Do I pay in advance or after?
'Anticipo' — 'an-TI-ci-po'. Four syllables; 'ci' gives a 'ch' sound; stress on second syllable.
Ask at a self-service station where it is not immediately obvious whether you pre-authorise the pump or pay after fuelling.
'In anticipo' means 'in advance'. 'Dopo' means 'after'. The two-step question covers both possibilities. Many Italian self-service stations require pre-payment at an automated kiosk before fuelling begins.
Inserisco prima i soldi?
Do I insert the money first?
Specific to cash pre-payment at a machine.
Prima metto la carta e poi faccio benzina?
Do I first put in the card and then pump the petrol?
Step-by-step question for card pre-authorisation.
La pompa parte sola dopo il pagamento?
Does the pump start automatically after payment?
Checks the automatic sequence.
Pre-payment at Italian self-service petrol stations became standard after a series of 'fuga senza pagare' (drive-off) incidents. The pre-payment kiosk ('cassa automatica') is the norm at most modern unattended stations.