KevinS
Senior Insider
It is only possible to buy gas after hours (nights, holidays, and Sundays) if you have a true Chip and Pin credit card.
Typical American credit cards have a mag strip, and no chip. They will not work after hours.
Some American credit cards have a chip, but no PIN. These are known as Chip and Signature cards. They will not work after hours.
A very few American credit cards have a chip and a PIN for transactions. These are known as Chip and PIN cards. These are the only US credit cards that WILL work after hours.
The above applies to MasterCard and Visa cards. Amex is not accepted at the gas station.
The procedure to buy gas after hours is as follows:
1) Insert your Chip and Pin card into the card reader. Leave it there. In the US, gas pump card readers typically require a quick in-and-out dip. Chip and Pin card readers are different, and require that the card stay in the reader until the validation process is complete.
2) When prompted, enter your 4-digit PIN, and then V (for Valider, or Validate)
3) When instructed to do so, remove your card.
4) Pump your gas
5) Take your receipt
If you see this message:
Declined
Cancelled Transact.
Remove Card
Your card is probably a Chip and Signature card, not a Chip and Pin card, and cannot be accepted.
If you see this message:
Carte Arrachee
Piste Non Lue
Transaction Annulee
Go back and read #1 above. You dipped your card, rather than leaving it in the card reader until validation was completed. The message reads Card Torn (or pulled from the reader) Track Not Read, Transaction Cancelled.
Typical American credit cards have a mag strip, and no chip. They will not work after hours.
Some American credit cards have a chip, but no PIN. These are known as Chip and Signature cards. They will not work after hours.
A very few American credit cards have a chip and a PIN for transactions. These are known as Chip and PIN cards. These are the only US credit cards that WILL work after hours.
The above applies to MasterCard and Visa cards. Amex is not accepted at the gas station.
The procedure to buy gas after hours is as follows:
1) Insert your Chip and Pin card into the card reader. Leave it there. In the US, gas pump card readers typically require a quick in-and-out dip. Chip and Pin card readers are different, and require that the card stay in the reader until the validation process is complete.
2) When prompted, enter your 4-digit PIN, and then V (for Valider, or Validate)
3) When instructed to do so, remove your card.
4) Pump your gas
5) Take your receipt
If you see this message:
Declined
Cancelled Transact.
Remove Card
Your card is probably a Chip and Signature card, not a Chip and Pin card, and cannot be accepted.
If you see this message:
Carte Arrachee
Piste Non Lue
Transaction Annulee
Go back and read #1 above. You dipped your card, rather than leaving it in the card reader until validation was completed. The message reads Card Torn (or pulled from the reader) Track Not Read, Transaction Cancelled.