Filling up at gas stations in the US

[Moglet]

Me and my girlfriend are off to Florida on Friday morning on a fly-drive holiday for 2 weeks. I've been reading up on the rules of the road and I'm preparing myself for the changes but I've just come to reading up on gas stations and it seems a bit....odd.

I've read that the US differs in a few ways when it comes to re-fuelling:

-You have to 'activate' the pump after removing the nozzle.
-You sometimes have to pay before you fill up, so you have to guess how much you need to fill it up. This one just seems backwards.

Can anyone confirm what actually happens at Florida gas stations? We're taking a mix of cash and a Mastercard with dollars on it so I can use either but I don't really want to pull up only to make an idiot of myself.

Although if that's what's required I'll happily hold up the queue while I figure it out.

 

[Danoff]

Pull up, turn the car off, slide your mastercard, type in your zip code (uh... I dunno), wait for it to authorize, push the button that corresponds to your grade of gas, pump until it cuts off, hang nozzle up, press "yes" for receipt, drive away.

I would think you could use any widely accepted credit card, rather than one pre-loaded with dollars.

 

[Dennisch]

Can anyone confirm what actually happens at Florida gas stations?

You'll get robbed.

 

[ZohsixGT5]

2 ways to do this. Over pay with cash, fill up, go in and get your balance in change. OR, swipe your card at the pump before filling up, and you don't have to go in. Almost every station these days makes you pre-pay, unless you are in a very rural area.

 

[Schwartz]

You'll get robbed.

Or get your face eaten.

 

[Caz]

Activating the pump is generally just pushing a button (or lifting a lever) to select your grade of fuel.

Most gas stations in urban type areas require you to prepay before pumping. This prevents drive offs.
Lets say you have about a half tank and your tank is 20 gallons. Gas is at 4$ a gallon. Go in give them 50$ and tell them you want to fill it. Once you finished fueling up you can go inside and get your change.
Imo, I would use the card for fuel purchases. Its just easier.


Edit:
Mega tree'd: no one responded before i staryed typing.

 

[f1reb1rd]

Or get your face eaten.

Lolololololo I see what you did there

200th post!

 

[ZohsixGT5]

Edit:
Mega tree'd: no one responded before i staryed typing.

Your welcome

http://www.typingweb.com/

 

[Moglet]

You'll get robbed.

Coming from the UK I'm very much used to that.

Thanks for all of the advice guys, I think I'll stick to using the card for filling up after all. Much easier to do it that way, that's how I do it over here anyway. 👍

 

[ZohsixGT5]

The only problem I foresee is that the pumps ask for your 5 digit (US) zip code. Since you don't have a US zip code, I'm not sure how the card will work. You can always ask the cashier for a way around it. They will probably hold your card and ID while you pump, then charge you for the total once you fill up.

 

[Caz]

Good point on the 5 digit zip code. An easy way around that is to get a prepaid card.

Your welcome

http://www.typingweb.com/

Lol

My only internet is currently my phone. The epitomy of tap typing.
My wife has been a professional typist for 6 years now. It is rediculous hearing her type. ( she works from home for a radiology department in a hospital).

 

[DG_Silva]

The only problem I foresee is that the pumps ask for your 5 digit (US) zip code. Since you don't have a US zip code, I'm not sure how the card will work. You can always ask the cashier for a way around it. They will probably hold your card and ID while you pump, then charge you for the total once you fill up.

Do they not ask for the zip code of the hotel you're staying in?

 

[Danoff]

No it's the zip code for the billing address of the card. They don't expect you to keep track of your zip code as you travel.

It's possible that inputting a UK postal code would work as long as it was correct for the card.

Found this:

In the past I have always been annoyed when using a credit card at the pump when buying gas in the US.
Invariably the message requires you to enter a zip code and it has to be the address where the credit card is billed and it will not accept the address where you are, or will be staying in the US.
It seems that a debit card does not require a zip code, but I prefer to use a credit card when travelling.
When using a credit card, and when prompted for the zip code, if you enter the numbers only of your postal code, followed by two zero's,
in most cases that'll work.
EG postal code A1B 2C3, enter 12300.
Last week I used that method 5 times (my own postal code of course) and it worked every time.

 

[Caz]

Do they not ask for the zip code of the hotel you're staying in?

