Dukey1

Have another thread going regarding staying in Umbria but thought I'd post this aspect here for more specific info.

Been several years since we drove a car in Italy. I would definitely have maps as well as a GPS. Question is about fuel and "gas" stations. The car might be diesel or regular gas but...do I need a chip and pin CC to use at stations? Should I plan to get fuel at "hypermarts" (as I have done in France) or only when there is an attendant available?

I do not have a chip and pin CC (and won't have one when I am there, either).

Advice, please.

His_Dudeness

We just got back from Umbria and didn't need a credit card with a chip or pin. Most of the stations we stopped at were self service. As far as getting gas it's just a matter of looking at the cheapest price. Unlike in the states, diesel is cheaper in Italy.

vincenzo32951

Last year, we had a diesel vehicle and a CC with no chip or pin. Had no problems with self serve.

flanneruk

No-one with a brain buys fuel in France anywhere other than a hypermarket.

This seems not to apply in Italy, where there are far fewer hypermarkets, fewer still sell petrol, and their discounts seem typically both lower and less reliable.

If http://www2.prezzibenzina.it/ is accurate, there even seem a number of occasions where the grocer charges more than the Big Oil brands along the drag - something I've never seen anywhere else in Europe.

But the site shows how worthwhile moving away from the high-traffic locations can be. 12% variations, at around €1.70 a litre, can add up to substantial sums.

Dukey1

Thanks, everyone, for the very helpful information. It is much-appreciated.

kybourbon

Many pumps have where you can put cash in.

asps

Most pumps have two areas; "servito" are manned pumps (but fuel is more expensive), "self service" pumps mostly work by predeterming how much you want to spend, doing it yourself and then paying. I never heard about issues with chip or stripe cards - I had a stripe card till last January and never had a problem.

During the night and festive days most pumps are selfservice, you prepay at a machine (in cash or sometimes with a card), then you press the number of the pump you are going to use and and you service your car. In this case the amount is predetermined at the cash machine and not at the pump.

bvlenci

Very few petrol stations are entirely self-serve, but in rural areas they often are manned only for a few hours a day. I usually try to get to the station when it's manned, as I have a strange propensity to splash my clothing with fuel. I've only used the self-service pumps with an Italian ATM card or cash, which I think is a possibility at all pumps, so I don't know about the chip and pin situation.

Ackislander

We found it was sort of like buying gas at a 7-11. You pump the gas, go in and tell them which pump you used, and they swipe your credit card.

We have found it hard to buy gas ( and almost everything else except restaurant lunches) in rural Italy on Sundays. I would fill up relatively early on Saturday with the expectation that I would not be able to buy fuel again until Monday AM.

NYCFoodSnob

I don't know a thing about chip and pin (except what I read on this board). So far, never had a problem using my ordinary Visa credit cards in Italy (from 3 different American banks). For gas, it seems I'm always swiping a card at the pump to pay. Can't remember the last time an attendant was available to help. I've never had to do the 7-11 thing. I don't worry about splashing fuel on my dress, either, since I'm always on fire.