The short answer
At U.S. Costco gas stations you can pay with any Visa credit card, a PIN debit card, a Costco Shop Card, or Apple Pay loaded with a Visa card. You cannot use Mastercard, American Express, Discover, cash, or Google Pay and Samsung Pay at the pump — the result of Costco’s exclusive U.S. credit-card deal with Visa.
What you can use at Costco gas in the United States
- Any Visa credit card (any bank — the Costco Anywhere Visa earns the most back)
- PIN-based debit and ATM cards
- Costco Shop Card (the prepaid card — also lets non-members fuel up)
- Apple Pay, if the card in your wallet is Visa-branded (the only mobile wallet accepted at the pump)
What it won't accept
- Mastercard credit cards
- American Express
- Discover
- Google Pay and Samsung Pay at the pump (both work inside the warehouse)
- Cash, cheques, and EBT
Good to know
Why Visa only? Costco’s U.S. warehouses and fuel stations run on an exclusive credit-card partnership with Visa (with a co-brand card issued by Citi) that runs through June 2029. Visa replaced American Express — Costco’s exclusive U.S. card network from 1999 until the switch in June 2016 — and Mastercard and Discover aren’t accepted either.
No Visa card? Buy a Costco Shop Card on Costco.com using another card, then use the Shop Card at the pump — which also works if you aren’t a member.
The pump reads your membership card (or a Shop Card) before it will dispense, 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 Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico.
Sources & references
- Costco — “What payment methods are accepted at Costco?” customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/answer_view/a_id/719/~/what-payment-methods-are-accepted-at-costco%3F
- Citi — Costco Anywhere Visa® Card gas benefits www.citi.com/credit-cards/understanding-credit-cards/costco-citi-card-gas-benefits
Payment-acceptance rules change and can vary by location — figures were last reviewed in June 2026. This site is independent and not affiliated with Costco Wholesale Corporation.
