Fueling up in the USA can be a bit tricky for foreigners at first. Some gas stations require prepayment, fuel names differ, and you may need to know a trick to pay by card. In this article, you’ll learn about average gas prices in the USA and get tips on using self-service pumps.
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Table of Contents
Steps for Refueling in the USA
In the USA, it’s common to pay for fuel or authorize your payment card before refueling.
Gas pumps are equipped with card readers for this purpose. Insert your card into the reader and select “credit card” (even if you have a debit card). For verification, you may be asked to enter your card PIN or your home ZIP code. If your real ZIP code or the ZIP code of your hotel doesn’t work, you’ll need to visit the attendant.
Once the card is successfully authorized, remove it and insert the fuel nozzle into your car. At some gas stations, you’ll need to manually lift a lever on the pump. If the pump offers multiple fuel types, choose the correct one using the corresponding button.
Your receipt will be provided after refueling.
If your payment card is declined, try selecting “debit card.” If that doesn’t work, visit the attendant to prepay for fuel at your pump. To fill a standard car’s tank, $75 should suffice. You can authorize a higher amount, and any unused funds will be refunded to your card after refueling. Simply visit the attendant after you’re done.
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Fuel Names in the USA
Gas stations in America typically offer three types of gasoline, differentiated by octane rating and price. Some stations may use their own labels for these fuels.
🟠 Regular (87 Octane)
Regular is the least expensive gasoline, generally with an octane rating of 87. At some stations, it may be labeled as Unleaded.
🔴 Mid-Grade (89-90 Octane)
Mid-grade gasoline has a slightly higher quality with an octane rating of 89-90. It’s sometimes labeled as Special, Unleaded Plus, or Plus (at Exxon and Shell stations).
🔵 Premium (91-94 Octane)
Premium fuel is the highest quality and is used in sports cars or vehicles with high compression ratios. It typically has an octane rating of 91-94 and may be labeled as Unleaded Premium, Supreme (Exxon), or V-Power (Shell).
🟢 Diesel in the USA
When driving in the USA, you’re unlikely to encounter diesel-powered cars. Diesel is available only at select stations and is primarily used for trucks and buses.
🔢 Octane Ratings in the USA
American gas stations measure octane using the RON (Research Octane Number) system, while Europe uses a combination of RON and MON (Motor Octane Number). To estimate the European equivalent, add 5 to the American octane value. For rental cars, Regular gasoline is usually sufficient.
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Gas Prices in the USA 2025
Gas prices in the United States are listed per gallon, which is equivalent to 3.785 liters.
At some stations, the price varies depending on the payment method. Cash payments are often cheaper than credit card payments due to processing fees charged by credit card companies. The price difference is about $0.06 per gallon of fuel. Some gas stations do not accept cards at all, but they will display this information.
Gasoline is cheaper in oil-producing states like Oklahoma and Texas, while it is more expensive in locations like Hawaii due to transportation costs. Price differences between states are significant. Since U.S. fuel prices are not heavily taxed, they are strongly influenced by global oil prices.
The table below shows the average gas prices in the USA as of February 4, 2025, converted to per-liter prices. For the latest updates, check GasBuddy.com.
State Regular Mid-Grade Premium Texas $0.72 $0.84 $0.93 Utah $0.81 $0.88 $0.94 USA Average $0.82 $0.95 $1.04 Florida $0.83 $0.96 $1.04 New York $0.84 $0.97 $1.07 Arizona $0.86 $0.95 $1.03 Nevada $0.97 $1.05 $1.12 California $1.18 $1.24 $1.29 Hawaii $1.20 $1.26 $1.33 -
How to Use a Self-Service Pump in the USA
At some gas stations, you may encounter self-service pumps where you can refuel without assistance. Insert your payment card into the machine and remove it immediately. Unlike ATMs, you do not leave the card inserted.
Follow the instructions on the pump display. In some locations, you’ll need to enter your ZIP code to authorize the card. Once authorized, remove the nozzle, select the fuel type by pressing the appropriate button, and start refueling. When finished, return the nozzle to the pump.
A detailed guide is available in this YouTube video.
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The Most Popular Gas Stations in the USA
There are countless gas station brands across the United States, with some being region-specific. Here are 10 of the most common brands you’ll encounter on the road.
1️⃣ Shell
Shell is the largest gas station chain in the U.S., with over 12,000 locations in all states.
2️⃣ Exxon / Mobil
Exxon Mobil operates nearly 12,000 stations across most states, with a significant presence on the East and Southeast coasts.
3️⃣ BP
BP has more than 7,000 stations, all located in the eastern half of the United States.
4️⃣ Chevron
Founded in 1911, Chevron operates over 7,000 gas stations, mainly along the West and Southeast coasts, as well as a few locations in Alaska.
5️⃣ QT – QuikTrip
QuikTrip has over 1,000 locations, primarily in the southern and midwestern regions. These stations are known for high-quality snacks, including freshly prepared sandwiches and pretzels.
6️⃣ Citgo
Founded in 1910, Citgo operates over 4,000 stations exclusively in the eastern part of the country.
7️⃣ Speedway
Speedway, part of the 7-Eleven brand, runs over 3,000 stations, mostly on the East Coast and the West Coast.
8️⃣ 76
The 76 brand, with its iconic orange-and-blue logo, has more than 1,800 stations across the country, primarily in coastal states.
9️⃣ Phillips 66
Phillips 66 opened its first station in 1927 and now operates around 2,500 locations, mostly in inland states.
🔟 Murphy USA
Murphy USA operates over 1,500 locations, primarily in the eastern and southeastern regions, often found near Walmart stores.
Discussion (1)
Journey California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California.
I had two embossed MasterCard debit cards, and an embossed Visa credit card. I tried my luck on the rack regularly. I succeeded once out of about 15 attempts. Many times it even got to the point that Debit card accepted, I entered my PIN, then it would chug for a while and still get “Please see cashier”. So I guess. I solved it by taking the $30 cash, prepaid at the counter, pumped and went.
It’s weird because there was no problem with this at stores, parking meters of various kinds, McDonalds, etc.. anywhere.
As for the aforementioned coffee, for 1,5USD you usually get a half-liter cup full of tasty coffee, where I always put two nut milks, stoppered and sipped 200 km later… It’s great.