[diesel20]

In south Africa we pay for the petrol after its been put in, so you can get a full tank. Reading up about driving in America (which I will be doing soon) I see you have to pay before.. So how do you fill up the tank? Do you pay more than you expect and then go back for the change once the car is full?

Thanks

[GammaZeta]

Credit and debit cards mostly...charges you the exact amount you put in.

If cash, you go back for change. The cashier sets the pump to the amount that you pay for. Anything under, you get money back.

[Dackelone]

Or.... you pay at the pump with a CC. Most places don't even like taking cash these days. They look at you funny and get out the magic markers to see IF your money is real or not! lol

[.b0link]

Don't forget the misleading marketing they do. Many places will have the price sign saying one thing, then after you swipe a card the price goes up 5 or 10 cents a gallon. They pull it off by saying there is a surcharge for using plastic, and that the advertised price was for cash only (no sign in sight)

[TK-421]

^or it's the price if you get a car wash

[DSB335d]

I've seen some gas pumps in PA where you can pay cash at the pump.

[UltimateBMW]

Drive up to pump, put in credit card, select gas grade, start pumping. Once finished when you return the pump to the holster then it will charge your card and ask if you would like a receipt.

[Cdnrockies]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Or.... you pay at the pump with a CC. Most places don't even like taking cash these days. They look at you funny and get out the magic markers to see IF your money is real or not! lol

Unfortunately non-American credit cards will not work, as they require a zip code when you swipe.

It's always a pita when we're down there, as you have to go in, they authorize your card, and then it will credit back any overpayment if you don't use what you guessed. They'll do the exact same thing with cash.

[diesel20]

thanks for the feedback!

I read on a website that sometimes they overcharge you substantially on your card and then only credit it back a while later, apparently because even when you swipe at the pump it puts in a charge before it knows how much.

I don't fully follow the logic, but be careful what you read on the internet I suppose

That's if my CC does work at the pump. Otherwise if its common enough to go and get change I'll rather just pay cash. I'm trying to avoid using my credit card much, the south african exchange rate it all over the place and I got my cash dollars at a good rate, I don't want to put stuff on the card and then the rate drops and I wind up paying a lot more than I should. Especially if they put through a heavy charge when the rate is bad, then credit it when the rate is better.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by Cdnrockies

Unfortunately non-American credit cards will not work, as they require a zip code when you swipe.

It's always a pita when we're down there, as you have to go in, they authorize your card, and then it will credit back any overpayment if you don't use what you guessed. They'll do the exact same thing with cash.

They accept bank cards though. No zip required -- just a pin.

I've filled up gas overseas using a bank card, so I assume that a foreign one would work in the States as well.

[ptack]

Come to New Jersey where you can't pump your own gas. You stay in the car and an attendant will fill your tank and then take your money.

[flyinb501]

Originally Posted by diesel20

thanks for the feedback!

I read on a website that sometimes they overcharge you substantially on your card and then only credit it back a while later, apparently because even when you swipe at the pump it puts in a charge before it knows how much.

I don't fully follow the logic, but be careful what you read on the internet I suppose

That's if my CC does work at the pump. Otherwise if its common enough to go and get change I'll rather just pay cash. I'm trying to avoid using my credit card much, the south african exchange rate it all over the place and I got my cash dollars at a good rate, I don't want to put stuff on the card and then the rate drops and I wind up paying a lot more than I should. Especially if they put through a heavy charge when the rate is bad, then credit it when the rate is better.

I've been using credit cards at the pump for over 10 years, and I've never had this happen. By far the most convenient way, plus I get sky miles from using my credit card.

[Radamez]

Originally Posted by ptack

Come to New Jersey where you can't pump your own gas. You stay in the car and an attendant will fill your tank and then take your money.

We are one of the few states that does this.

[Inspired]

Originally Posted by ptack

Come to New Jersey where you can't pump your own gas. You stay in the car and an attendant will fill your tank and then take your money.

oregon too

[bga23]

Originally Posted by diesel20

thanks for the feedback!

I read on a website that sometimes they overcharge you substantially on your card and then only credit it back a while later, apparently because even when you swipe at the pump it puts in a charge before it knows how much.

You credit card will generally authorize $100 or so when you first swipe it and this will typically show as a "pending charge" if you look at your bill online. And then within a day or two the actual amount spent hits your bill. At least this is how American Express does it.

I rarely pay with cash but I suspect if one does and they want a fill up they can give the attendant more than they think it will cost, say $100, and the then if you end up using less fuel you'll just get a refund of your unused cash.

Not all stations do require payment up front for cash.

[///M 4 Life]

in new jersey there is people who pump the gas for us then we pay them after it fills up

[Efthreeoh]

This is easy if your credit card will not work. Just find out how many gallons the tank holds, multiply that number by the average price of gas (in the USA it's about $3.50 per gallon for regular right now) and give that amount of money to the store clerk if you are filling up a near-empty tank. Then when the tank filling is complete and you didn't spend the entire amount of cash you gave the clerk a head of time, they will ring up the sale and give you back the difference. For example, if the tank holds 16 gallons, then the amount of cash you should give the clerk would be 60 dollars. If you fill the tank completely using 16 gallons ($56 dollars = 16 gallons @ $3.50 a gallon), then the clerk will give you 4 dollars back.

Have fun on your upcoming visit. Where are you planning on visiting, maybe can give you some tips.