Driving in Germany: Refueling
Aug 9, 2010 | 2:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 87
Driving in Germany: Refueling
Sorry if this sounds really dumb... but what's the procedure to filling up your gas tank in Germany? Can you prepay at the pump by swiping a credit card and start filling the tank as you would in most US states? Or do you have to go inside the station to pay first then walk back to the pump to fill? Any issues with American credit cards not being accepted? Also, my rental car is a Diesel, do I have to specifically look for a Diesel station or do all of them have a clearly labeled Diesel option at the pump?
Aug 9, 2010 | 3:30 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M FTL, FB Gold
Posts: 179
You just select the grade of gasoline (or diesel as all stations have it) and fill up what you need, you pay inside afterwards. If there is no attendant inside then you swipe a credit or debit card first.
Aug 9, 2010 | 8:36 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Decatur, GA
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I second the comments of the previous respondent. Pay at the pump is very uncommon in Europe, but I never remember having to pay in advance. Just fill up and go inside to pay (just know your pump number). While pay at the pump is uncommon diesel is very common - in fact, in many locations, you'll find a couple different grades of diesel. Fortunately, regular diesel is normally a bit cheaper than unleaded (or at least is was in Belgium over the last year). You'll also see a fair number of Compressed Natural Gas pumps in Germany - these pumps look much different than normal gas pumps and they are normally separated from the unleaded/diesel pumps.
Have fun!
Have fun!
Aug 9, 2010 | 10:48 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
Yes, fill the car up and then go into the shop/office to pay, either by card or by cash. Make a note of your pump number before you go to pay.
Occasionally after hours (by which I mean in the small hours of the morning), they might ask you to pay first, although not necessarily. At normal times this would be unusual to say the least.
Just make sure you use petrol (Benzin) or diesel (Diesel) as your car requires.
Occasionally after hours (by which I mean in the small hours of the morning), they might ask you to pay first, although not necessarily. At normal times this would be unusual to say the least.
Just make sure you use petrol (Benzin) or diesel (Diesel) as your car requires.
Aug 10, 2010 | 7:45 am
#5
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You'll have no problem with major credit cards. Branded gas company cards generally are not accepted - for example, my US Shell card isn't taken at Shell stations in Europe, I guess it's a different company.
Aug 10, 2010 | 7:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: NYC
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Germany may be an exception but many drivers in Europe report needing a chip-and-PIN credit card for unmanned gas stations. Refueling in Sweden a few years ago I found that I could use my "regular" American credit card but I did need the PIN number.
Aug 11, 2010 | 10:06 am
#9
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In Germany you will not find too many unmanned gas stations.
Aug 11, 2010 | 10:10 am
#10
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Originally Posted by ckwill
Pay at the pump is very uncommon in Europe
I disagree. I know a few stations having a "night-mode" - you can use the german EC-card to get fuel. it's very rare though.
Aug 11, 2010 | 1:36 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ZRH, exFRA/HD, ex-SFO, ex-MUC, ex-GRU
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Posts: 674
If you go to gas station on an autobahn, pay attention to the signs that show the truck side and the passenger car side of the station. The convenience store and the restaurants on such places are also separated for trucks and cars.
And just so you know. At all Aral stations, they'll ask if you have a certain "Payback Karte". Just say no. BTW, it's a points system adopted by many (major) business here in Germany.
And just so you know. At all Aral stations, they'll ask if you have a certain "Payback Karte". Just say no. BTW, it's a points system adopted by many (major) business here in Germany.
Aug 11, 2010 | 1:47 pm
#12
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Aug 12, 2010 | 4:00 am
#14
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