Which LPG adapter do I need to drive across Europe?

There isn't just one. Four fill couplings coexist in Europe: ACME (screw-on), Dish (the 'Italian' coupling, the most common on the continent), bayonet (the 'UK/Dutch' coupling), and Euronozzle / EN 13760 (the newer European standard). The type depends on the country, and sometimes on the station. The simple answer: carry a full set of all four adapters, sold as a kit. You're then covered everywhere, with no guessing at the pump.

Which LPG adapter is used in the UK and Ireland?

Mainly the bayonet coupling, with ACME also in use — so carry both. Cross into France and you'll want the Dish; into Spain or Portugal, the Euronozzle. A four-adapter kit is the compact way to stop worrying about it. Note the common mix-up: Euronozzle is mostly Spain and Portugal, not France (France is Dish).

Can I refill refillable LPG bottles at the pump?

Yes. Refillable bottles designed for it (Gaslow, refillable CampingGaz, Campko) refill at the same LPG / autogas pump as a fixed tank, with the right country adapter. These are bottles built to be filled, with a safety valve: filling stops automatically at 80%. Never refill a standard exchange cylinder that isn't designed for it.

Why does the LPG fill stop at 80%?

It's a safety feature, not a fault. LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) expands with heat; leaving 20% of the volume free prevents over-pressure when the temperature rises. An 80% overfill-protection valve cuts the fill automatically. Don't try to force more in — a tank 'full' at 80% is a correctly filled tank.

When can I use Rovee?

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