If there’s one place you’ll find people who understand your plight, it’s at the gas station. You’re trying to fill up your car, but there’s no signal at the pump. You’re running late, so you decide to detour to the grocery store to grab a quick sandwich instead. On your way back, your phone rings and it’s your bank—you’ve got insufficient funds.
You might be at a loss as to what to do at this point. You need to get gas, but you can’t. Is this even possible?
Yes, it is, thanks to Apple Pay.
I’m sure many of you have heard of Apple Pay. If you haven’t, it’s probably time you should have. Apple Pay is a secure and easy way to pay at the pump. It also has the potential to save you loads of cash. It works with all the major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. You can even use it to pay for items in shops if they accept Apple Pay. There’s no need to fumble around with coins or pay in cash. That’s all been eliminated. Keep reading for more information on how to use Apple Pay at the pump.
How Is Apple Pay Different From Other Payment Apps?
Many of the other popular payment apps like Venmo and Square Cash allow users to pay at the pump. While these apps are easy to use and offer features that make transactions less stressful, Apple Pay is different in a few ways.
Firstly, other apps require users to enter their credit card information every time they make a purchase. While this may not seem like a monumental task, given the increasing number of credit cards in use, one would assume it might get rather tedious. This is certainly not the case with Apple Pay. When you make a purchase using the app, your credit card is already on file. There’s no need to type in your number or remember a password. Just make sure you’ve got enough credit available on your card before you drive off. The second you’ve paid for your gas, the charges will appear on your statement.
Another significant differentiator between Apple Pay and other apps is that the former has a much longer history. The concept behind Apple Pay began back in February 2014, when Apple launched its digital wallet service. Since then, the company has been expanding its reach and adding new features to the app. One of the more recent additions allows users to make micropayments (the equivalent of a few cents) with their phones. This enables someone to leave a tip at a restaurant while using Apple Pay or buy a coffee without having to first get cash out of their pocket.
How Do I Use Apple Pay At The Pump?
To use Apple Pay at the pump, you simply need to download the app from the App Store. Once you’ve done that, you’ll see a “+” icon at the bottom of the screen. Tap on that to reveal the menu at the top of the screen. From there, you can choose to pay with your Apple ID or use a credit card.
If you’ve opted to pay with your Apple ID, you’ll need to enter both your ID as well as your security password. For security purposes, it is important to use a strong password. Once you’ve paid for your gas, your car will be ready to leave. At this point, you can either drive off or remain in the station to settle the bill. If you’ve opted to pay with a credit card, the cashier will need to swipe your card and verify its expiry date. Keep in mind, however, that credit cards aren’t always accepted at the pump. In that case, you’ll need to use Apple Pay — it’s easier than you think.
Why Should I Use Apple Pay At The Pump?
It’s simple. Apple Pay is quick and easy to use, and it offers a number of significant advantages over other payment apps and credit cards.
Firstly, and most significantly, Apple Pay is a whole lot safer. When you use a credit card to make a purchase, there’s always the chance that your number can be stolen or that the information can be compromised. It’s also possible that a hacker can get access to your credit card details and use them for fraudulent activity.
Thanks to Apple Pay, none of that happens. Your credit card information is never stored on another device. When you make a purchase with Apple Pay, your card is only ever used once to verify your identity. The rest of the time, your card remains on file with Apple, and thus, completely secure.
Secondly, and probably the biggest advantage of all, is that it’s simple. When you use a credit card to make a purchase, it’s usually a chore to enter your card details each time you make a purchase. Entering a credit card number can take a while, and some of us, as I mentioned before, might get a little frustrated doing it more than once or twice per week. This is a common scenario when you use credit cards to make small purchases. You’ll want to avoid using a credit card whenever possible, as it will clog up your wallet and you’ll have to keep track of a lot of random numbers and letters. This is why, for simple purchases, you should definitely opt for what is known as a “chip card”. These are credit cards that are embedded with a microchip. They work just like any other credit card, but without the hassle of entering in your card details each time you make a purchase.
A chip card works by generating a receipt that is displayed on your screen when you make a purchase. You can verify this in the event of a dispute by scanning the receipt and comparing it to your bill. This is also how merchants know you’re a “real” customer and not just someone pretending to be. You won’t need to pretend to be someone you’re not in order to use Apple Pay. If anything, Apple Pay will make it easier for you to be yourself. This is a rare and wonderful attribute in a world full of faking and hiding.
Inevitably, there’s a down side to everything, and that comes in the form of Apple Pay’s lack of support from some major brands. Specifically, some merchants don’t yet support the service, so it’s kind of a catch-22. If you’d like to use Apple Pay but don’t have any merchants that support it, then you’ll have to find a way to work around it. Luckily for you, we’ve got several suggestions on how you can still use Apple Pay even when the vendor doesn’t yet support it.
How Do I Use Apple Pay At The Pump When The Vendor Doesn’t Yet Support It?
This is where things get tricky. You’ll need access to a Wi-Fi connection in order to use Apple Pay. If you don’t have Internet access at the gas station, then it’s unlikely that the vendor will ever support the service. In this case, you’ll need to find a way to work around it. Fortunately, there are several ways in which you can use Apple Pay even when the vendor doesn’t yet support it.
For starters, you can manually enter in your credit card information before you make the purchase. This will result in a negative impact on your wallet, as you’ll have to enter in your credit card details each time you make a purchase. For gas stations that do support Apple Pay, entering in your credit card information is usually not necessary because your card will only be used once to verify your identity. For those traveling or at gas stations without Wi-Fi, manually entering in your credit card information might be your only option.
Another alternative is to use a different credit card. Some credit cards, like the Citi card, let you register the card with Apple Pay. When this happens, the credit card will work just like any other credit card, but with the added bonus of being able to be registered with Apple.
Certain credit cards, like the Citi card, can also take the place of an actual card when making a purchase. When this happens, the receipt will be displayed on your screen, just like with any other credit card purchase. The only difference is that the Citi card will work with Apple Pay.