I'd never ever run the hose over my car as it can easily scratch the paint. If there are no pumps available with the hose on the right side, I'll reverse so that the cap is next to the pump.

I've never used a hose that wasn't rubberised - that's in the UK and a few other western European countries. What material are the hoses you use made of (and in what country)?

The hose may have a collar on it to help it retract back which is often plastic. Stretching the hose to its limit can also potentially damage the hose and/or the nozzle depending on how rough you are with it so back in my gas-jockey days it was policy that you don't do it at all.

Interesting. Perhaps I should clarify that I meant the hoses have a rubberised sheath; not that the hose was necessarily just rubber. I'm not aware that hoses do stretch particularly.

I imagine this is mainly a difference in locale.

In some gas stations you can't do that, at least in parts of South America. Apparently is for safety concerns.

We don't have self service here neither.