Americans have limits on how much gas they can purchase? I work at a gas station in Ontario, Canada and the only limit I know of is $500 on commercial cards used by the local trucking companies. And all I have to do is swipe it a second time...

Wow, never even knew a limit existed. I never spent more than $30 at the pump ever... Then again, I don't wait for it to hit the "E" either...

RV drivers have been aware of this for a while. Even our not-so-fancy rig has an 85 gallon tank. If you roll into some station on fumes, you better have a stack of cash instead of trying to futz with 5 different credit cards.
Even a midsize car that demands premium fuel can easily demand more than $50 these days. I wouldn't be surprised if the credit cards companies make some changes soon.

how come we didn't hear about this in 2005 when gas hit $4+ a gallon? Back then I was paying $3.50/gal and now it's only 2.75, so I know if Cali is paying $4 now they had be paying much more in 05. Why is this the first time we're hearing about this?

I'm in the US and i've never experienced this. Course my tank is only 15 gallons too, but I figured all the SUV drivers would have been bitchin a storm, especially summer of 05.

I've never had this happen. Though my car never requires that much, I've been there with a few people as they fill up their RV and it's never come up.

im fairly sure this is a recent thing, as in began this year. i never saw the notices till recently anyway. but most of the stations we go to have little stickers on the pumps saying just this. listing the limits placed on purchases by each card company. Though i wonder what the logic behind it is, limiting theft? keeping some one with a stolen card from racking up major gad charges? if that was the case they would limit other purchases. it seems a rather arbitrary, limiting of the consumers spending/use of there card.

I am a route driver for a living. I have a wright express card that i can use anywhere to fill up, but i have yet to find any gas station that will let me go over 100 dollars without having to run the card a second time. This is a total pain considering that i drive about 900 miles a week, and the route truck has a 34 gallon tank.

A recent gas fill up for me stopped me at $50. I asked the attendant and he said it was for my safety (whatever) and I could either end the sale and reswipe or cancel the pay at the pump and continue filling and pay inside. Made absolutely no sense to me why this was, and it's only been one gas station that's done it to me.

wonder if the issuer can waive this.

Buy a Honda Insight if you can find one, and if you don't have to haul around steel beams (a good reason to have a large vehicle). I think the most I've ever spent (when my tank was at the emptiest and gas was hovering around $4/gallon) was $35. I spent a total of $157 on gas last year.

PS It seems you should be able to call your credit card company and get the limit lifted.

I used Discover to pay $57 for 17 gallon fill-up in CT.

The only restriction that I have found is that you can only use your Discover card twice in one day. While I was on a road trip picking my son up from college, my husband filled his car at home. So my second fill-up was refused; not too nice when you are 100 miles from home late at night.

I worked for BP corporate once upon a time (about a year ago), and was around for one of the other price increases.

BP stations (corp, dealer, and jobber) all have "floor limits" set by BP. This can vary by card type, but at least in BP's case, it's set by the local account execs for the area the site is in. I've seen limits anywhere from $25-$100 depending on where the site is.

Sites in the shadier areas of town generally have the lower limits, and truck stop sites have the highest. The most important thing is that the site does not set these limits.

Also, in BP's case, if the site has a carwash and the prompts are set to display when you are finished, or at both the beginning and end, the price of the most expensive wash is taken out of this limit to make sure you can still purchase a carwash. If it's set for the beginning only and you say no, you'll get the full limit.

The only way around these limits is to pay inside with your card. Although this is inconvenient, you can at least pay for the gas on the same card. This, of course, depends on if the gas will set the pump without a prepay.

I've seen stickers for this at some pumps, but they've never stopped me at $50. Maybe it's because I'm using a debit card and not a credit card.

@Amy Alkon:
You obviously don't drive that much than...

$157/$3 gallon = 52.3 gallons of gas

52.3 gallons of gas * 60 miles per gallon = 3140 miles

Typical drivers does I believe 10,000 - 15,000 miles per year..

Actually, it's not really like they make it sound. You can only fill up to $75 per purchase. Here's why:

When you swipe your card at the pump, a $1 authorization is made on your card by the gas station. All they care about is that you're using a valid card. Then a few days later, the transaction posts and the total amount of the purchase is deducted from your card. A lot of people don't know this ans it causes a lot of headaches with overdraft fees and the like, but that's another story. These limits are just a fraud prevention measure. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to use the same card two times in a row though. I work in a customer service call center for credit and debit cards, so I know.

>>>>
If you see a Hummer owner futzing with several credit cards at the pump...
>>>>

Change "Hummer" to "Toyota Camry" and it applies as well.

I hate it when Consumerist delves into adolescent smugness. It's so unbecoming.

