Traveling today from Reims to Strasbourg and went to stop at Essos for gas. Tried my chase sapphire reserve card and it was rejected. Tried again. Tried a different card. Rejected.
Asked the station about it. He said he’d charge now for prepay and to go ahead. Rejected.
Cards in France require PINs, and operate on debit cards.
Use your debit card at the pump if you have a US based card.
If anyone has other ways to use a credit card or other gas station tips please let me know as we have a week bouncing around in France, Germany, and Belgium and this caught me very off guard
Thanks!!
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
9628 posts
I don’t really know how to respond as this was not my experience. Granted, we only filled the tank once in the city of Amboise. We used our Alaska Airlines VISA card ( Bank of America) without any difficulties or requests for a PIN.
One thing to try is filling up with an amount less than 50 euros and fill more often. It might help.
I notice that most of my banking apps related to credit cards give me the option of setting up a PIN number there on the app. That might be another way to address the issues you are having.
Posted by
Seattle, WA & Bordeaux, France
496 posts
If you were on the Autoroute (toll roads) at one of the gas stations, the US cards can have a hard time and are often declined (idk why). However, if you go in to the attendant and prepay it works. At least it works for me everytime. As for all other gas stations in France (non-autoroute), they always take our US credit cards at the pump. Never had a problem. Pick grocery store gas stations like E.Leclerc, Carrefour, Intermarché, etc. as they usually have the best price and you should never have a problem using your credit card. Good luck!
Posted by
Gig Harbor, Washington, USA
1976 posts
We enjoyed a June road trip in western France. We used our credit card with a pin at all of our petrol stops with no problem. Several stations did want us to go inside first. We always get fuel on weekdays at stations that have a human available. We never use a debit card.
Posted by
3054 posts
French bank cards have offline PINs. They authentic PIN only at pay-at-the-pump locations where pumps have no interactive connectivity.
Most US cards, even if they have PINs, authenticate with online connectivity only, and will not work at French pay-at-the-pump locations. If you have a US card, purchase gas where there is a staffed point of sale.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8896 posts
Common problem, I agree with Tocard's response above.
Keep in mind, even if you can use tap-to-pay and avoid a PIN, at current rates, and a 50 euro limit, that only allows maybe the equivalent of 7 Gallons.
Best to look for someplace with a human, or look into one of the cards with a PIN for purchases. (lots of cards offer PINs, but for ATM cash advances, not purchases)
Posted by
SoCal
2091 posts
Esso stations aren't very accepting of US credit cards in either France or Spain, but I've had no problems at LeClerc, Carrefour and others, even including a tiny independent station in the boondocks where I paid a ridiculously low price for diesel. I've learned to just use Google Wallet on my phone, as I find most US credit card problems here are overcome by Google Wallet.
Posted by
Wisconsin
2 posts
Are Google Wallet and Apple Pay widely accepted at the gas pump in France, and specifically, the Normandy and Brittany areas?