During the past five years while driving in the USA, we have identified and tested several "work-arounds" for Canadian Snowbirds who are unable to purchase gas with a Canadian credit card at U.S. gas pumps, due to a lack of a valid zip code.
1. U.S. Bank Debit (or Check) Card - For the past few winters we have tested this approach and it works at all major brand gas stations no matter where you are in the USA.
Very simply, stop at any branch of a major U.S. bank, use your gas money to open a no service fee electronic checking account, and walk out with a debit card and PIN number you can put into use immediately. Click here to go to more specific details of our personal experience.
During our Florida travels we have spoken to bank officers about the practicality of this approach for short term visitors or those just visiting once . . . none indicated this to be a problem - they want your business.
2. Canadian Debit Card (for certain Canadian banks only) - Suitable for short term visitors to Florida - this works but may involves a Canadian bank transaction cost.
Most major U.S. gasoline vendors are partnered with NYCE - one of the leading ATM networks in the United States. Recently, several Canadian financial institutions became members of the NYCE network; their debit cards are now acceptable for initiating purchases at the pumps of these partnered gas vendors. Debit cards do not require a zip code for at-the-pump authorization; instead they require your 4-digit personal identification number (PIN) issued by your bank.
The Canadian financial institutions issuing debit cards acceptable on the NYCE network are:
ATB Financial, Desjardins, National Bank of Canada, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and TD Canada Trust. Additional institutions may be added from time to time. For an updated list, visit:
http://www.nyce.net/consumers/canadian/canadian_banks/index.htm.
A list of U.S. gas companies partnered with NYCE include: 7-Eleven, Amoco, BP, Chevron, Citgo, Exxon, Gulf, Hess, Mobil, RaceTrac, Shell, Sunoco and Texaco. For a complete list of gas companies and other organizations accepting Canadian NYCE partnered debit cards, visit: http://www.nyce.net/consumers/canadian/canadianretailer/index.htm.
NYCE maintains a useful information website for Canadians at: http://www.nyce.net/consumers/canadian/index.htm
| Look for the red and white "NYCE" symbol in the "Cards Accepted" panel on the gas pump. |
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NYCE does not charge for this service but in a recent test using a Scotiabank debit card in Florida, we noted that Scotiabank applied a C$1.50 service charge to our account for each transaction.
Further, all our Scotiabank debit card gas charges were applied to our C$ chequing account with the Bank's applicable U.S. exchange rate added, even though we maintain a Scotiabank U.S. chequing account. We were unable to arrange to have a Scotiabank U.S. debit card or have the charges directed to our Scotiabank US$ account.
3. A Canadian Zip Code - A number of readers have contacted me to suggest entering "00000," "11111," "12345" or "99999" (depending upon gas brand). Other suggestions have included punching in the 3 digits from your postal code followed by two zeros (e.g., L5G 4N9 would be entered as "54900"). All claim that these work at their southern destinations.
When tested, we have found these to be regional or brand specific. There is no continuity in this solution and when you drive into a station away from your home base, you really do not know whether you are going to be able to actuate the pump or not with your card.
4. Chipped Credit Cards with a PIN - The perfect international solution if it ever becomes available at U.S. gas pumps.
Chipped cards will not happen in the USA for many years to come. In a recent interview with a Bank of America official, we were told that the cost of replacing all the card readers at retail (including gas pump) locations across the nation, would be prohibitive. In fact, at present there is no committed timeframe in the banking industry for such a change in the USA.
"Along I-75"