Using American debit cards in European ATM machines

To modify what Steve said just a bit:

some ticket machines will not present a problem

some toll booths will not present a problem

unattended gas stations will not present a problem

some pay-at-the-pump deals will present a problem, but the card can be used at the cashier booth

I was in Germany/Austria in August. I used non-chip debit/ATM cards at bank ATMs on three occasions and a non-chip credit card in a Bahn ticket automat once. No problem.

If you're only going to Paris, try and open a Bank of America account here and when you get to Paris, only use your ATM on BNP Paribas Banks and you don't pay any fees for withdrawing money. BNP have branches all around the city.

Robert,

You shouldn't have any problems at all using your magnetic stripe debit card for ATM withdrawals. However, especially in Paris I doubt that it will work for POS transactions (unless the merchant offers both technologies).

The "chip & PIN" cards are most certainly required for the automated ticket Kiosks at CDG (however, as I recall those also take cash). You could also wait in the queue at the ticket office to use your present card.

Many of the "chip & PIN" cards also have the magnetic stripe (that's the case with my cards), so can function with either type.

Buon Voyage!

Steve's second post has clouded the issue more than his first.

Regarding ticket machines: I can read every language spoken in western europe. I have never seen any signage or logo that indicates what kind of card the machine will accept. It is a hit or miss proposition as far as I can tell. Sometimes I have gotten a second card to work. I don't know why. Additionally, some machines will not take bills and there is not always a bill changer around -- to this end, I tend to keep many more coins in my pocket than I do at home.

Regarding gas stations: Not all pumps have a pay at the pump provision, in such cases try to operate the pump, if it works, fine, go inside and pay when you're done. If it doesn't go inside and make arrangements first. In either case your credit card will be accepted.

If the pump takes a credit card, try to use it. If it doesn't work, proceed as above.

In more than fourty years of driving in europe, I can't honestly say that I've ever seen a totally automated/unattended gas station. They may exist, however, and I would assume that they would have a way to take your payment. What does happen is that some stations close the store at night and are unmanned for several hours. If the store is dark and a gas island is illuminated, you can still buy gas. The pump may take cards and it may not. If it doesn't accept your card (or takes no cards at all) look close to the store for a machine about half the size of a gas pump -- it will also be illuminated. It will take your credit card. After sticking your card in the macnhine, select the pump to use or a small card will spit out after you complete the procedure. If the card spits out, take it to the pump and look for a slot to stick it in. The problem here is that you had to preselect either the amount of fuel or the amount of money (I forget which/maybe either). You will then be in one of two situations -- either you didn't top off, or you paid for more than you can use.

Regarding toll booths: All toll plazas have at least one manned booth. I have used them when I had no coins. I have heard mixed reports from friends on their ability to take credit cards. I have never attempted to use a credit card. Thus I always enter a toll road with plenty of cash, especially in France where I've paid tolls in the vicinity of twenty or thirty euros (might be wrong on the amount, but they can be unexpectedly steep). The only "toll booth" situation I've ever seen where there was not an attendant was on the toll road entries where you snag a ticket on entry and cough up the money when you exit.

Based on my experience, the toll booths on A13 in France accepted our credit card with no problem (we went to the non-manned booths and swiped it ourselves), so we were able to use our non-chip and pin credit card at toll booths. However, we attempted to pump gas on the weekend in a small town in Normandy, and could not since there was no attendant there and the gas pump would not take non-chip and pin credit cards. If you are using a credit card at gas station, go during business hours on weekdays, and you should be fine since the attendant can swipe it for you. In all other instances, you will be able to use your debit card in ATM machines and your credit card at various businesses and establishments, especially when there is someone there to swipe it for you.

It is important to notify your bank of your departure and return date...and the countries you intend to visit.