I believe it is the zipcode of the billing address on the card.
I would contact your credit card company and see what they say.
Actually I would let them know you are traveling and to expect to see some odd charges between days x and y.
I had my card temporarily disabled while traveling when i was playing semipro paintball. Not by my request but as a safety measure from the card company

 

[MatskiMonk]

The only problem I foresee is that the pumps ask for your 5 digit (US) zip code. Since you don't have a US zip code, I'm not sure how the card will work. You can always ask the cashier for a way around it. They will probably hold your card and ID while you pump, then charge you for the total once you fill up.

This. We had to go in a pay because the pump wouldn't accept the postcode that corresponded to the credit card.

Americans must be amazed when they come to the UK and they get to fill up without having to pay... shortly before they pass out having paid $9.50/US. Gal. for the fuel.

 

[Moglet]

Okay, so....that's a ridiculously complicated way of going about it but whatever, I'll just take cash and guess the amount too high, then go back in to get my change. How has the USA not moved on to chip and pin yet?!

 

[MatskiMonk]

Okay, so....that's a ridiculously complicated way of going about it but whatever, I'll just take cash and guess the amount too high, then go back in to get my change. How has the USA not moved on to chip and pin yet?!

Yep, and in stores it works fine, although I had to show my passport for 95% of card transactions also... it's just petrol stations where they do things arse about face.

 

[CodeRedR51]

How has the USA not moved on to chip and pin yet?!

What?

Do you know what car you are getting? Might be pretty easy to figure out how much you need ahead of time.

 

[ZohsixGT5]

Okay, so....that's a ridiculously complicated way of going about it but whatever

Welcome to America!

 

[Moglet]

Yep, and in stores it works fine, although I had to show my passport for 95% of card transactions also... it's just petrol stations where they do things arse about face.

Looks like I'll be taking my passport everywhere with me then I think the idea now is to use our cash for tolls, tips and fuel and the credit card for everything else. That seems to make the most sense.

What?

Do you know what car you are getting? Might be pretty easy to figure out how much you need ahead of time.

Not yet, but I'll ask them at the rental place how big the tank is/how much it costs to fill. 👍 I think it'll be a standard compact but the type of car has been changed on our ticket so many times I don't know what to expect anymore. On a related note, I have managed to get US maps for my sat-nav so I don't have to worry about buying when I arrive or paying extortionate GPS rental prices.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Looks like I'll be taking my passport everywhere with me then I think the idea now is to use our cash for tolls, tips and fuel and the credit card for everything else. That seems to make the most sense.



Not yet, but I'll ask them at the rental place how big the tank is/how much it costs to fill. 👍

Don't be weird about tipping, I know in the UK it's not the done thing, but it really does seem to be a way of life over there and if you don't tip, they will ask - which makes it even weirder. On the plus side, the standard of the service you get in most places will make you ashamed of what we in the UK provide to our customers.

edit: at least this is what I found in NYC, Kansas, Oklahoma and Minnesota.. in Florida they might just shoot you in the face.... <joke...... I hope>

 

[Moglet]

Don't be weird about tipping, I know in the UK it's not the done thing, but it really does seem to be a way of life over there and if you don't tip, they will ask - which makes it even weirder. On the plus side, the standard of the service you get in most places will make you ashamed of what we in the UK provide to our customers.

edit: at least this is what I found in NYC, Kansas, Oklahoma and Minnesota.. in Florida they might just shoot you in the face.... <joke...... I hope>

I tend to tip quite a bit in the UK to be honest, having worked in a few jobs where tips come in useful it's nice to be able to give something to people in a similar position. So it shouldn't feel too weird in that respect.

Although I do find the idea of tipping even if you get bad service plain odd.

 

[ZohsixGT5]

20% is normal here. I do 5% if the service bad, and none if it's down right awful.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I don't tip if I get bad service. Never have.

 

[Moglet]

20% is normal here. I do 5% if the service bad, and none if it's down right awful.

I've been reading up and for tourists they recommend sticking to 10% for bad, 15% for ok, 20% for good and 25% for great service. $1-2 per drink at a bar, $2-5 for bellhops etc. and $3-5 for housekeeping. I've also read about leaving neatly stacked cash with 2 pennies on top if you get bad service, just so they know you didn't forget to tip.

So I've got that memorized!

 

[Danoff]

Okay, so....that's a ridiculously complicated way of going about it but whatever, I'll just take cash and guess the amount too high, then go back in to get my change. How has the USA not moved on to chip and pin yet?!

