Diesel fuel - cash or credit?

[mielock]

For those that drive diesel trucks, I’m sure you’ve noticed gas stations advertising different prices for cash vs. credit. I’ve noted inconsistencies between stations, with some accepting debit cards as cash, and others not. What is your experience? Do most accept debit as cash? I don’t like to carry hundreds of dollars in cash in order to get the discounted rate. What do you do?

[wintersun]

clubhouse wrote:
Around here, debit card translations using you PIN are typically given the cash price.

Not with ARCO where there is a $0.50 transaction fee applied if you use a debit card.

We try to stop at a Flying J/Pilot and use their loyalty card which provides us with the cash discount even when we use another credit card. We use credit cards affiliated with major hotel chains and use the points when traveling overseas. 80% of our hotel room stays have been free over the past 10 years and we are always upgraded to concierge level rooms and services. Starwoods, Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Marriott, and other hotel chains have these programs.

[pnichols]

I use a CC for all of our vehicles' fuel - including the RV - that gives 5% discount per gallon everywhere all the time. That amounts to around a 18-20 cents per gallon savings day-in day-out.

This discount is larger than cash discounts and doesn't require messing with cash.

[ktmrfs]

I've been at many, many stations that "advertize" different prices for cash vs. credit, yet I've NEVER been charged the credit price when using my credit card at the pump, it ALWAYS has come up at the lower "cash" price. So i just use my pen fed card and get the 5% discount.

Maybe if you use the CC inside rather than pay at the pump they charge the higher credit price.

Or maybe I've been lucky. But in any case, the 5% pen fed discount has always been more than the difference between the cash and credit anyway.

[wintersun]

We use the Flying J loyalty card that provides the cash discount on fuel purchases made with other credit cards. We get fuel about 2/3 of the time at truck stops as so many gas stations don't pump diesel so it works for us.

[mlts22]

Here in my neck of the woods, some diesel pumps have "refer" (for the refrigerator -- non-taxed) and "tractor" (taxed road fuel) for diesel. Hit the wrong one, and you get the red-dyed stuff, which means big trouble.

[RognBon]

It is very common practice in our area for gas stations to have a higher price for credit/debit. Since I never let the fuel tank get to where I need more than 50 to 60 gallons of diesel the price difference is never more than $3 to $4 per fill up. Even if I needed 100 gallons the price difference is still only $6.00. So, I don't shop by price. I look for the stations that offer the easiest entry and exit. I'm not in the habit of wasting money, but IMHO the total cost difference is so negligible that it is a non-issue.

[koda55]

I use the pilotflyingj rv plus card. I get 4cents off per gallon of the cash price. The end of the cycle I get a bill and pay it off. You must pay teh bill within 10 days of getting your bill. I have mine autmaticly deducted.

[powderman426]

REWahoo wrote:
I avoid this issue completely by not purchasing fuel at truck stops, which seem to be where the price differentials for cash vs. credit are mostly found.

X2. And I also don't have to walk through diesel fuel on the ground or pump fuel from trash pumps.

[goducks10]

All the Arco stations around here are cash for less. Most have diesel at a higher price than the other stations. Arco reg is usually cheaper though. Most of the time I buy my diesel at two stations where I live. They're cheaper and do a high volume. When traveling with the 5'er I just look for the cheapest, easiest egress stations. I don't mind paying .5-.10 more a gal if it's an easy in/out deal. I don't run the tank down to empty towing so I usually put 25-30 gals in. At that rate .5-.10 is only .75-$1.50 more for a tank. I'm certainly not going to specifically look for a cheaper station that I have to usually get out and walk into, stand there waiting for others to do there business while I wait to pay for my diesel and save a buck.

[Oaklevel]

In our are of VA only one station charges more for credit so I go to the other stations when using a card..... Most places I travel in the mid Atlantic states charge the same price for either cash or credit & if not I just go across the street to one that charge the same price.

[Dtaylor]

Locally many consider debit at cash. I rarely use that option because I do not like using my PIN number unless it is at a place I trust.
Many have gone to cash/credit prices as a way to recover the cost of processing credit cards, which depending on volume is anywhere from 1-3% of purchase.

[BB_TX]

Don't see too many stations around here with an optional cash price, usually truck stops. But I have noticed their cash price is about the same or more than the base price at other stations that do not have the two prices.
I never stop at truck stops unless no other convenient option is available.

[DutchmenSport]

I look for fuel stations that advertise only 1 price. Indiana is so bizzar with prices between commercial vehicles and privately owned vehicles, it's crazy. So, I always look for a "normal" gas station that sells "car diesel". When traveling, avoid any and all places that have multiple prices ... even with credit card vs cash. When traveling through Illinois a few weeks ago, I even bypassed one station that had multiple blends of diesel on their pump... Talk about "What the ****!?" I had no clue and went on. 1/2 mile up the road was a normal station with a normal "car diesel" type pump and no multiple pricing...

That's just me. Others may do it different.

[wny_pat1]

Sez Hoo! wrote:
Get a Flying J/Pilot frequent fueler card. you can pay with plastic and still get up to 6 cents off the posted cash price.

And I get an additional 5% back using my PenFed Rewards credit card when used at the pumps.

And I don't have a debit card. They do not offer anywhere near the legal protections that a credit card is required to offer.

[nickthehunter]

I use a pre-paid gas card, they charge the cash price when using pre-paid cards. It's reloadable so I simply re-load from my computer and it's ready to go. Plus, because I bought the card originally through a non-profit organization I belong to, the organization gets 2% every time I re-load the card.