The short answer
Costco Canada is the mirror image of the U.S.: at the gas bar you pay with Mastercard, a debit card (including Visa Debit), a physical Costco Shop Card, or Apple Pay / Google Pay linked to a Mastercard or debit card. Visa and American Express credit cards are not accepted, and there is no cash at the pump.
What you can use at Costco gas in Canada
- Mastercard (credit and debit)
- Debit cards, including Visa Debit
- A physical Costco Shop Card (digital Shop Cards are not accepted at the pump)
- Apple Pay or Google Pay linked to a Mastercard or debit card
What it won't accept
- Visa credit cards
- American Express
- Cash
- Digital Shop Cards (at the pump)
Good to know
Why Mastercard, not Visa? Costco Canada’s credit-card network is Mastercard — the opposite of the U.S. Visa deal. Costco Canada switched from American Express to Mastercard in 2015.
Visa Debit does work, because it runs as a debit transaction — it is only Visa credit cards that are turned away.
The gas bar reads your membership card (or a physical Shop Card) before dispensing, so you generally need a Costco membership to fuel up.
Costco gas payment in other countries
Costco's accepted payment methods differ by country. See the rules for United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico.
Sources & references
- Costco Canada — “What methods of payment does Costco Canada accept?” customerservice.costco.ca/app/answers/answer_view/a_id/1017193/~/what-methods-of-payment-does-costco-canada-accept
Payment-acceptance rules change and can vary by location — figures were last reviewed in May 2026. This site is independent and not affiliated with Costco Wholesale Corporation.