This has happened to me several times but I always thought it was a gas station limit- not a credit card company limit. I never cared really cuz $50 still gets me really close to full.

Visa's limit is $50 and MC is $75. actually the gas stations can go higher then that per transaction, but Visa's and MC's rules won't protect gas stations from fradulent purchases of gas at the pump if they are over $50/$75, hence why you can only buy that much gas per swipe.

This is not a limit, per se, but it's the authorization amount for that specific transaction. Just complete the sale, swipe again, and keep going. I know it's not very convenient, but it's geared towards the people using debit cards, do you really want $100 being held against your account for a $40 fill up?

I used to work at a gas station, and when we swiped the card at the terminal for whatever side we were on(pumps didn't have anything on them to read credit cards), what it did was send a pre-auth request for $50(no matter how much you asked for) to the system, and when it got approved for that, it let you pump. I had my own CC card denied years ago because my account had only $35 in it. But when I pumped normally, and they ran it for the exact amount inside, it cleared. What I'm thinking is that it might be a whole lot of trouble to change the pre-auth amount, due to either software, or people just don't want to change it. Remember how much trouble it was just to add "20" to the beginning of the year in all of the systems?

BTW, does this apply to my GAS STATION credit cards? Like my WaWa MC?

@Amy Alkon: BTW Amy, did you know that Hybrid cars are a danger to the blind? I recieved a letter in the mail from The Seeing Eye who train the dogs, and they have had to alter their normal training and actually purchase a hybrid just to be able to start training the new classes to be aware of this new danger.

You may have saved a tree, but you killed a blind guy and his dog. Shame.

The real reason this system is in place is this: The first thing a credit card thief (with a real card) will do is to fill up at a gas station, this allows them to check the validity of the card quickly an relatively anonymously. When I worked for Mobil back in 99, all mobil issued cards had 60 dollar limits on them. This limit applies only at the pump. This is simply a security feature so that you have to pay at the register for large amounts of gas. Although they need to adjust that amount upward.

I have been stopped several times at the $50 mark with my Visa. I always assumed it was the gas stations policy because stolen credit cards are quick cash for thieves. The thieves will steal the cards and stand at the pumps of a large busy station. They will offer people to fill up their car for $20 bucks with the swipe of a card. My sister managed an Exxon station and this happened enough that the credit card companies would call the station.

@Amy Alkon:

Wait, you own a hybrid and only drive around 3000 miles a year? What a waste, if you knew that you were only going to drive an average distance of less than 5000 miles and wanted fuel economy you should have considered a used diesel VW Jetta or similar. You may get more mileage from a tank of gas, but your monthly payment navigates any cost savings and your mileage usage does not capitalize on a new cars warranty.

I did have this happen a couple of years ago in Texas. But it was back when gas was in the low $2 range. In addition to filling up my truck which took about $40, I was also filling up several gas cans. Once it hit $50 it shut off. But I just submitted the card again at the pump for a second time and it continued as normal.

Yesterday the national average for regular gasoline was $3.01 per gallon. And in Los Angeles, CA it was $3.20 on average per gallon in the region. Where are you guys on the Consumerist getting the $4.00 price.

On a side note I try never to run my gasoline tank dry as it is detrimental to the fuel pump in my car. Your mileage may various depending on fuel cell and pump design.

P.S. I do when filling up my RV (camper) with dual tanks just ran the card through again. Maybe a Consumerist channeling Lifehacker tip of suggesting a re-swipe?

gas stations are the first place credit card thieves go to test the card. No signature required. Dip, pump, go. That's why...

@shades_of_blue:

I don't own a hybrid, but I hate it when I hear people argue against hybrids because you don't save enough money on gas to make up for their cost. Maybe you didn't realize this, but many people don't buy hybrids because they want to save money. They buy them because they want to save the Earth.

@wesrubix: I have run into everal pumps in the far past that needed a zip code to fuel up. Though not everywhere which I am sure the thieves know.

I have also heard that even with the limits gas stations are the money launders choice...

@Johann: well, when it comes to "saving the earth", the hybrid isnt the only option either... hybrids dont emit anything when running on electric-only power, but all hybrids currently in production can only do so for maybe a mile, and only at low speeds... course, some run atkinson cycle engines, but those really do more to improve fuel economy than emissions... and both engine shutoff and the atkinson cycle can be implemented on non-hybrid cars (bmw is developing a diesel 4-cylinder that uses engine shutoff and other technologies to get about 72 mpg)
on the other hand, diesels usually save fuel, make more power, and burn emitting less co2 at more or less anywhere on the rev band...

