The Complete Guide to Motorhome Gas and LPG in Europe
Nobody mentions this until you are standing at a French forecourt with an empty gauge: your Calor bottle is useless on the continent. No one will swap it. You need a plan before you leave. This guide covers the four fittings you will come across, the adapter kits worth having, whether a refillable system makes sense for you, and what to expect on the ground in every country we cover. Sort it before you sail.
Last verified: 15 April 2026
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The four LPG fitting types
Europe does not run on a single nozzle. There are four fitting types, and the one you need can change the moment you cross a border. UK refillable systems such as Gaslow, GasIt and Safefill come with a Bayonet fill point as standard. You screw the right country adapter into that fill point and you are good to go. Carry all four adapters and it stops being something you think about.
| Fitting | Where it is used |
|---|---|
| Bayonet | UK, Ireland (Northern), Netherlands, Norway |
| Dish | France, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Greece, Slovenia, Montenegro |
| ACME | Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland (Republic), Switzerland (some regions) |
| Euronozzle | Spain, Portugal |
A handful of stations near popular border crossings carry more than one nozzle, but that is not something to rely on. Carry the full set.
Adapter kits
Anyone who has toured Europe more than once will tell you the same thing: buy the bundled kit, not individual adapters. The 3-piece set covers Dish, ACME and Euronozzle, which between them takes care of every country you are likely to visit. Buy it once, put it in the gas locker, and leave it there.
- Gaslow European Adapter Kit (roughly 45 to 55 GBP). The gold standard for UK owners and the one most mechanics and dealers recommend.
- GasIt European Adapter Set (roughly 40 GBP). Primary UK competitor to Gaslow. Same job, threads into the standard UK Bayonet fill point.
- Unbranded kits from Amazon or LPG Shop (roughly 25 to 35 GBP). These often work perfectly well, but read the reviews before you buy. Some cheaper imports have brass threading that can cross-thread or are missing a proper internal non-return valve.
- Safefill-specific adapters (roughly 50 GBP). If you use Safefill translucent bottles, the thread size on the bottle itself is different and you need Safefill's own adapters.
Stick with the Gaslow or GasIt 3-piece kit if you can. Saving 20 GBP on a generic set is a false economy if it fails on a quiet forecourt somewhere in rural Spain.
Refillable systems versus bottles
If you only travel in the UK, two Calor bottles will see you right and this section is not for you. Once you cross the Channel, things work differently. There are three realistic options.
Option 1: Fit a refillable system
A Gaslow, GasIt or Safefill setup costs roughly 300 to 600 GBP fitted, including the bottle, regulator, fill point and pigtails. After that, you fill up at roadside Autogas pumps using the adapter kit described above. Most regular European tourers go this route eventually, and the cost pays back in around 10 to 15 fills.
Option 2: Keep a Campingaz 907 as a backup
Campingaz 907 bottles can be swapped at campsites and outdoor shops across the continent, which makes them a reliable fallback. The catch is the size: 2.75 kg does not go far, and at 35 to 40 GBP a swap they are expensive for everyday use. Keep one as a spare for emergencies, not as your main supply.
Option 3: Set off on Calor and buy local bottles as you go
This is what catches most first-timers out. You leave home with two full Calor bottles and empty one near Le Mans. You buy a French bottle (Antargaz or similar) to replace it, and suddenly you have three bottles: one full French, one empty French when you move on, and a Calor that no one on the continent will take back. Most gas lockers hold two at most, so the orphaned bottle ends up under a seat or eating into your payload. When you get home, the French bottle is just as stranded. Skip the merry-go-round and go refillable.
If you are planning more than one European trip, fit a refillable system. The outlay pays back quickly, and the peace of mind alone is worth a good chunk of that cost.
Country-by-country LPG guide
FranceDish
Autogas is straightforward to find in France. Most large supermarket forecourts (Leclerc, Intermarche, Carrefour) have a pump, as do the majority of motorway services. Local exchange bottles include Antargaz and Le Cube.
ItalyDish
Pumps are not hard to find, but Italian tax rules mean many forecourt staff will refuse to fill a motorhome refillable bottle. Cross into Italy with a full tank topped up in France or Austria if you can. If you do need to fill up in Italy, budget time to try more than one station before you find one that will help you.
SpainEuronozzle
Autogas pumps are plentiful around motorways and major cities, but coverage thins out quickly in rural areas. A few older stations still use the Bayonet fitting. Local exchange bottles from Repsol and Cepsa require a Spanish gas safety contract to use, so a refillable system is the practical choice here.
SwitzerlandDish and ACME
Fittings vary by region, so carry both adapters. Pumps are thin on the ground and mostly found along motorway corridors. One important note: LPG vehicles are banned from certain Swiss road tunnels. Check your route before you leave.
