Pay before or after filling up with petrol?

[mt9754]

Hi,

Silly question but in Australia is it like the UK where you normally fill up first and then go into the store to pay, or is it more like the US where you often have to go into the store first before filling up?

If it helps, I am using a Wex Motorpass fuel card.

Thanks in advance!

[calNgary]

You fuel up then go to pay. The only time it may be different is if its overnight.

Ive never heard of your fuel card so cant help there ,sorry

 Cal x

[HappyHeart]

It really doesn't matter. You can do either. Both are acceptable. You can 'pay at pump' in some stations. Actually some places might require a pre pay if they get a lot of drive offs etc or at night. More usual to.pay after though I'd say. At least in Perth. 

[mt9754]

Great thankyou! :), trying to avoid being “that guy” that doesn’t know what is going on haha.

[Bristle]

I use Wex Motorpass for work and you can fill up then go and pay. I always check which places accept the card beforehand on their site as not all do.

[Lavers]

One thing to watch though is that pump handles are different colours at each petrol station.

Caught me out with our hire car when I assumed that the green handle was unleaded.

[mt9754]

Ah I saw that, and a lot of options (E10?!)

[kevsan]

11 hours ago, mt9754 said:

Ah I saw that, and a lot of options (E10?!)

E10 is 10% ethanol - some car engines can use it. My holden can - it would say on the inside of the filler cap usually. If it doesnt say, probably wise not to use it

[rtritudr]

On 26/10/2020 at 10:58, mt9754 said:

Hi,

Silly question but in Australia is it like the UK where you normally fill up first and then go into the store to pay, or is it more like the US where you often have to go into the store first before filling up?

If it helps, I am using a Wex Motorpass fuel card.

Thanks in advance!

You don't have to prepay.

To be fair you don't have to prepay in the US either.  It's only tourists whose credit cards aren't accepted by the pump that have to head inside to prepay (or authorize if you have a credit card).

[mt9754]

1 hour ago, rtritudr said:

You don't have to prepay.

To be fair you don't have to prepay in the US either.  It's only tourists whose credit cards aren't accepted by the pump that have to head inside to prepay (or authorize if you have a credit card).

In the US they like to pre-auth before you start (they don’t seem to trust their customers?), whereas i’m more used to picking up the pump before needing my wallet.

[rtritudr]

40 minutes ago, mt9754 said:

In the US they like to pre-auth before you start (they don’t seem to trust their customers?), whereas i’m more used to picking up the pump before needing my wallet.

I'm not sure that it's a lack of trust, but rather that the trust is so intertwined with credit cards.  In the US life is so much harder in general if you have a low credit score, while the same is not true in Australia (where it really only matters if you're going to take out a mortgage).