Forum Discussion

her_I's avatar
her_I
Explorer
Oct 17, 2017

zip code at gas pumps

I know the answer to this question has come up before but have forgotten it. Being from Canada, I do not have a Zip Code to put in when it is requested at the gas pumps. I know there was a formula using the numbers from my postal code but cannot remember the formula. Would appreciate an update and a slap in the back of the head.
  • Rover_Bill wrote:
    It's also a pain for USA drivers in Canada. While RVing in Alberta this summer, I hit a lot of Canadian fuel pumps that refused my USA credit cards at the pump and had to go inside to pay for my fuel. Such is life when traveling in a FOREIGN country (both yours and mine).


    I'm wondering if the problem relates to "chipped" cards with the Canadian stations requiring a chipped card and a PIN number. Maybe when chipped cards become universal for US folks their cards will work at the Canadian pumps.

    The work around (numbers from our postal code plus 2 zeroes) works almost 100% of the time for us in the US.
  • Rover_Bill wrote:
    It's also a pain for USA drivers in Canada. While RVing in Alberta this summer, I hit a lot of Canadian fuel pumps that refused my USA credit cards at the pump and had to go inside to pay for my fuel. Such is life when traveling in a FOREIGN country (both yours and mine).


    Same here. A real pain when it's late at night and the pumps are open by the mini-store is closed too.
  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni
    As mentioned use the numbers in your Canadian postal code followed by zeros.

    i.e. for A5B 4C3, use 54300

    It works about 80% of the time. Apparently it has something to do when their system resets are done.
  • It's also a pain for USA drivers in Canada. While RVing in Alberta this summer, I hit a lot of Canadian fuel pumps that refused my USA credit cards at the pump and had to go inside to pay for my fuel. Such is life when traveling in a FOREIGN country (both yours and mine).
  • I thought it was 00 followed by the digits from the postal code. Many place just won't accept a CDN credit card at the pump.

    This is one of the most irritating aspects of snowbirding. When DW and I are south we often go out for day long motorcycle rides. This might involve a fill to start the day then one or two as we put on miles.

    That means standing in line 6 times every day we ride. What a PITA.

    In Canada we have chip cards - enter PIN and you're done. Or tap and you're done. Or pump gas then go inside to pay you're done.
  • If prompted for your ZIP code, just enter the three digits of your postal code plus two zeros. So for example, if your postal code is A2B 3C4, the 5 digit number you should enter is 23400.
  • We can loan our Canadian brothers and sisters some zip codes.

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