GermanyACME
One of the easiest countries in Europe for refilling. LPG is a mainstream car fuel, so Aral, Shell and Total stations on the motorway almost all have a pump. You can largely stop thinking about it here.
NetherlandsBayonet
Same Bayonet fitting as the UK, and pumps are easy to find. If you already have a UK refillable system, you can cross the border and fill up without a single adapter.
BelgiumACME
Coverage is excellent. LPG is a mainstream car fuel here, so you will find pumps on motorways and in towns without having to look hard.
AustriaDish and ACME
Fittings vary depending on where you are in the country. Carry both Dish and ACME adapters and you will not be caught out.
PortugalDish and Euronozzle
Fittings are mixed, so carry both. Galp and Repsol stations in larger towns are your best bet. Rural coverage is thin, so fill up before heading inland and do not assume a small village will have a pump.
NorwayBayonet
Same Bayonet fitting as the UK, but do not expect to find pumps easily. They often turn up on industrial estates rather than ordinary forecourts. Use myLPG.eu to locate your next fill before you need it.
SwedenDish
LPG is genuinely hard to find here. There are fewer than 60 public Autogas stations across the whole country. Cross the border with a full tank and plan every refill before you set off each day.
DenmarkDish
Autogas is available but coverage is patchy. Always check myLPG.eu before you rely on a particular station being open. Do not turn up and hope.
Czech RepublicDish
Most stations have a pump and the country is straightforward for refilling. Gas is one less thing to worry about here.
PolandDish
Pumps are everywhere and prices are among the lowest you will find in Europe. LPG is a mainstream car fuel and refilling is easy.
HungaryDish
Autogas is easy to find on major routes. Refilling is straightforward and there is nothing unusual to watch out for.
CroatiaDish
INA and Petrol stations on the main routes are your best options. Coverage drops off sharply on the smaller islands, so make sure you top up before boarding any ferry.
GreeceDish
Autogas is available in mainland towns but rare on the islands. Treat every ferry crossing as a reason to fill up first.
SloveniaDish
Petrol and OMV stations both stock Autogas and coverage is reliable. A straightforward country for refilling.
MontenegroDish
Autogas stations are thin on the ground. You will find a handful on the main routes but very little elsewhere. Plan each fill-up carefully, and always top up before heading inland.
LuxembourgACME
Most stations stock Autogas and prices are low across the board. If your route takes you through Luxembourg, it is worth filling up here.
IrelandACME
The Republic of Ireland uses ACME. Northern Ireland uses Bayonet, the same as mainland UK. Coverage across the Republic is limited, so check myLPG.eu before you travel. At many stations an attendant needs to unlock the pump for you, so do not expect to self-serve.
Where to buy before you leave
- Gaslow Direct (gaslowdirect.com). The official source for Gaslow systems and adapter kits.
- The LPG Shop (thelpgshop.co.uk). A long-standing specialist retailer with a good range.
- Autogas 2000 (autogas2000.co.uk). A trusted supplier and a good choice if you are thinking about having a refillable system fitted.
- Amazon UK. Fine for next-day delivery before a trip. Read reviews carefully though, as cheaper imports can have poorly machined threads that do not seal properly.
- Motorhome dealers such as Marquis Leisure and Camper UK usually stock Gaslow kits in their accessory shops.
A word on Halfords: they occasionally have a single Bayonet adapter on the shelf, but rarely the full 3-piece European kit. Order online and give yourself enough time before the ferry.
One thing worth knowing before you leave: Morrisons and Shell have been closing LPG pumps at sites around the country. Before you drive to your nearest one, check it is still open.
Common questions
Can I exchange Calor gas bottles in Europe?
No, and there is no workaround. Once you are off the ferry, a Calor bottle cannot be exchanged anywhere on the Continent. Your practical options are: fit a refillable system such as Gaslow or GasIt before you go, carry a Campingaz bottle as a backup for cooking, or buy a local bottle and the right regulator pigtail once you arrive. Most UK motorhomers end up going the refillable route.
What LPG adapter do I need for France?
France uses the Dish fitting. Rather than buying a single adapter, it is worth getting the 3-piece European kit, which covers Dish, ACME and Euronozzle. Prices typically run from 40 GBP to 55 GBP and that one kit covers every country most UK motorhomers drive through. Gaslow and GasIt are the two names worth looking at.
Is Autogas the same as LPG?
Yes. Autogas is simply the name used across Europe for LPG sold at a roadside pump. It is the same liquid whether it goes into a vehicle fuel tank or a refillable motorhome gas bottle. Same product, different label.
Can I refill my motorhome gas in Italy?
In theory yes, but in practice many Italian Autogas stations refuse to fill a motorhome domestic gas system. Italian tax law draws a distinction between traction fuel and heating fuel, and a lot of forecourt staff will not touch the latter. UK motorhomers regularly report visiting four or five stations before finding one that will help. Save yourself the frustration and cross into Italy with a full tank from France or Austria.