Autostrada and Credit Cards

you have to use a chip card. No way to swipe a card.

Thanks Jim. I have chipped cards. Will I have to enter a PIN as well?

I always went to a booth that was manned. The sign with the black hand. A couple of times I used the self-serve cash only tolls. Never tried the credit card route. But for sure you cannot swipe a card. I did use my chipped card in the SuperMarkets without entering a pin number.

Hi DougMac - in general, if you are using an unmanned machine (AutoStrada, gas station, train station), a true chip and pin card has a much better chance of working. A chip and signature card may not work, even if you have a pin for it. On the other hand, if you are dealing with an attendant (train station desk, gas station counter, grocery store, restaurant, hotel, etc.) your card should work fine. Enjoy your trip!

I don't think they take swipes of magnetic cards anymore. I've used only my Italian card with a chip. Many card companies in the US now have a chip (although most are chip and signature, rather than chip and pin).

Although you may need a card with the chip, however NO PIN IS REQUIRED to pay toll. The transaction will go through without.

If you want to test it first, try a self service booth that accept both cash and cards (see picture below) instead of the blue sign which accepts only cards. In case it doesn't take your card, you can insert bills in the machine.
https://www.autostrade.it/documents/10279/19063/big_card_self_service.gif

if you select a booth that is manned (sign with black hand handling money picture below), they accept CASH ONLY:
https://www.autostrade.it/documents/10279/19063/big_card_contanti.gif

I use my UK chip and pin card and no pin is required to pay the toll.

I have used my chip and signature card that also has a PIN at automated machines. If your card has a chip but no PIN, you can usually get one from your credit card issuer.

Thanks all. Roberto, your answer was very helpful. I guess the term "swiping" is so 2014!

Zoe, you are right. The problem is, most of us don't have a PIN. My question originated because we just got new Visa Travel Rewards cards that feature no transaction fees overseas. They don't provide the PIN when they deliver the card. The representative at the bank mislead me, thinking I could obtain and even change the PIN online. I was suspicious, because other cards only mail you the PIN. Sure enough, we have the card and have requested the PIN, but it won't arrive until we've left.

We've made two requests for PINS from AMEX, we never received the first. The AMEX PINS should arrive before we leave, otherwise we will only have one chipped card whose PIN we know.

When I called the bank for a PIN request, the representative told us we could go to a teller at the partner bank (BNL) and get a cash advance on the Traveler's card without knowing the PIN. Again, I'm suspicious. We've already gotten a fair amount of cash in Euros, so we'll be in good shape for at least the first half of the trip. We'll be in Florence on Tuesday and I plan to go by BNL and get more cash.

Chip card worked fine for me, from the USA.

One thing to consider is that unless you take a very long trip on the autostrada, the toll won't be that much money, and paying with cash won't empty your wallet. Tolls range from about 7 to max 10 eurocents per km (depending on where and distance traveled at once), typically 7 to 8 cents, so for example a trip from Florence within Tuscany (or even to Bologna or Cinque Terre) no matter where you go, won't be more than €10. Even from Florence to Rome, or Milan, is about only 20 to 22€.
The only advantage of using the card is when there is traffic at the toll booths. For some reason few Italians use cards on freeways, so the blue sign booths (cards only) have no line.

DougMac,

It is important to know that even if you have a chip card from a US bank it will most likely be a chip and signature card for purchases. The PIN is only used for cash advances. That is why no PIN was provided to you.

IF you are planning on doing cash advances through your credit card, think again. This is the most expensive method of obtaining cash anywhere. You pay interest from the moment of the advance until your credit card balance reaches zero. There are also fees for cash advances on most credit cards and those fees are NOT waived. An in person cash advance as suggested by your bank also incurs additional fees and terrible exchange rates. The "no fees" refers to foreign exchange fees on purchases from merchants only.

Best way to get cash in Europe is to take your ATM/Debit card and use that at ATMs. There may be fees from your bank for this, but are usually a lot less than the cash advance fees most credit cards charge.

Regardless of what you end up doing, make sure you have notified your bank of when and where you will be. Otherwise, they will cut off your cards.

DougMac, your suspicions are well-founded. I had to replace a stolen debit card, the new and different PIN was sent to my home address, the banks in Italy would not accept the debit card without a PIN. I had to have a friend in the US open the bank's letter and email me the PIN.

This is all good information. I did get my AMEX pin today. I now have a backup to my debit/ATM card. I hope I won't have to use it.

When we went to Scotland, we used our debit/ATM card with no problem. We pay off all our credit cards every month, so worst case scenario won't be awful, just annoying.