Does Costco Gas Take Apple Pay? (+ Every Accepted Payment at the Pump)

We track Costco's gas prices at every U.S. warehouse, and "can I just tap my phone?" is one of the most common questions we get at the pump. The good news is that the answer is yes. The fine print — which card, which wallet, and why Android users get left out — is what trips people up, so here's the whole picture.

Yes, but the card behind Apple Pay has to be a Visa

Costco's own payment-methods page lists Apple Pay as accepted at U.S. gas stations. The catch is the same rule that governs every Costco purchase in the U.S.: the warehouses and pumps run on an exclusive deal with Visa, so Visa is the only credit network they take. Apple Pay doesn't change that — it's just a secure wrapper around whatever card you've loaded, so the card it passes to the pump still has to be a Visa (or a debit card, which runs on the debit rails). Load a Mastercard, American Express, or Discover into Apple Pay and the pump will decline it exactly as if you'd swiped the plastic.

So before you tap, glance at which card Apple Wallet has selected. If your default is a non-Visa card, switch to a Visa (or a debit card) first. That one check is the difference between a clean tap-and-go and a declined transaction with a line forming behind you.

The catch Android users hit: only Apple Pay works at the pump

Here's the part most guides miss. Inside the warehouse, Costco takes Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. At the gas station, Costco's accepted-payments list names Apple Pay only— Google Pay and Samsung Pay aren't on it. If you carry an Android phone, plan to insert a physical Visa or PIN-debit card, or use a Costco Shop Card, when you fill up.

Every payment accepted at a U.S. Costco pump

Apple Pay is one of a short list. Here's everything the pump takes — and everything it won't — so you always have a backup if your phone battery dies.

Want the full breakdown, including why Costco is Visa-only and how the Shop Card lets non-members fill up? See our complete guide to Costco gas payment methods.

Why Visa only? The exclusive deal behind the rule

Costco signs a single credit-card partnership in each country. In the U.S. that partner is Visa, with a co-branded card issued by Citi, under a deal that runs through June 2029. Visa took over in June 2016from American Express, which had been Costco's exclusive U.S. network since 1999. That single agreement is why Mastercard, Amex, and Discover are all turned away at the register and the pump — and why Apple Pay only goes through when there's a Visa behind it.

How to pay with Apple Pay at a Costco pump

1. Pull up and pick a pump. Have your iPhone or Apple Watch ready.
2. Insert or scan your Costco membership card (or a Costco Shop Card) — the pump verifies an active membership before it will dispense.
3. When the screen asks for payment, hold your phone or watch near the contactless reader and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
4. Make sure the card that pays is a Visa or debit card. If your default in Apple Wallet is a Mastercard or Amex, switch to a Visa before you tap, or it will be declined.
5. Choose your grade and fuel up. The final amount settles to the card once you finish.

No Visa and no Apple Pay? Use the Costco Shop Card

If you don't have a Visa, can't use Apple Pay, or want to pay with cash you already have, the answer is the Costco Shop Card. It's a prepaid card you can buy on Costco.com or at the warehouse with almost any payment method, and it works at the pump like a Visa. It's also the one way a non-membercan buy Costco gas, since the Shop Card satisfies the pump's card check on its own. Cash itself isn't accepted at the pump — loading it onto a Shop Card first is the workaround.

The best card to tap: the Costco Anywhere Visa

Since the card has to be a Visa anyway, the one that pays you back the most is the Costco Anywhere Visa® by Citi. It earns 5% back on gas at Costco gas stations (and 4% on other eligible gas and EV charging), on up to $7,000 a year in those combined categories, then 1%. That 5% rate is a recent bump up from 4% — worth up to $350 a year — and it stacks on top of Costco's already-low pump price. Load that card into Apple Pay and you earn the same 5% by tapping as you would by inserting it. If you're weighing whether the membership pays for itself, our break-even guide runs the numbers.

Apple Pay at Costco gas outside the U.S.

The rule flips by country, because Costco's card partner does too:

• Canada: Apple Pay works at the gas bar — but linked to a Mastercard or debit card, since Costco Canada is Mastercard-only. A Visa credit card in your wallet won't go through.
• United Kingdom: No Apple Pay — and no contactless at all. UK forecourts are Chip & PIN only (though they do take Visa, Mastercard, and Amex).
• Australia: No Apple Pay at the pump — fuel stations need a PIN-based Visa or Mastercard. Apple Pay works inside the warehouse, not at fuel.
• Mexico: No mobile wallets at the pump — mobile devices aren't permitted at the fuel station for safety, so Apple Pay can't be used there.
• New Zealand: Costco hasn't published the card list for its single Westgate station, so treat Apple Pay as unconfirmed and check the signage at the pump.

Payment-acceptance rules and card reward rates change and can vary by location — this guide was last reviewed in June 2026. This site is independent and not affiliated with Costco Wholesale Corporation or Apple Inc.