Using your credit or debit card to pump your own gas is really quite simple.
Its easiest if you pull up to the pump on the side that your gas tank is on. If you look at your gas gauge, you will see a gas-pump icon with an arrow on one side of it.
Before you get out of your car, turn the engine off!
Some cars have gas cap release buttons or levers inside the car. It will be on the dash, or the door, or the floor. Push that button, or lift the lever to open the gas tank cover on the outside of your car.
If you don’t have a gas cap release button, walk over to you gas tank cover and just push it in, and it will release and open.
Once the cover is open, there is usually a cap that you have to twist off to expose the tank. Turn it counter clockwise.
On newer cars, you will often just see the exposed tank opening.
1. The screen on the gas pump will give you step by step instructions. There will be a picture showing you how to insert your credit or debit card. You will position the magnetic strip on your card the way it is shown in the picture. Sometimes it is upright, sometimes it is facing down. Just line it up like the picture.
2. Insert the card and quickly remove it.
3. Once processed, follow the instructions on the screen.
4. If you are using a debit card, you will enter your PIN number, or if you are using a cc, it will ask for the zip code of the billing address, that is the place where you get your cc bill.
5. Use the key pad to type in the pin or zip code and press ENTER.
6. Once the card has been approved, you are ready to pump gas.
7. You will have the option to select from 3 different types of gas. If you are not sure which to pick, look on the inside of the gas cover or around the opening of the tank and you will see which one your car recommends.
8. Carefully remove the nozzle from the pump and insert it in your tank.
9. You will pull the trigger on the nozzle to release the flow of gas.
10. You can stand there and hold it while it fills, or you can engage the locking mechanism. You simply secure the lever in place.
11. The locking mechanism pumps your gas so you don’t have to! You will know its working by looking at the screen and seeing the numbers of the price and gallons increase.
12. The pump will automatically shut off when the tank is full, but you still should stand nearby in case it doesn’t. It is ultimately your responsibility to make sure there is no overspill.
13. Carefully, remove the nozzle from the tank and place it back in the holder on the pump.
14. If you have a gas cap, screw that back on and over-tighten a bit until you hear the zipping sound that lets you know it’s on tightly.
15. Close the gas tank cover.
That is all there is to it! You have been liberated! Isn’t it great to have that mystery solved?
And feel free to share it with a friend. Let’s all help each other!
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