PIN for credit card

This discussion from Feb. 2024 on thirs forum may be helpful link here
It is unlikely you will need a PIN as explained in the linked thread.
Before all my cards had chips some years ago, I did call my credit card issuer and set up a pin before traveling.

I've never been asked for a pin. Most everything is contactless or tap to pay. As long as your card has the capability, you should have no problems.

Thanks CD in DC. I had narrowed my search to just the last 6 months so I didn't find that thread earlier. And the link provided in the last post on that thread verified that I won't need a PIN in Europe. One less thing to try to remember!

Thanks jeanm--glad to hear that's been your experience. I didn't need one in England 2 years ago, but remember posts about them being needed sometimes in France--one of the places we're headed next month.

I think some gas stations may still require a PIN for credit card use in France, Spain and perhaps elsewhere. But it's been a couple of years since I drove on the Continent.

Most American credit cards don't supply pin numbers. Nowaday, tap/contactless credit cards are becoming standard practice.

If you have to actually insert a card and are dealing with a human, you will be asked to sign the credit slip. Not a problem.

For in person transactions, you will not be asked for a PIN, because the terminal knows you do not have one, if over 50 euro, it will spit out a slip to sign.

If your card did not ask you to set up a PIN, it is unlikely that you can get one, it would then be the same as the one for a cash advance. If you want to check to see if your card allows a PIN, you can look here: https://www.spotterswiki.com/emv/cardsearch.php

But as mentioned, Tap transactions have eliminated most concerns for a PIN, especially for up to 50 euro. If you use your phone, you can avoid a PIN or having to sign for much higher amounts. But if you need to use an unmanned kiosk, you may be out of luck (but try).

Only area of Europe that I encountered an issue was in Scandinavia several years ago. Discovered that you had to tell the cashier "signature" NOT PIN.

I've never been asked for a PIN, but I did call my credit card company and get a pin just in case. No harm in that.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I'm not going to worry about having a PIN. Our cards are contactless, and I have the main one in my Apple Wallet, so I think we're good to go. We'll be pubic transport, taxi or by foot only, so no need to worry about unmanned gas stations. :-)

No, never by a human, only in 2023 in ticket machines in German train stations. I believe those don't exist anymore since in 2024 I was always able to resort to the tap function to pay at a DB machine.

I bring over 4 credit cards, all of which have a PIN, ie, a 4 digit PIN of my own choosing. I don't have to resort to cash advances in Europe.