- 19,706
- Alabamamania
Suckers! (With better mass transit?)
Filling up at gas stations in the US
- Thread starter Moglet
- 67 comments
- 8,408 views
Suckers! (With better mass transit?)
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,322
- United States
Even using credit?
- 5,080
- Panama City, FL
For gas, I'd still make sure I had a way to use the card. It's just a million times faster. With cash, you have to go in twice, once to give them money so they'll turn the pump on, then again to get your change. If the line's backed up, too bad. You wait in line. Both times.
The "activate" process is usually just lifting the nozzle and pressing a button for the grade once the card is swiped and approved (or they enable it from inside.) Not that complicated.
Separate from your question, but it comes up with European visitors all the time. This place is BIG!!!! Even just Florida. I live in Panama City, in the northern part of the state, and I have relatives in Miami. It's an all-day all-out drive to get there. It's a relaxed drive if you stop halfway and make 2 days out of it, but who wants to do that??? Anyway, Compare it to driving from your beloved Nuneaton to say, Thurso, on the far northern coast of Scotland. My house to my brother-in-law's house is farther! So if you're moving around, allow time to cover the distance you need to cover. Especially if you're thinking about Key West. That's a long drive with low speed limits all the way.
Also, what's the difference in loading up a prepaid Mastercard versus just using a regular credit card and paying the bill to avoid interest? OK, one statement, but still, if you've got the cash to load up a prepaid...... Do you mean there's an actual international fee, rather than just a higher interest rate? Of course, if you're loading it up from the credit card at your home rate, just disregard my blathering.
The "activate" process is usually just lifting the nozzle and pressing a button for the grade once the card is swiped and approved (or they enable it from inside.) Not that complicated.
Separate from your question, but it comes up with European visitors all the time. This place is BIG!!!! Even just Florida. I live in Panama City, in the northern part of the state, and I have relatives in Miami. It's an all-day all-out drive to get there. It's a relaxed drive if you stop halfway and make 2 days out of it, but who wants to do that??? Anyway, Compare it to driving from your beloved Nuneaton to say, Thurso, on the far northern coast of Scotland. My house to my brother-in-law's house is farther! So if you're moving around, allow time to cover the distance you need to cover. Especially if you're thinking about Key West. That's a long drive with low speed limits all the way.
Also, what's the difference in loading up a prepaid Mastercard versus just using a regular credit card and paying the bill to avoid interest? OK, one statement, but still, if you've got the cash to load up a prepaid...... Do you mean there's an actual international fee, rather than just a higher interest rate? Of course, if you're loading it up from the credit card at your home rate, just disregard my blathering.
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- 12,901
- Cambridge
- Moglet85
- Moglet
There are rates for foreign currency so we're pre-loading one with just US dollars. Regarding the distance thing the furthest we will be travelling is Miami to go see the tattoo studio from Miami Ink, so we don't need to worry too much about days and days of travelling.
EDIT: Oh yeah, $5/gallon is insanely cheap BTW. The UK equivalent even after taking in to account the difference in gallon sizes is at least $9/gallon. That's why most of us drive small cars.
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My experience.
Stopped at a gas station. Thried to fill up my rental. Heard a voice over the loudspeaker, saying that I had to pay first. Went in, payed in cash, went out to fill up the car and I was on my way again.
This was in Pasadena CA. I didn't think about it, just did it.
If I can do it, you certainly can.
Stopped at a gas station. Thried to fill up my rental. Heard a voice over the loudspeaker, saying that I had to pay first. Went in, payed in cash, went out to fill up the car and I was on my way again.
This was in Pasadena CA. I didn't think about it, just did it.
If I can do it, you certainly can.
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- 15,855
- QLD, Australia
- Small_Fryz
This has been a very interesting thread to read!!
Always amazes me how different some countries do things
Always amazes me how different some countries do things
Joel
Premium
- 8,141
- Halifax, NS
- Noob616
Small_FryzThis has been a very interesting thread to read!!