You might call your normal credit card company and ask them whether there's 5 digit code that US gas pumps will accept for your card. They may have something so that you can use their card. They want you to use their card, so it's in their best interest to have something set up for this.

It will make your life easier if you can figure out what it is.

I've been reading up and for tourists they recommend sticking to 10% for bad, 15% for ok, 20% for good and 25% for great service. $1-2 per drink at a bar, $2-5 for bellhops etc. and $3-5 for housekeeping. I've also read about leaving neatly stacked cash with 2 pennies on top if you get bad service, just so they know you didn't forget to tip.

So I've got that memorized!

Think of tipping this way. You should expect fantastic service everywhere you go, and they expect 18-20% everywhere you go. If they just blow you away,feel free to go over 20%. But everything they do that irritates you you should subtract from that 20%. If they do enough wrong, leave nothing. But just so you know, I've never had bad enough service to actually do that. Do that if they insult you.

I never tip bellhops, but then I never use bellhops. I also never tip housekeeping because I find it bizarre and stupid. I also don't generally tip percentages on alcohol at restaurants. You can calculate your 20% based on the food and then try to figure out something reasonable to cover alcohol. Restaurants mark alcohol up so far that most people refuse to order it, but if you do, paying 20% on top of that for a tip is just ludicrous.

 

[Moglet]

You might call your normal credit card company and ask them whether there's 5 digit code that US gas pumps will accept for your card. They may have something so that you can use their card. They want you to use their card, so it's in their best interest to have something set up for this.

We're getting a pre-paid Mastercard before we go, we're not using our existing cards as the interest on them goes through the roof when they're used abroad. I'll ask about the gas station zip code thing when we pick it up.

 

[Pupik]

We don't shoot everyone in Florida, we electrocute them. Oh, yeah...fuel pumps and credit card.

Actually, the credit card companies also temporarily charge $1.00 (not sure if it will be one pound or an equivalent exchange) on the card the moments it's swiped, to verify that the card's account is not at or past its credit limit. Within a few hours, that $1 charge disappears. Usually, if you fail to use the right zip code twice -- it's your billing/mailing zip code if it is indeed different than your actual home address -- or cancel twice, then fuel pumps won't permit a sale for a few hours, unless you go inside and see the cashier.

Never thought about the zip code (our 5-digit version of "postal code") issue though; few urban areas in the entire country do not request it anymore, although in rural areas away from the interstate highways tend to shelve the zip code requirement. Even fewer places will allow you to pump without some sort of pre-payment, although the credit card saves you a trip inside rather than trying to figure out how much fuel is required to top off an unfamiliar vehicle.

I would be very careful of some of the fuel prices in the Orlando area, especially around Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Orlando International Airport (MCO)...there have been isolated sightings of gas stations that will charge $1-$2 more per gallon just because they can. I'm not saying they all do it (this is definitely not the norm in the area), but if so, just mosey on down another half-mile and you'll find another petrol station in any urban/suburban area. So if you do see $5/gallon gas, that's not normal.

Lastly, usually rental car companies will chisel you on fuel surcharges if you return the car with anything less than a full tank. (Think $5/gallon is bad?...they will hit you for $7-8/gallon for your error or rush, just like you pay back home.) But you also don't have to fill the vehicle right around the corner from your rental car return lot; typically, from my rental experience, you can get 10-15 miles before the needle even nips below full in most any vehicle. This way, you don't have to make a frantic dash for an overpriced gas station one exit away from the airport.

Tipping: Give 15% if the service was good, 20% if it was great. Give less if it was really bad service (remember, your server doesn't cook the food), or a minimal task (say, a barista or skycap). Give more if the food was inexpensive (breakfast, for example -- giving less than a dollar for a $5 meal seems weird). On the other hand, waitstaff might occasionally give "foreigners" the cold shoulder because they might think you're going to give them a bad tip, anyhow. Just a heads up form some people I've met that have shared their table-waiting experiences.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Think $5/gallon is bad?...they will hit you for $7-8/gallon for your error or rush, just like you pay back home.

Lol... $5/gallon is hysterically good!!!!

 

[CodeRedR51]

87 Octane is $3.60 here at the moment. We got all the way down to ~$3.12 a couple months ago then it sky rocketed back to current prices.