@Mojosan: I took it as just picking a vehicle well known to have a large tank. Someone sounds a little too defensive.

BTW, Hummers suck.

@GitEmSteveDave: Give me a break. You sound ridiculous.

That's insane. I've never heard of this probably because the most I've paid to fill my tank from near-EMPTY! is about $32.

@justabunchofwords: I use my debit card for gas all the time, and the authorization on my account is a dollar. It's always been that way at a ton of different stations I've been to. Perhaps it's US Bank doing me a favor, but I've never had more than a dollar authed when buying gas.

It's not for security. I don't think credit card companies care about security. If they wanted to make my accounts more secure, they'd start posting every damn authorization and transaction. I have a suspicious charge on my chase credit card and they haven't posted it, 3 days later. They say I can't file chargeback until they post. Idiots.

I'm a cash guy but I've never dropped more than $30 on my tank.

This stuff makes my day, though. I'll keep eagle eyes out so if I can see the SUV credit card shuffle, I can laugh really REALLY loud. Like watching Blackjack!

Never had that problem...then again, I don't drive a vehicle with a 60gallon tank just so I can go to the grocery store and my kids soccer games.

The article mentioned a Hummer. I got an idea and it was stated by another post as well. Unless you NEED a bigger vehicle for work--let go of your vanity and get one that uses less gas. If you're that vain, then get an expensive one that uses less gas.

RV's I can't comment on that, people don't use those for everyday driving, those are used for leisure. We do need our leisure even if it includes a RV or a vehicle capable of towing a RV.

@shades_of_blue: Navigates? Really? It navigates the savings?

Oh, and it could just be the cynic in me, but I couldn't help but notice that $50 is the limit of what you can be held responsible for per transaction on a Master Card. That means that, to the best of my knowledge, if a thief swipes your card twice to get $50 worth of gas each time, then you're on the hook for $100 rather than just the $50 if they swiped it once and got $100 total. Am I wrong?

If I'm not wrong, them the MC folks are jerks.

DCulberson, I was going to say something along those lines.... but you've got it a bit wrong. It's not $50 PER TRANSACTION that you are liable for, it is $50 of ALL fraudulent charges, as long as you report it within a certain amount of time from it going missing.

Still, you'd technically be paying for some shithead's gas spree, AND all the fraudulent purchases over the years by increased fees and interest rates. Lucky you.

FWIW... When gas get over $3.00/gallon, all vehicles have a huge tank. The 16 gallon fill-up on my Grand Marquis would break $50.00 last summer as gasoline broke $3.30/gallon for 87 Octane. In the suburbs, it was pushing 3.60 a gallon for 87 Octane.

Pick on Hummers and trucks. Nah... It is picking on everyone.

@gamble: I'm dead serious. I have the letter right here in front of me. If that's not enough:

hybrid_cars_pose_obstacles_for_the_blind

and

quietcars

You can't make this stuff up.

@Johann If you want to help save the Earth, write GM a couple letters informing them that now is the time to reintroduce their 'failed' Saturn electric car program. Hybrids are only better for the environment if driven properly. Problem is most owners rarely drive a vehicle 'properly'.

@dculberson OMG a typo-freak, sorry but Word missed 'negates'.

Cash, baby ... always cash.

Of course my wallet's made by Samsonite and requires a porter.

@GitEmSteveDave: By your logic we should all go to old-style diesel, to be as loud as possible for the dogs and their owners. And don't forget the bullet trains! The blind will be paste if they try and cross the tracks.
Every time they step outside their houses they're at risk. If they want to stay safe while crossing unregulated streets they need to keep themselves and their dogs trained to the newest technology, and prepared for it. Otherwise just stick to the regulated crossings.

I've never seen this cc limit thing, so thanks for the heads up consumerist. When gas reaches $5/gal my old corolla just might hit it on the visa. :) Oh but I'm curious, where is this elusive $4 gas of which you speak (in EVERY gas blog)? The average is currently under $3 nationwide and $3.15 locally (according to GasPrices), so a $4 generalization seems horribly inaccurate.

Creditcard companies want you to spend less? Since when??

I've seen this for over a year at one local gasstation where after I pull my card, it says "$75 Limit" (MasterCard)... I always assumed it was the gas station preventing people from filling up their boats, or something, at the station.

Driving a 17 / 18 Gallon Camry, I've never hit the limit... hit $58 I think, but gas is just like $2.85 or so in central MA.

Anyway ... anyody have a hypothesis *why* the CC companies limit it? usually they want you to spend more, not less?

I've never had my Visa card rejected @ $50 at a gas station.

"Electric" cars are just coal-fired cars with a battery in between. I'd rather breathe gasoline fumes than more damned coal fumes.