Pre paid gas card that works at the pump?
- Thread starter SC Maintenance
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So what happens when @SC Maintenance is on his 9-state trip, he has to find a costco to fill up in every area he goes to? Or can Costco cards work anywhere?
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Last time I did this trip I paid cash for gas, so same net affect - no issue with the cc. I think I only stayed in 3 hotels the entire 3 weeks - the rest was on the friends and family plan.
Nope. Costco only. There are a lotta Costcos around here; not sure about other areas. Costco sells a lotta gas here because it is generally 40 cents cheaper per gallon. Of course not all Costcos sell gas, so there's that too.
It’s an option. I’m guessing that if he’s down to fumes and he has to, going inside to pay with cash or a credit card isn't off the table. There’s a difference between want to and need to. If it’s not covered by one of the prepaid cards, then just $20 walk in, and know it won’t fill the tank might be good enough to get to the next gas station that is an option with a prepaid card.
ahh ok.. but hey just trying to save people money, that's all good too..
Costco Cash cards are awesome gifts. They allow people to enter Costcos where maybe you buy a hot dog which can be paid with the card or with a credit card. And there’s that little known trick that one can always pay the balance with cash or Visa as long as there’s remaining balance on the Costco Cash card. Even a few cents. Doesn’t work at a gas station though. If there’s only $15 left it will only allow pumping up to $15 and will stop.
There are no Costco's around here where I live. There is one being built though, it will be way across town in a real congested area by the Florida Turnpike. I don't know know when it will be open or if it will even sell gas. I normally just buy Racetrac, it is close to my house. I got my last two tanks at WaWa though, because of recent reports of stolen/skimmed card info at Racetrac.
IMO you're over-thinking it and should just use a credit card. When I travel I bring a second card in the (rare) event the first one is shut down due to fraud. Worst case they credit you back the fraudulent charges and send a new card...which has happened to me one time in the 15 years I've had a card. I use it everywhere.
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Yes, I have 2 credit cards and a teller card and carry a ton of cash and travel multiple states weekly for work. My card gets compromised once every couple of years. Likely not to happen but the Lord helps those that help themselves, so I plan ahead.
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Prepaid cards can often be purchased with credit cards that have points.
In these parts, Shell, QuickChek, Exxon and Sunoco gift cards all work at the pump - I often buy a couple extra when my rewards category is gas and never had an issue. I would imagine gas gift cards would be annoying on such a long trip though, unless you have the stations picked out, versus just stopping wherever.
I would think a prepaid card would be less secure then a CC, hassle if the CC gets skimmed but I imagine (much) harder to get funds back with a prepaid card. As eljefino posted I would think the holds gas stations place on the card would end up being annoying as they often take a couple of days to drop.
In regards to the CC getting shut down (I'm assuming that is in reference to a multi-state trip looking like fraud), I usually just indicate travel to a handful of my CCs when I'm going international (never bother for domestic) and works without issue for most cards.
I would think a prepaid card would be less secure then a CC, hassle if the CC gets skimmed but I imagine (much) harder to get funds back with a prepaid card. As eljefino posted I would think the holds gas stations place on the card would end up being annoying as they often take a couple of days to drop.
In regards to the CC getting shut down (I'm assuming that is in reference to a multi-state trip looking like fraud), I usually just indicate travel to a handful of my CCs when I'm going international (never bother for domestic) and works without issue for most cards.
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Thank you everyone for your ideas. Based on some comments above I stopped at Publix Grocery this AM, and bought a Exxon Mobil card and a Shell card. There were other brands as well but thought I would start with these. Both say there is no maintenance fee and they do not expire. I paid with a cc hence I get cash back on this transaction.
I tried the Exxon card and it works perfectly at the pump. Swipe - it actually tells you the balance, and your free to pump. I will try the Shell one next.
Thanks again everyone!
I tried the Exxon card and it works perfectly at the pump. Swipe - it actually tells you the balance, and your free to pump. I will try the Shell one next.
Thanks again everyone!
I remember getting a prepaid Shell card (might have been $100) once at a giveaway at a casino. You just had to show up at a specific time. I just used it at the pump and pretty much never went in unless I wanted to use it to buy something like coffee.
What I did notice was that Shell stations had consistently higher prices that just about any other gas stations. There were exceptions of course.
What I did notice was that Shell stations had consistently higher prices that just about any other gas stations. There were exceptions of course.
The other good thing about the gas gift cards is you can also use them in the store, not just at the pump. If you need a Coke/Pepsi, snacks or whatever else you can also buy those in the store with the same card. Racetrac here where I live actually has some delicious sausage biscuits in the morning. I keep a Sharpie in my car to write the remaining balance on cards that have any money left as I use them.
