Buying Fuel in the US

[Mark]

OK - so this is possibly a strange question but I hear it's different in the US than in Australia.

How do you buy petrol (gas) for your bike?

It sounds strange to even write the question. In Australia it is very, very uncommon to come across a pre-pay (buy before you fill) petrol station. But from what I read on the bike sites from the US, this is common or indeed the general rule.

So, if I need to pay before I fill up, how does this work?
What if I don't know how much I'm going to need or don't use all I pre-pay for?
What payment options are common? Card, Cash?
I had heard that you can go into the shop, buy a certain amount on credit card and then if you don't use it all you go back into the shop and get the remainder credited. Seems like a lot of trouble to go to.
Other talk was to swipe your card at the bowser, but there was some comment about this option can quarantine a large amount of credit ($200) each time which is in theory released later after the transaction.

Then there is this thing about entering a ZIP code. What's that about?

I get the "drive away" situation, where criminals fill up and then drive away without paying. We have that here but it is not common. So I get that station owners want and need to protect themselves.

I'm planning a trip to the US with my wife and we will be riding our bikes for35 days over 11,000km / 7,000 miles and visiting many many many gas stations - so what's the best way to buy petrol (gas) when you are a tourist, don't have a ZIP Code, don't know exactly how much you may want/need to fill up, but know you do want to fill it to the top, and are not looking to carry lots of cash.

How do you locals do it?


Thanks in advance for any advice.


Mark H.

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

Mark, Most gas stations in the States are now self service. If you have credit card (or debit card) a modern station will have pumps with the card reader built in. Thus, you don't have to go into the store as part of your fill up. If you are paying cash, general method is you give the person enough to cover your purchase, and then go back in to get change after you fill up. If you're out in the boonies, some old stations don't have card readers on the pumps. In that case, you leave your card with the attendant while you fill up. Then he enters the transaction after your done.

At the pump, when you swipe the card, the system checks to see if its a good card. It will put a reserve on the account. Sometimes it's $1 and sometimes it's $100 or so. That reserve expires after 3 days. I have never had a problem with building up enough reserve to crowd the card limit. You should check your limit before starting your trip. If it's low, just call the number on the back of the card and ask them to raise the limit. If your a good customer (meaning if you pay your bill) they will grant that.

Putting in your zip code is used in some stations as a security measure to protect against stolen cards. Don't know what you would do as an out of country visitor.

[mogu83]

1. Zip Code : In the US every house is located in a Zip Code (zone) this five digit number makes it easier for the Postal service to sort the mail and deliver it in a timely manner. Some people that accept credit cards will ask for a password (usually the Zip Code) or the Zip Code as a step to make sure that the Credit card isn't stolen.
People from other Countries have a problem as they do not use Zip Codes. The Canadians have some method of adding a few zeros to their postal code that satisfies the credit card company. Usually if the credit card doesn't work you would have to go inside the gas station and the attendant would run the card through manually after you explained you were from out of the US. Not a giant problem but it would add a few minutes to your fill up.

Pay first: If your using a credit card the procedure is to run your card through the gas pump first. This turns the pump on. You then select the type of gas you want (indicated by octane numbers on the pump) lift the nozzle and fill your tank. When you replace the nozzle to it's holder the pump displays how much your credit card will br charged and offers you a receipt. Your done and motor away.
If your using cash usually you go inside and give the attendant cash in excess of the amount that your tank will hold. They then turn the tank on and you pump the gas. When your done you go inside and collect the excess, and your on your way.

I guess the best bet would be to always carry a couple of hundred dollars with you, just in case you run into someone that doesn't know how to get around the Zip Code. As a friend that travels to all kinds of weird places says ' No matter where you are in the world they will take US Dollars'.

BTW: All bets are off if your traveling in Oregon or New Jersey as the gas stations there have attendants that pump the gas and you pay when they are done. They will tell you they have to dispense the gas but if you threaten them with bodily harm if they drip gas on your bike they will usually (so far always) let you pump it.

Hope this helps.

[SteveK]

If you pay at the pump by credit card I would verify with the credit card company that it can be used out of country and what if any cost will be applied. When I travel to Canada my bank credit card will not work at their pumps. If i use one of my other credit cards I pay a foreign exchange fee that is not insignificant. So I always pay cash. Good thing in Canada they dont make you prepay. In the US prepay for a bike would be a PITA.

[MTBeemer]

If you use a card that originates from outside the US you may sometimes not be able to use the swipe at the pump method. You will get a message to see the cashier and they will conduct the transaction. They may ask to hold your credit card while you pump; do not do that, offer your driver's license instead. Best ensure through your bank that they are members of a service that will allow easy use of your card in the US and Canada.

[David R]

I love it.

Walk into a gas station with the helmet on. Hand the person behind the counter a 50 dollar bill. Say "Fill it on 4 Please" I know the bike will not take more than $25.00. The person behind the counter says "fifty on four" thinking the bike will take fifty dollars. It happens all the time.

Pay cash inside, fill the bike go back inside get change.

Its faster to pay at the pump with a card, but I usually deal in cash.

Enjoy your trip.

[badbs101]

Most stations around here have option buttons you select before you fill. Pay at Pump (with credit/debit card) or Pay Inside (you fill up and pay inside after pumping). Around the city however, the pay inside (after) option is not there and you will need to prepay if you can't pay at the pump. Some larger stations only require prepay at the pumps farthest away from the station as they are most likely to have a drive-off so select the pump closest to the station if possible. If you're away from the major cities, it shouldn't be an issue but if you do have to prepay, pay at the pump with a card. If that doesn't work, you just leave your card, or cash, with the attendant and get your receipt, or change, when you're done filling up.

[badbs101]

On the subject of gas, I don't know if you have much ethanol in Australia but here in the US it is everywhere. This site has an app for your smart phone you can use to locate stations that have ethanol free gas. Often, only one grade of the gas these stations sell is ethanol free (usually the highest octane, the lower octane grades often still have 10% ethanol.)

http://www.pure-gas.org/extensions/map.html

It's not completely necessary as the bike will run pretty good on the 10% ethanol blend but it runs better on the ethanol free stuff and long term use of ethanol can cause problems, especially if you let the fuel get old.

[Mark]

Thanks to everyone who has responded with helpful tips and local knowledge.
Seems it's not that different to Oz but just a few more examples of pay first.

We are yet to see a general roll out of pay at the pump here.
I suspect this is because they want you to go into the store so you have the opportunity to impulse buy from the chocolate bar offerings.

Can't wait to see all this first hand.
35 days of back to back riding on roads I've never seen and never having to head back home - SO EXCITED.

[mogu83]

Something Additional:
I noticed this year while riding in New England (NorthEast US) stations called 'GAS n GO'. Basically just a gas pump that is opened 24/7, no attendant and you have to use a credit card. Very convenient if your riding late at night or early in the morning.

[badbs101]

http://www.hark.com/clips/swxzmbndkj-ma ... -boulevard

[Stefan]

Regarding zip code usage for foreign country credit cards:
I had visitors from Germany and we tried using a german credit card at gas stations. Using the german zip code worked fine.
Germany also has 5 digit zip codes, same as US.
Of course I do not know if it works for ALL german credit cards. (Sorry, can't remember which credit card company it was that worked. )
Anyway, if your country also has 5 digit zip codes, it might work just fine.

[websterize]

You might consider calling the card's bank for advice. Fairly sure the ZIP on U.S. cards is on the magnetic stripe.