Am in France now and will need to refuel my rental car in a couple of days. Cannot recall the procedure for refueling at an unattended pump with my US credit card and don't want to hold up the show while I'm fumbling around - couldn't find anything useful on YouTube.
Can someone remind me: will I need a chip and pin card or will my regular Visa CC (with no PIN) work?
Do I pay before pumping or after?
Also, does the welcome screen offer an English language option ( the little Union Jack) or will it be only in French? TIA
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7024 posts
I always go to attended pumps where I can pay inside a booth or store. I’ve never had luck using a CC at the pump itself. Cards that didn’t work at the pump worked fine when I payed inside.
Posted by
Bavaria
2450 posts
In my experience, there is no completely standardized procedure. What I encountered most often last month was: 1. insert your credit card, 2. answer the prompt for the PIN, 3. get the OK for a certain amount (usually €150).
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33451 posts
some have tap and pay at the pump now, but nowhere near all.
Posted by
Seattle
137 posts
Regarding credit cards, unless you are on the autoroute, most gas stations are closed on Sundays and you must pay with a credit card. If you're afraid your card won't work, fill up during the week. Second, if you have a tap-and-pay CC or can use Apple Pay or Google Pay from your smartphone, you should be fine at most gas stations. An old-fashioned CC without a chip will likely not work at unattended French gas stations. Lastly, some gas stations block all foreign credit cards no matter what you try. So plan to fill up when you still have a 1/4 tank so you can drive elsewhere if the first station doesn't work.
If there is no attendant, you pay before filling up. Depending on the gas station with attendants, you may fill up first and then pay. It really varies. At a Total gas station in Paris, I had to go inside and have the clerk swipe my CC to unlock the pump. Watch what other drivers are doing or go inside and ask.
Some pumps, especially on the autoroute, will have instructions in English. But don't count on it. Also, be very careful to use the correct pump. "Gasoil" means diesel. The nozzles are the same size as those for gasoline, which the French call "essence."
Bonne route!
Posted by
Panguitch, Utah
2653 posts
block all foreign credit cards no matter what you try
It is not that foreign credit cards are necessarily blocked by the stations, it is that many stations do not have connections to verify cards, specifically cards with online PINs. French bank cards have offline PINs which can be verified locally at the pump, no need for external connections.