California man rented a Home Depot van to help him move but had absolutely no idea how to fill it up with gas

Published on Jul 21, 2026 at 12:08 AM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards

Last updated on Jul 21, 2026 at 12:08 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by Mason Jones

California man rented a Home Depot van to help him move but had absolutely no idea how to fill it up with gas

What started as a routine trip to return a Home Depot rental van quickly became a confusing ordeal when a California driver couldn’t work out how to fill it up with gas.

After finishing his move, Tristan Amaya stopped at a gas station to fill up the van before handing it back.

But despite walking around the vehicle and searching for the fuel door, he couldn’t find where to put the gas in, and he posted a panicked TikTok about his experience.

The hilarious moment was caught on camera and quickly went viral as viewers realized they may have struggled with the same thing.

California man rented a Home Depot van and quickly spiraled

Renting a van from Home Depot is a popular choice for people who need extra space for moving furniture, transporting large purchases, or completing DIY projects, especially when their car isn’t big enough.

For Tristan Amaya, the Home Depot van seemed like the perfect solution when he needed to move his belongings and he used it to carry everything from one location to another without any issues.

The confusion only started when the job was already finished.

Before returning the Home Depot van, Tristan needed to refill the gas tank, but like most drivers, he expected the fuel cap to be somewhere obvious on the side of the vehicle.

However, after pulling into a gas station, he quickly realized he had no idea where it was.

In a video shared online, Tristan could be seen walking around the van while trying to locate the fuel door.

“I just rented this van to help me move and I’m here to put gas in before I return it,” he explained.

“I can’t find the gas thing.”

Even though the dashboard showed which side of the vehicle the fuel filler was located on, the actual opening was nowhere to be seen.

After checking around the van several times, Tristan admitted he was close to giving up.

“I’m about to Google,” he said, adding that he felt ‘really dumb’ for not being able to find it.

Where was the gas cap?

Luckily, Tristan didn’t need to search online for the answer because he found the solution himself moments later.

After opening the driver’s door, he discovered the fuel cap was hidden behind it – panic over.

The unusual placement meant the gas filler was completely invisible when the door was closed, making it easy to miss for anyone unfamiliar with the vehicle.

While many drivers are used to fuel doors being located on the outside of a car or van, this design tucked it away in a much less obvious location, and the bizarre gas tank location was just too puzzling.

The discovery sparked plenty of reactions from viewers, with many admitting they would have been equally confused if they had rented the same van.

Others joked that they would have spent even longer searching before realizing they simply needed to open the door.

@tristan.amaya Hahaha my thought process out loud. Am I the only one? #imdumb #fyp ♬ original sound – Tristan A

The moment also highlighted one of the strange challenges of driving an unfamiliar vehicle because even experienced drivers can be caught out when something as simple as filling up the gas tank works differently from what they expect.

Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.