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Gas Stations

Gas Stations That Only Hold $1 (List, Debit Card Hold & Credit Card Hold)

Gas Stations That Only Hold $1: Gas stations typically hold an authorization amount on a credit or debit card to ensure that the customer has enough funds to cover the cost of their purchase.

This authorization is released back to the customer’s account once they have completed their purchase.

Pre-authorization is a process where the gas station reserves this authorization amount for a set period of time, typically a few days.

This is done to ensure that the customer has enough funds to cover their purchase, even if they do not complete it right away.

So, if you go to a gas station and put $10 worth of fuel in your car, the gas station may hold an authorization for $10 on your card.

This means that even if you only put $5 worth of fuel in your car, the gas station will still have authorization for $10 on your card.

Popular gas stations that use pre-authorization include Shell, BP, and Chevron. These stations will typically ask for your zip code to determine if they use pre-authorization.

Keep on reading to find out about all gas stations that only hold $1 on your card, the gas stations that do not use pre-authorization, and how to avoid being charged for pre-authorization.

Gas Stations That Only Hold $1

The pre-authorization hold amount charged at gas stations generally ranges from $1 to $125. For example, if you use a debit or credit card to buy $50 worth of gas, the station may place a hold of $50 to $75 on your account.

So, if you have only $25 in your card account and the hold is for $50, you won’t be able to access that money until the hold expires.

However, brands like BP/Amoco, 7-Eleven, Chevron, etc typically have lower hold amounts, while brands like Sam’s Club, Exxon, Mobil, etc typically have higher holds.

Here’s a list of gas stations that only hold $1 on your card –

Gas StationMinimum ChargeMaximum Charge
Shell$1$75
BP$1$100
Chevron$1$100
Sunoco$1$100
7-Eleven$1$100
Phillips 66Varies$100
ValeroVaries With CardVaries With Card
ampmVaries With Card$75
Amoco$1$100
RaceTracVaries With Card$75
CostcoVaries With Card$100
Circle KVaries With CardVaries With Card
ExxonMobil$50$100
Sam’s Club$75$100
Gas Stations That Only Hold $1

These are 10 gas stations that currently pre-authorize your credit card or debit card for a hold amount that ranges anywhere between $1 and $100. While some have a maximum hold limit of $75 whereas some have $100.

Shell

At Shell, expect to pay $1 to $75 as a pre-authorization amount. The gas station determines the exact hold amount it charges on the basis of the fuel you purchase, the card type you use, the pump location, and the card issuer or bank.

As of 2022, Shell can hold your money for as long as 3 days but it can take up to 7 business days depending on the authorization policy of your card provider.

So, basically, the minimum hold amount Shell places is $1 whereas the maximum you can expect is $75.

BP/Amoco

BP and Amoco gas stations belong to and are operated by the same company. When you use your credit card or debit card at these pumps, you will be charged a refundable pre-authorization fee ranging from $1 to $100.

Amount held by BP/Amoco gas stations will be released within 72 hours in most cases. However, you can contact your card issuer customer service to ask how long it takes to credit your money back!

In the case of a Visa credit card, you can expect authorization amount reversal in 24 hours but the gas station where you purchased fuel may have different rules.

As per Visa pre-authorization of card rules, successful payments at gas stations or car rentals result in a hold that gets removed within 1 business day.

Chevron

Chevron pump stations generally place a hold of $1 to $100 on your card. This amount will be charged upfront and will be part of your credit card statement as a normal fuel purchase transaction.

But, the amount that’s on the statement will be what you pay for gas and not the pre-authorization charge that the gas station levies.

However, expect any amount less than or equal to $20 as most Chevron gas stations typically charge less!

So, it’s best to visit a Chevron near you to fill your vehicle’s tank rather than going to a pump that puts a large amount on hold.

But, remember that it also depends on the type of card you use. For example, a Mastercard will have different rules when compared with a Visa card and same applies to American Express cards as well!

The hold Chevron places will be cleared within 48 hours and you can expect your money back on your card in 72 hours.

Sunoco

Sunoco puts a $1 to $100 hold on your credit card or debit card depending on the overall transaction value, card type, and your card issuer’s pre-authorization rules.

So, for example, let’s say that you filled your car’s tank with $9 worth of gasoline at a Sunoco gas station near you and made the payment using a Visa credit card.

Then, Sunoco would put a $1 hold on your card, which would be released once the final transaction amount is processed and settled.

However, if you filled your car’s tank with $99 worth of gasoline at a Sunoco gas station and made the payment using a Visa credit card, then Sunoco would put a $100 hold on your card.

This hold would be released once the final transaction amount is processed and settled, minus any applicable fees or surcharges.

The time period for this hold to be released may vary depending on your card issuer but it typically ranges between 2 to 5 business days.

7-Eleven

7-Eleven places a $1 to $100 hold on your credit card when you pay for gas.

