Buying gas with a credit car challenges

i know tech life has moved on, but some years ago I took a power boat to the Med via the French coast. We were forewarned, but some marinas didn't take UK credit cards -each fill up was 1000 euros!
These days, we have not encountered any problem with UK cards on tolls, but usually pay by card in the kiosk, again without problems.

Italy has been a mixed bag over several trips. Without a working P.I.N. on our credit cards, none of them worked at unmanned stations. Once in Sardinia at least, our debit card worked at one, but not at another. Manned stations in many countries have generally been our easiest experience, prepaying the exact amount sometimes, and sometimes overpaying a deposit, and then getting charged for what was actually pumped.

It seems than when we’ve needed gas the most, stations are closed or don’t have staff!

Have been driving in France for 10+ years. Used to have sporadic issues with credit cards at gas stations off the toll roads and stopping at McDo of all places. Last month no issue with MC and AE at any location in France or Germany. Basically one of the CCs in my wallet always has worked.

I’ve seldom been able to get a card to work at unmanned stations, so I go to manned stations where one pays/taps inside and it’s never been a problem.

Yes, this is reported frequently, the lack of a PIN on most US credit cards (and not the PIN issued for a cash advance) for purchases is the root of the cause. Tap to Pay has alleviated many issues with US cards, but at a gas pump, the pre-authorization is usually over the tap euro limit (50 euro).

To a degree, you can't blame businesses for declining the card, US cards have some of the highest fraud incidents, way more than European cards. Certainly peoples cards will sporadically work, different POS units can have different acceptance criteria.

Your solution is to continue to looked for manned counters, and use them. Longer term? If you will be traveling in Europe frequently, consider getting one of the few US cards with a PIN for purchases, preferably PIN priority, of which there are maybe a half dozen. I have one from UNFCU (UNFCU Elite), it has been a breeze in Europe, rarely an issue, and I have used it in all types of purchases. It also has 3DS security for online purchases.

It's a Canadian card so circumstances may be different, in the Dordogne region of France I couldn't use my card at an unnanned station (I have tap and also chip and pin) so went to a station attached to a large grocery store and had no issues paying at the pump. I've never had success though in the UK and have always had to pay inside.

Many unmanned, pay-at-the-pump locations do not have internet connectivity which can confirm card and/or PIN validity. These locations require not only cards with PINs, they must be fixed PINs, something few if any US bank issues. Thus, it can be difficult to purchase gas.

Most US issued credit cards having transactional PINs, and there are not many, issue variable PINs. If your credit card has a PIN and you can change it without replacing the card, you have a variable PIN. These transactional PINs are those required for purchase authorization. They are not PINs used for ATM withdrawals, something completely different.

Be careful about driving on weekends or holidays without a full tank of gas as it can sometimes be difficult to fine a gas station with an attendant who can process your card payment.

There are no really firm answers here. American CCs work more effectively than in the past and that includes in rural France where I use unattended pumps in several locations. Gas stations attached to large grocery stores open on Sunday mornings also provide reliable access to gas.

Like a lot of things in France your experience may vary by location but ultimately getting a tank of gas requires a little extra effort sometimes but certainly not impossible.

Really useful discussion here. Thanks to all who've contributed.

Another fill up today in a torrential downpour. No luck tapping at pump again. Tried tapping and inserting at the counter, card declined. So gave cashier, who spoke some English, €60 in cash. The next problem was the person at the cash register when I returned to get extra euros back, spoke zero English, and my French is not so good, especially when buying gas. So I asked the ever growing line behind me if anyone spoke English, and my volunteer helped. So the cashier ended up getting the original cashier who gave me my €23 back. Whew! Next time I’ll take my phone to assist in translation.

One more fill up near Bordeaux when we return car.

Hope this helps- have cash available. Avoid unmanned gas stations and avoid holidays (Easter tomorrow). Gas stations along the toll roads always have had a cashier.

Often this is a problem with Canadian or American CCs at the un manned and toll road (aires) gas stations. Try gas stations at LeClerc or Carrefour (stations manned annd not on the toll roads) and your card should work as normal. Hope this helps!