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Gordons Coming
 24 Posts
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Status: offline |  Posted - 15 Mar 2007 : 11:52:43  
| I seem to remember on my last visit to Florida that the process of filling the cars up at the petrol stations was slightly different in USA.
Can anyone remind me?
Obviously in UK you just fill up then go and pay.It was a little different in Orlando or am I going mad? | | Report this post to a moderator |
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Lynne S
 United Kingdom
2025 Posts
Joined: 07 Mar 2004
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Gordons Coming
24 Posts
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
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LiesaAnna
 United Kingdom
11925 Posts
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
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NigelM
157 Posts
Joined: 28 May 2003
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Snapper
 United Kingdom
4357 Posts
Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Mar 2007 : 12:10:15
| Hi Steve,
There are a couple of different 'flavours' of filling station around Orlando at the moment. This might get to be a bit of a long-ish not but I'll try to give you the full low down.
Most of the filling stations out there currently accept credit cards at the pump in the same way they do here in the UK. You get an option usually of a couple of buttons that say Pay-At-Pump or Pay-Inside. If you hit the Pay-At-Pump button the pump will talk you through the card swipe, authorise the payment and then ask you to select a grade of fuel and talk you through filling. It will even print you a receipt at the end if you ask for one. If you hit Pay-Inside the usual way of working is to fill-up then head inside to pay, again just like the UK.
That's the theory!  There are a few exceptions ...
Some filling stations now seem to ask for a zip code when you hit the Pay-At-Pump button to use a credit card. If the pump asks you for a zip code, give up with the card at the pump option and hit Pay-Inside. I've found that the Citgo stations are buggers for this, so I just give them a wide berth and fill-up somewhere else. They don't seem to have figured that there is life beyond the boundaries of the US and that some cards don't have a zip code. Ho hum!! It's their loss. Literally! The BP stations (good old British Petroleum!!) are usually perfect.
Sometimes, and especially after dark, filling stations will ask you to pre-pay before filling up. There is usually a sign at the pump telling you this. Sometimes the pump itself will tell you. At these times just leave a credit card with the folks in the office or give them a bunch of dollars. They are all usually nice people so if you are at all worried about the process never be afraid to ask them.
As a last bit of knowledge, about half the pumps in the US have a clever little metal catch thing that will set the pump working automatically. You can start filling, click on the catch and just leave it. It will click off automatically when you are full. It's a fantastic little system. Why we don't have them in the UK I just don't know.
Have a great trip. |
Steve.
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/1418.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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blott
 United Kingdom
22226 Posts
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Mar 2007 : 12:14:54
| OK...
Although most gas station pumps have a facility to take a credit/debit card swipe actually at the pump, you'll find that these won't work as they normally have to be registered at a US address and the machine asks for your zip code.
You may be able to pay inside with the cashier with a credit/debit card though but not at every gas station so, if you find one that works for you, stick with it!
You can choose how you want to pay actually on the pump so check out the options and the display, which will tell you what to do.
You pay inside usually before filling your vehicle. Pay $20 or another set amount and then watch the pump so you can stop when you've got to that total. If you don't manage to fill up what you've paid, go back in and get a refund. If you need more petrol, then go back inside and pay an additional amount.
You sometimes need to select the octane level of the gas so choose the lowest unleaded one. I've never had diesel anything when I've rented so I think you'll find they all run on normal unleaded.
Sometimes, when you've done this, you need to remove the nozzle from the pump and lift up the nozzle holder flap before you can pump gas - there should be instructions on the pump about this so follow whatever it says.
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Blott
www.orlandovillas.com/villas/150.aspx
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Gordons Coming
24 Posts
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
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bargainqueen
![]() United Kingdom
265 Posts
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Mar 2007 : 05:39:49
| On our recent trip I hired a Jeep we filled up the tank twice and both times the tank was 1/4 full, I pre-paid $40 and got $1.75 and 98c back. Gas prices were creeping back up again and were around the $2.50 mark when we left at weekend.
I put a final $10 in at Walmart and they let me pay after filling up, there price was $2.47 a gallon the cheapest around.
I always find it amazing that two garages either side of the road can display different prices for fuel and people will still fill up in the more expensive one. The cheapest garage around appears to be Racetrack. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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chrizzy100
 USA
7229 Posts
Joined: 26 May 2003
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aldridgeclan
![]() United Kingdom
22 Posts
Joined: 12 Aug 2007
Status: offline | Posted - 14 Aug 2007 : 15:28:27
| | just got back and the best filling station was the one near to publix on the 192 where there is a taco bell opp, we had a 7 seater mini van for 3 weeks and put in $150 over this period, done loads of driving, clear water 2x and kennady. $50 filled it right up. why is our petrol so exspensive here in the uk? | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Nina A
 United Kingdom
1426 Posts
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
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Filling up