If you use a credit card to pay for gasoline at a 7-Eleven, the store will place a hold on your credit limit for the amount of your purchase, plus an additional $1 to $100.

This hold will prevent you from using that credit card to make other purchases until the hold is released.

Typically, the hold will be released within 3 business days, but in some cases, it may take up to 5 days and a maximum of two weeks depending on the card type you used.

If you need to use your credit card for other purchases before the hold is released, you can contact 7-Eleven’s customer service department or your card provider, or your bank for assistance or information about when the hold will be lifted.

Phillips 66

At Phillips 66 gas pump stations, expect a pre-authorization charge of up to $100 on your account when you use a credit card.

This is what Phillips 66 mostly places on your account when you use a credit card or debit card at one of its stations.

The company, however, may vary the amount it charges from one location to another. And also, note that this pre-authorization charge may not show up on your account right away.

Phillips 66 advises customers to allow a few days for the charge to post. Wait for a period of three to five business days to see if the amount appears on your account.

The amount should be credited back to you if there are no problems with the transaction. If you have any questions about this pre-authorization charge, contact Phillips 66 customer service.

Valero

The amount Valero holds as a pre-authorization charge on your fuel purchase highly depends on the credit card company.

Valero didn’t provide a specific dollar amount that will be charged to your card.

However, expect to pay a pre-authorization charge of $1-$100 as this is what most gas stations charge. This charge also varies based on the location and the credit card company.

Let’s take a look at an example: If you purchase $20 of gasoline at a Valero nearby with your credit card, the station may authorize a charge of $100.

This means that your account is temporarily frozen for up to $100 to ensure that you have the funds to cover the cost of the gas.

If you only have $50 in your account, an overdraft fee may be charged to your account.

Valero gas stations will generally release the pre-authorization charge within a few days, but it may take up to 5 business days for the credit card company to fully process the transaction.

ampm

ampm gas pumps charge a maximum of $75 as pre-authorization. So, whether you fill up your tank with $50 or $75 worth of gas, the pump will only charge your card $75 and the difference will be refunded to you.

However, the minimum pre-authorization that a pump will charge is determined by the gas station owner, so it’s possible that a particular pump may charge a minimum of $25 or even $50.

The upside to this policy is that you’re guaranteed not to be overcharged for your gas purchase, even if the pump accidentally charges your card more than the actual cost of the gasoline.

The downside is that you may end up being charged a minimum pre-authorization amount, even if you didn’t buy that much fuel.

ampm will typically release the pre-authorization within two business days, but it may take up to five business days for the funds to be credited back to your account.

RaceTrac/RaceWay

At RaceTrac locations, your credit card will be levied a maximum of $75 as a pre-authorization charge.

So, if you purchase $100 worth of gasoline, your credit card will be charged $75, and the remaining $25 will be released within a few days.

The hold that is placed on your card is to ensure that you have enough funds available to cover the cost of your purchase.

If there are insufficient funds available on your card at the time of purchase, the transaction will be declined.

However, if you have a credit card with a high limit, then the $75 pre-authorization charge may not be an issue.

You can expect the charge to be released within a few days, depending on your bank’s processing time.

RaceTrac gas stations will clear the hold on your card within 2-3 business days.

If you have any questions about the pre-authorization process, please contact your bank or credit card issuer.

Costco

Costco Wholesale gas pumps pre-authorize up to a maximum of $100 on fuel purchases with a credit card or debit card.

Gasoline is a high-priced purchase, so it’s important to be aware of the pre-authorization amount when filling up your tank.

The minimum charge Costco will authorize depends on the credit card or debit card you’re using.

For example, Visa cards will only authorize a minimum of $1, while Mastercard and Discover cards pre-authorize for a minimum of $10 (based on the type of transaction)

If you’re using a debit card, your bank might place a hold on more funds than the actual purchase amount.

This is because the bank wants to ensure there are enough funds available in your account to cover any potential overdrafts.

Costco gas stations will release the pre-authorized funds shortly after the purchase, but it could take up to 5 business days for the hold to be released from your bank.

Remember that Costco gasoline can only be bought by Costco members!

Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club fuel centers place a minimum pre-authorization hold of $75 whereas the maximum you can get charged is $100.

So, basically, if you only pump $75 worth of fuel, Sam’s Club will only place a hold of $75 on your account.

However, if you were to pump $105 worth of fuel, then the pre-authorization would be $100.

A Sam’s Club pump determines how much to pre-authorize on your card depending on the total purchase amount.

The pump will pre-authorize an amount that is $75 higher than the purchase price. So, for a purchase of $75, the pump would pre-authorize $100. For a purchase of $105, the pump would pre-authorize $180.

The hold placed on your account is temporary and will be released within 36 hours by Sam’s Club.

If you didn’t receive the money back in your card account within that time period, you must contact your bank or card issuer.

