# Purchasing gas with your credit card: A poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2007, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905 "2007-11-10T13:39:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/21 "2007-11-10T17:56:03Z")
Depends - I use my debit card as credit at the pump. If I’m low on cash, I’ll sometimes get $5 or $10 in gas and try to zero the cents out. Or occasionally I’ll make sure to spend an amount that leaves money in my bank account slightly over a multiple of $20 so that I don’t end up with $18 in my acount that I can’t access at an ATM that only gives oout $20 bills. But in general if I’m OK for money I just fill up the tank to the brim. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/22 "2007-11-10T18:18:05Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![Kerrigan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/49beb7/32.png) [@Kerrigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kerrigan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/23 "2007-11-10T19:50:13Z")
No. I purchase with a credit card that is _only_ used for purchasing gas, so there is no need. ---
**Author:** ![Exigency](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c0e974/32.png) [@Exigency](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exigency)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/24 "2007-11-10T19:56:16Z")
Yes, in fact, not only do I stop it on an even dollar, it’s always the same amount. A bit of obsessive compulsion I suppose, but I always put 30$ and only 30$ in the tank. Of course, since I live a block away from the gas station, I can get away with that kind of eccentricity ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/25 "2007-11-10T20:01:35Z")
I’m not obsessive about it, but I usually shoot for a 0 or a 5 in the last digit. But with proces they way there, the meters go so fast I don’t make it every time, so I usually let it go. My wife doesn’t worry about it at all. ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/26 "2007-11-10T20:36:03Z")
I’m a .00 gal. In fact, if I go over and end up with $10.02 I will sometimes get another dollars worth of gas so I can try again. If I miss the second time I figure it wasn’t meant to be. Even when I am just filling it up until the pump stops, I “top off” the tank to round it to the nearest .00 or .50. Yes, I know it is weird. No, I really can’t help it. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/27 "2007-11-10T21:22:42Z")
Nope - I just pump until it stops. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/28 "2007-11-10T21:51:59Z")
No, I just pump until it clicks off. In my Civic, if you try to top it off, it just overflows the tank and runs down the side. My husband always stops on an increment of 25 cents, at least. Old habits die hard, he only figured out a couple of years ago that he could use the debit card at the gas station he patronizes. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/29 "2007-11-10T22:03:36Z")
Nope. I pump 'til it cuts off, and I’m done. The way I handle my card/account reconciliations, there’s nothing advantageous about round-numbered transaction amounts. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/30 "2007-11-10T22:31:16Z")
Nope. Fill until pump shuts off. No topping off the tank, it just wastes gas. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/31 "2007-11-10T23:20:46Z")
When ithe pump cuts off as the tank is full I \*could[\i] top in maybe another 30 cents worth. So twotimes out of three the only way to get a round dollar would be to pump 60+ cents on the ground. Not likley. I do figure restaurant tips so the total comes to a round dollar. My original motivation was it might have some deterrent value against teh restaurant altering the charge after the fact. It also would help me spot bogus charges on the bill. Since I almost never look at my bills in detail, that wouldn’t really have much effect. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/32 "2007-11-10T23:27:03Z")
It depends. If I’m filling up the tank, I just go until it clicks. If I’m just adding $10 or whatever, then I add exactly $10. Even if I’m paying in cash, I try to make it even. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/33 "2007-11-10T23:37:28Z")
I just pump until it is filled. I don’t even check to see how much the total is. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/34 "2007-11-10T23:52:08Z")
On newer vehicles (over the past few years or so), topping off the tank can actually damage your vehicle. Don’t ask me how, but the manual for my last Honda CR-V specifically warned against doing that. When it kicks off, I’m done. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/35 "2007-11-11T00:14:41Z")
I figure the whole point of paying by card is not to have to worry about the amount - I usually let it fill up. I get the receipt, too, at least for debit cards (and I make sure to cancel the receipt otherwise). But then I enter it into my bank records (eventually). ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/36 "2007-11-11T00:24:17Z")
I refill until a get a “good” amount in dollars and cents. What is a good amount? I have no idea but I know it when I see it. Prime numbers in cents are always welcome unless it is 13 but I find other numbers attractive as well depending on my mood. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/37 "2007-11-11T01:41:54Z")
[QUOTE=Kilvert’s Pagan] No. I used to, but I got over it. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Me too. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/38 "2007-11-11T02:01:50Z")
No and hell no. If it is a place where you prepay, then I choose an even amount, but the pump shuts off then, so it’s not an issue. But that’s cash. Credit card never, and I started with an Esso card. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/39 "2007-11-11T02:02:49Z")
I only put in 6.66 gallons at a time. The Dark Lord told me to do it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905/40 "2007-11-11T02:12:42Z")
I top it off, round it off, even it out - whatever you want to call it. I do it every time. If I don’t the world as I know it will cease to exist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-gas-with-your-credit-card-a-poll/425905.md?page=3)