Gas station zip code

[Disneylovers2000]

Hi there fellow Canadians!
We are planning on driving down to California in a couple of weeks and I have heard here and there that when you fuel up at a gas station and use a credit card, they require a zip code. I also heard that our postal codes don't work. So what does one use when fuelling up in the States??
Help Please!! Is there a code that Canadians are suppose to use? If anyone has any experience with this, your help would be greatly appreciated! Does it matter if you pay cash or debit??
Thank you!!

 

[kirkaliciasmom]

Only if you pay with a credit card will it prompt you to enter a zip code. You can select debit instead of credit. Happy travels!

 

[Disneylovers2000]

Only if you pay with a credit card will it prompt you to enter a zip code. You can select debit instead of credit. Happy travels!

Thanks for the quick response!! What if I wanted to pay by credit? what would I do then? Not sure I want to do debit as the fees and exchange rate might cause me more grief than good!

 

[Mrs. M. Mouse]

Thanks for the quick response!! What if I wanted to pay by credit? what would I do then? Not sure I want to do debit as the fees and exchange rate might cause me more grief than good!

When we drove down in 2009 we were asked a couple of places. Mostly they accepted that we weren't from the states. The one that didn't dh gave them 90210 lol

 

[Disneylovers2000]

When we drove down in 2009 we were asked a couple of places. Mostly they accepted that we weren't from the states. The one that didn't dh gave them 90210 lol

OMG!That is a perfect!!!I will keep that one at the front of my mind!! But am afraid I will burst out laughing while punching it in!!!

 

[mamaCta]

I always use 90210 on websites that require a zip.

 

[bgula]

Take the number portion of your postal code and then add 2 zeros (i.e. M1B 2L4 = 12400). I use this all the time as we head to DW and it has worked 99% of the time.

 

[Disneylovers2000]

Take the number portion of your postal code and then add 2 zeros (i.e. M1B 2L4 = 12400). I use this all the time as we head to DW and it has worked 99% of the time.

Thanks for the idea! If that's the case mine would end up being 00000!! Lol! Wonder if it would still work???

 

[Disneylovers2000]

I always use 90210 on websites that require a zip.

Too funny! 90210 must be an actual zip code then if it works on websites!

 

[damo]

If it doesn't work you just go inside and prepay a certain amount.

 

[tgropp]

Too funny! 90210 must be an actual zip code then if it works on websites!

Did you not watch / hear of Beverly Hills 90210? I thought that everyone knew that show.

 

[Disneylovers2000]

Did you not watch / hear of Beverly Hills 90210? I thought that everyone knew that show.

I did -WAAAAAAY back! but didn't really think of it as being a "real" zip code! Assumed it was made up for the land of TV!!

 

[wiigirl]

Only if you pay with a credit card will it prompt you to enter a zip code. You can select debit instead of credit. Happy travels!

 

[bgula]

If it doesn't work you just go inside and prepay a certain amount.

Don't do this with a credit card. If you have a credit at the end of the purchase, you will be hit with the 2.5% exchange twice - once on purchase and once on refund. I learned the hard way about this and won't do it again.

 

[Disneylovers2000]

Don't do this with a credit card. If you have a credit at the end of the purchase, you will be hit with the 2.5% exchange twice - once on purchase and once on refund. I learned the hard way about this and won't do it again.

WOW! Good to know! Can I prepay with cash? Thank you for the info bgula, I would have never even thought of that!

 

[Mrs. M. Mouse]

WOW! Good to know! Can I prepay with cash? Thank you for the info bgula, I would have never even thought of that!

Yes you can prepay with cash.

 

[Disneylovers2000]

Yes you can prepay with cash.

I know its silly asking you can pay with cash but I know there are placed who frown at cash! Imagine! Lol!! Thanks for the help everyone!!

 

[BCmomma]

We shop frequently in Bellingham WA as we are close to the border. We also have a US mailbox in Blaine WA so we always use the zipcode for that when we need to enter it while travelling, etc. It's 98230.

 

[Disneylovers2000]

We shop frequently in Bellingham WA as we are close to the border. We also have a US mailbox in Blaine WA so we always use the zipcode for that when we need to enter it while travelling, etc. It's 98230.

Thank you so much BCmomma! That will make my life so much easier! I so appreciate it!

 

[Sue M]

The US postal codes never seem to work for me, they don't match up with my CC. I started buying the Pre paid gas cards. Hess when I'm in Florida. Or Shell. Then I can pay at the pump, instead of going in.
You can load any amount on the card, and refill when necessary.

When I go to Bellingham I fill up at Costco with my Amex.