You can avoid Sam’s Club gas station pre-authorization charge by using a gift card to pay for gas! However, the total transaction should be worth more than $100 in value.

Circle K

The amount Circle K gas stations hold as a pre-authorization charge varies by state, card issuer, and merchant category code (MCC).

Most Circle K gas stations in the United States hold a pre-authorization charge of $75. However, this amount can vary depending on the state, card issuer, and MCC.

For example, in California, Circle K gas stations may hold a pre-authorization charge of $100 whereas, in Texas, the charge may be $50.

If the pre-authorization charge is more than what’s in your checking account or credit card limit, the transaction will be declined and you’ll need to either add more funds to your account or use a different card.

In order to avoid any declined transactions, it’s important to be aware of the pre-authorization charge amount at each Circle K gas station and plan accordingly.

You can ask the cashier for the specific pre-authorization charge amount at a Circle K gas station before you make your purchase.

ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil charges anywhere between $50 and $100 in pre-authorization fees on credit card or debit card purchases at its fuel stations.

The charged amount is usually equal to the estimated purchase amount, and it’s refunded if the final purchase is for less than the pre-authorized amount.

Exxon and Mobil gas stations typically clear the pre-authorized amount within 48 hours of a successful transaction.

However, it can take up to 5 business days for the charge to be refunded depending on your card issuer’s pre-authorization rules.

How does a pre-authorization at gas stations work?

A pre-authorization at a gas station works by the station checking the credit or debit card of the customer to see if there is enough money available to cover the cost of gasoline.

If there is not, then the customer will be unable to pump gas and may even have trouble leaving the station.

The pre-authorization is usually for a set amount, such as $50, and will be released by the card issuer after a few days.

This allows the station to know how much money it needs to have available in order to cover the cost of gasoline.

So, if you’re ever at a gas station and your card is declined, it’s most likely because your credit limit has been reached.

However, if you have a PIN debit card, a pre-authorization will be placed using the funds in your bank account.

Usually, when a debit card is used to pay for gas, the pre-authorization charge will be higher than what you’ll be charged when using a credit card.

Why did the gas station charge me $100?

You may have been charged $100 because that’s the pre-authorization limit set by that gas station.

When you use your card at a gas station, the station will place a pre-authorization charge for the amount of gasoline that it thinks you’ll pump.

This is usually a set amount, such as $50 or $75, or $100, and is designed to ensure that the station has enough money available to cover the cost of your fuel purchase transaction.

In some cases, people get charged $125 or $150 because that’s the pre-authorization limit set by the gas station.

If this happens to you, don’t worry because the charge will be released in a few days and you won’t actually have to pay that amount.

You just pay for the gasoline that you pumped!

Why do gas stations pre-authorize so much?

The reason gas stations pre-authorize so much is that they want to make sure that the customer has enough money available to cover the cost of gasoline.

If the customer does not have enough money, then the station may not be able to recover that money.

By pre-authorizing a set amount, the station can be sure that it will at least get some of the money back.

So, the pre-authorization charge a gas station sets at its pumps will be very high, usually $50, $75, $100, $125, and $150.

Do gas stations put a hold on debit cards?

Yes, gas stations will often put a hold on debit cards to ensure that there is enough money available to cover the cost of gasoline.

This hold is usually for a set amount, such as $120, and will be released by the card issuer within a couple of days.

How long does a pre-authorization take to cancel itself?

Pre-authorizations usually take 24 hours to 72 hours to cancel themselves. This is because the card issuer needs time to process the information and release the funds.

Gas stations will usually only hold the pre-authorization for a few days, but this may vary depending on the station and the card issuer.

Your bank or card provider may also have a policy related to how long they will wait before canceling the pre-auth.

Most credit card issuers take 5 days long to clear the pre-auth, but there are a few that clear it in 2 days.

You might want to check with your bank or card issuer if you’re not sure how long until the pre-auth is cleared.

How do you avoid card hold at gas stations?

There is no surefire way to avoid card hold at gas stations, but one option is to use reloadable prepaid cards such as gift cards.

This will allow the customer to avoid having their credit or debit card pre-authorized. Another option is to use a different payment method, such as cash when filling up at the pump.

So, if you frequently visit a particular gas station, it might be a good idea to buy that brand’s gift card. That way, you won’t have to worry about your regular card being put on hold.

Just be sure to keep track of how much money is left on the gift card, so you don’t end up stranded at the pump!

Summary

Gas stations that hold only $1 on your credit card or debit card include Shell, BP, Amoco, ampm, Chevron, 7-Eleven, and Sunoco. However, the exact charge may vary with the card type you use, pump location, and your card issuer’s pre-auth rules & regulations. ExxonMobil, Sam’s Club, and most other gas stations charge a minimum of $50 or $75 and a maximum of $100 to pre-authorize your credit card before you pump fuel.