We are renting a car and driving in England and Scotland. When we purchase gas for the car can we we pay with a credit card or debit card? Thanks in advance for your response
Posted by
Fredericksburg, VA, USA
409 posts
As I'm sure you'll hear from others, U.S. credit cards and debit cards do not have the chip in them that the European cards do. You can use your cards but the establishment will have to "run" them for you, whether it be a gas (petrol) station, restaurant, road toll, etc. You just go inside the petrol station and tell them what pump number you used. One good thing - it is standard practice for restaurants to bring their credit card charge machine to your table for you to witness the transaction. Wish they would adopt that practice in the U.S.!
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4140 posts
Steve , Roy has given you accurate information , please allow me to add a few comments. Our first european trip was fall of 2010 , largely motoring through the UK . We encountered no issues pertaining to our US ctredit cards . Last year in France ,an occasional instance due to a greater neccesity for chip and pin , but not a real problem . In my view the best approach is to have a few options to hand wherever you travel ; ie cash( both adequate notes and coinage ) and plastic . If you make the effort ( and it only calls for a minimum of planning ) You will find that most people make this sort of thing a much bigger issue than warranted . Have your plastic and a wad of cash , You'll be fine and above all , enjoy your trip , You'll have a ball !! By the way , in the UK , most of the time I found that you could pump first , but then you have to go inside to pay. Don't worry about the delay , nobody that I encountered gets bent about this . People there struck me as more patient than I find them here at home . Have a great time , the uk is a wonderful place.
Posted by
OP
San Francisco
21 posts
Steven and Roy thanks for the advice and words of encouragement. We are really looking forward to our trip.
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
"in the UK , most of the time I found that you could pump first , but then you have to go inside to pay. Don't worry about the delay , nobody that I encountered gets bent about this" True, except when it's me and the person in front has also decided to do their week's grocery shopping when they go in to pay! Many petrol stations are now mini-supermarkets as well. If you tried to move away from the pump to park elsewhere on the forecourt the attendant would think that you were trying to drive away without paying.