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!

Final post for our three week car rental.

Another gas station where the credit card didn’t work and paid cash.

Total access gas stations along freeways accepted cards at the register. They ask for the amount, as a deposit, then come back for receipt for actual amount.

Final fill up before returning car. Total access station, went inside to pay with credit card, attendant points to gas pump to pay there. Tried at the pump, “incorrect card” message. Came back in and the attendant was going to come to the pump with me to show me how it works (duhhh, hadn’t worked yet). No english, so I just paid cash.

Moral or story. Cards at pump don’t work (US credit or debit). Cards may or may not work inside. Know what kind of gas and estimated amount. (Perhaps write down and show attendant. Have sufficient cash for gas purchases available.

Always paid tolls with change or bills. Didn’t try a credit card.

Hope this helps other travelers.

Hi I live in France so I know the ropes.

US credit cards require signature so they never work at unmanned locations. Autoroute (toll routes) gas stations are always manned so use your credit cards there.

With a debit card, you can do a tap payment up to 50€.
Usually unmanned gas stations pre authorize to 100€, so there stick the card in the reader slot and enter your PIN.

I have been able to use my US Chase Sapphire card in unmanned mode at Total Energies gas stations. At grocery store gas stations that card usually does not work. There is a free Total Energies phone app with a map showing all their locations. Google maps perhaps can search for them as well.

Italy unmanned gas stations, the norm there, never worked with US credit cards. I would not go below half tank of gas so you that unfortunately rare manned gas station.

In Spain on the bigger highways most gas stations are manned so a US credit card worked well.

US credit cards require signature so they never work at unmanned
locations.

There's got to be more to it than that. Canadian credit cards are chip and pin enabled (plus tap) with no signature required and at some stations it worked and some it didn't. I had no problems tapping my way through toll booths. My card has never worked at a pump in the UK, manned or not. Out of curiosity I checked with my bank this morning and was told they don't know why it wouldn't work.

There is more to it than a simple statement that US cards require signatures. If you happen to be one of the lucky few whose US financial institution issues fixed PIN credit cards with a liberal card authentication sequence , you credit card will work almost anywhere. A few credit unions issue these cards. I have had rather good luck with my Chase Bonvoy card at gas stations, even in situations when the Chase Signature card would not work.

The important point here is that if you are driving around France and only have a US bank issued credit card, be careful about letting the fuel level deplete too much, particularly on weekends when manned refuel locations are limited.