using credit cards for gas?

[B335is]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I live in LA and they for the most part do always charge .10 for credit however, and I do this often if you press the CASH/DEBIT button on the pump pad first they take your debit card as cash and do not charge you the credit fee with a pin and debit card.

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That's what I thought!  I knew I wasn't going crazy :-)

[Man-Of-Steel]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Is there even a point to use a credit card to buy gas? For the gas stations around me, they always charge a much higher price for those using credit cards, and wouldn't that just cancel out any awards earned than if I had just paid for gas with cash?

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This is a great topic.  I recently gave this some thought.  I live in metro Detroit and had been blindly going to a nearby Shell station that charges approximately 10 cents per gallon as a premium if you're using a credit card.  Unless Discover is having a gas quarter like they are now, I usually use my Amex BCE and that only gets 2% cash back.  When I started doing the calculations I realized that I'd be better off paying cash.....lol.  But I love the convenience and security of paying with credit cards.  I also woke up and realized that there are some nearby gas stations (fortunately) that do not charge a premium for using credit and their rate isn't inflated either.  Yesterday, I filled up at a Speedway for $3.69 per gallon (same price for credit, debit, or cash), while I had been paying around $3.87 to $3.99 at Shell to use my credit card.  Now I refuse to get gas from another station that charges a higher price for the luxury of using a credit card.........unless I have no choice.

[lg8302ch]

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@B335is wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:
I live in LA and they for the most part do always charge .10 for credit however, and I do this often if you press the CASH/DEBIT button on the pump pad first they take your debit card as cash and do not charge you the credit fee with a pin and debit card.

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That's what I thought!  I knew I wasn't going crazy :-)

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Wonder if this would work with gas gift cards purchased from supermarkets with BCP?  Being a bit lazy I always pay the 10cents more per gallon in FL and use credit cards and never bothered with gift cards.

[gh17]

i only know of a few gas stations around here that charge different for cash vs. credit, and they are usually the highest priced places anyway so i would never go there.  so for me it works out.

gas is like $3.80-$3.90ish lately so it'd have to be like 20 cents cheaper cash for me to not use my credit card.

[sportsguy83]

I've thought about buying gas cards at grocery stores and avoiding the extra CC fee that way (especially if you have BCP).  Or alternatively you could get a Walmart gift card and buy gas there.

[SunriseEarth]

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@Turbobuick wrote:

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@PlasticOrPlastic wrote:

Just curious where do you guys live that they charge 10 cents a gallon to use credit?  That seems insane to me....

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Southern California for one! Sometimes it's more than a 10 cent penalty for plastic. This is why we finally ended up at Costco and their Amex card. They are already 25+ cents cheaper per gallon at the pump than the local major suppliers. About on par with Arco which doesn't accept rebate/credit cards. Cheaper gas with the 3% rebate is hard to beat.  

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+1.  It's becoming a lot more common in SoCal, especially near LA (not as prevalent in the OC or the IE).

I rarely carry cash on me and my only card with gas rewards is BCE at 2%.   I'm considering getting a Costco membership and going for Costco TE Amex.  I'm also definitely considering Sallie Mae.  

[Anonymous]

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@lg8302ch wrote:

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@B335is wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:
I live in LA and they for the most part do always charge .10 for credit however, and I do this often if you press the CASH/DEBIT button on the pump pad first they take your debit card as cash and do not charge you the credit fee with a pin and debit card.

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That's what I thought!  I knew I wasn't going crazy :-)

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Wonder if this would work with gas gift cards purchased from supermarkets with BCP?  Being a bit lazy I always pay the 10cents more per gallon in FL and use credit cards and never bothered with gift cards.

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Works but quite a bit of hassle (tracking remaining balance etc) and uses up the grocery cap which might be an issue if you actually use it for groceries.   Sallie Mae (or Penfed or Blue Cash) seems easier.

[takeshi74]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Is there even a point to use a credit card to buy gas? For the gas stations around me, they always charge a much higher price for those using credit cards, and wouldn't that just cancel out any awards earned than if I had just paid for gas with cash?

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The point is always a subjective matter.  As indicated in many posts, not all stations charge more.  Whether or not the rewards exceed the difference in cost requires doing the math for every specific situation since the additional cost varies and rewards on fuel purchases also vary.  For me, the point isn't just about cost but convenience and accounting as well.  If I carry cash it tends to evaporate and I have no idea where it went.  YMMV so do whatever works for you.

[PrimeRate]

Not many Gas stations upcharge CC's in NYC. $3.83 cash, debit or credit @ most of the places I frequent lately. My Sallie Mae loves it.

[tattooedhusker]

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@dize wrote:

Where do you guys live that you get gas for under $4! Im in Socal and I pay $4.19 at 76 with cash, or $4.29 with credit. The only advantage is every 10 fillups I get a free carwash at the hand carwash next door which is valued at $23.

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I live in Omaha, Nebraska and my fuel rates at the moment are $3.43/gal and no CC fees.