How to Pay With Zip at a Gas Station

Zip, a buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) service, allows consumers to split purchases into manageable installments. This payment method offers flexibility for various expenses, including fuel and convenience store items at gas stations. This article guides users on utilizing their Zip account for these purchases.

Preparing Your Zip Account for Gas Station Payments

Before paying with Zip at a gas station, ensure your account is properly set up. Download the Zip app, create a new account or log in, and verify it is active and in good standing. An active account is necessary to generate payment methods and track spending.

Link a valid funding source to your Zip account, such as a debit card or bank account, which Zip uses for automatic repayments. Repayments are often structured into four installments over a six-week period, with the first payment due at the time of purchase, though specific terms can vary.

Utilize the Zip app’s merchant locator to identify nearby gas stations that accept Zip. Checking this information beforehand helps confirm acceptance and avoids issues at the pump or inside the store. This feature ensures that the intended gas station is part of the Zip network.

Understanding how gas station pre-authorization holds work is important before making a fuel purchase. When paying at the pump, gas stations typically place a temporary hold on a higher amount, such as $100 or $150, to cover potential fuel costs. This pre-authorization hold will temporarily reduce your available spending limit within your Zip account, adjusting to the final transaction amount once fueling is complete.

For in-person transactions, Zip facilitates payments through mechanisms generated within the app, such as a virtual card number, a QR code, or a barcode. Familiarity with these methods will streamline the payment process. These digital tools replace the need for a physical card and are essential for completing transactions.

Paying at the Pump with Zip

Paying directly at the fuel pump becomes straightforward. When at the pump, select a credit card option on the terminal, even though you will be using a virtual Zip card. The Zip app allows you to generate a virtual card number, complete with an expiration date and CVV, which can be entered manually into the pump’s keypad.

After selecting the payment option, input the virtual card details displayed in your Zip app directly into the pump’s terminal, just as you would with a physical credit card. This includes the 16-digit card number, the expiration month and year, and the three-digit security code (CVV). The pump’s system will then process these details for authorization.

Following successful authorization, proceed with fueling your vehicle. Once the fueling process is complete and the nozzle is returned, the final transaction amount is determined. The Zip app will then confirm the purchase, showing the actual amount charged and the updated repayment schedule. This ensures transparency regarding the cost of the fuel.

Paying Inside the Station with Zip

For purchases inside the gas station’s convenience store, inform the cashier you intend to pay using Zip. This alerts the cashier to the alternative payment method.

Next, open the Zip app and navigate to the in-store payment section, which typically allows for the generation of a QR code, a barcode, or virtual card details. This payment method is presented to the cashier for processing. The app generates a unique code for each transaction, enhancing security.

The cashier will then scan the generated QR code or barcode from your phone screen, or you will provide the virtual card details for manual entry into the point-of-sale system. The Zip app will provide immediate confirmation of the purchase amount and update your repayment schedule.