Always amazes me how different some countries do things
I had no idea you had to do all this, I've never had to pre pay in Canada. I usually use a debit card, and I can pump whatever I need and it charges me after. Otherwise I can pump the gas and then pay inside.
- 151
- NRW
Danoff
Premium
- 34,058
- Mile High City
You guys are having local issues. California has it's very own gas, so when you lost a refinery you had supply problems that the rest of the country does not have.
Yea we do that here. But better than that is using the credit card.
This is the part we can't do. Gas stations don't let you pay inside after pumping. You pay beforehand if you go inside (so nobody does).
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,322
- United States
WAY too many pump and runs in this country for them to allow you to pay after pumping. I don't see why it's a big deal to pay first though. When I usually fill up, I just swipe my card, put in my pin (for debit) or hit the "No" button to use credit, life the handle, push the 87 button, and pump away. Cash may be an issue at first, but once you fill up the car the first time, then you have a general idea of what it'll cost the next time around and can be prepared for it.
Edit: Although I won't be purchasing gas for quite some time now. Pedal power!
Edit: Although I won't be purchasing gas for quite some time now. Pedal power!
I was in Florida over Christmas (Really Nice at that time of the year I must say) and I remember we had a problem with the Credit/Debit Cards at gas stations. It never accepted them almost as if they never exosted and we weren't sure whether it was due to them being from another country. Anyway we simply resolved the problem by asking the guy in the shop to let us pay him a set amount (as the card machine in the shop worked) and he would allow us to use the pump until we reached that amount.
It was very confusing but I'm sure if the card worked it would have been a lot simpler.
It was very confusing but I'm sure if the card worked it would have been a lot simpler.
- 151
- NRW
Is 87 Octane the best you can get?
- 3,948
- Sturgis, MI
- GTP_ty00123
87 is the general standard for "regular" over here. Most stations have a midgrade, usually 89, and a premium, usually 91-93. Also, the gas station next to my house will let you pump before you pay (if you're using cash), but they make sure you know they're watching.
- 3,475
- Vilnius
Whoah. 87 octane petrol hasn't been around here sice the Soviet Union collapsed. Gas stations stopped selling 92 some years ago as noone was buying it anyway. Now only 95 and 98, 95 being the most popular.
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,322
- United States
In Phoenix it's 87, 89, 91.
My home town in Colorado is 85, 89, 91. (I think 89, might be 87)
I can get 107 at the pump though.
- 12,901
- Cambridge
- Moglet85
- Moglet
In the UK you can fill up before you pay but you know you're always being watched by the ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras. Some people use fake plates to get around them but the ANPR system can be a good deterrent sometimes as there are so many cameras on the road and on board every police car.
ROAD_DOGG33J
Premium
- 14,301
- IL, USA
- holyc0w1
- holyc0w
Go inside, tell them $40 on Pump #. Watch the fuel gauge and adjust for next time.
- 151
- NRW
Same here in Germany, you get 95, 98 and 100/102.
Can modern engines handle the 87 octane fuel?
My ´97 Audi requires 95 at least, so what about a 2012 A4 or so?
- 3,475
- Vilnius
- 1,939
- Atlanta
- ZohsixGT5
- pipesta
CheersMate
Most European cars require 93 here. My 98 A4 has to take 93 or it acts funny. All of my parents' Mercedes and BMWs require 93. My Z06 takes 93, but it will run on 87. The owners manual suggests to use 87 only when absolutely necessary though.
- 19,706
- Alabamamania
Renting a car in the us? Engine under or around 300 horsepower? Use 87 Octane (Regular Unleaded).
It's not your car, and the last renter or rental agent likely put 87-grade in there anyhow. Don't over-think this.
There aren't that many exceptions; a Smart Fortwo might be one...but why would you want to rent that?
It's not your car, and the last renter or rental agent likely put 87-grade in there anyhow. Don't over-think this.
There aren't that many exceptions; a Smart Fortwo might be one...but why would you want to rent that?
