New Pay at Pump Rules: Up to £100 Held on Your Card at Petrol Stations – What You Need to Know

Pay at Pump Just Got a Big Upgrade – Here’s What It Means for Your Card

£100 Held on Your Card When You Fill Up

Say goodbye to small holds on your card at petrol stations. Mastercard, Visa, and American Express have launched a new system that now reserves up to £100 on your card at the pump. This applies to every customer—including Starling Bank users.

So, when you plug in your card to pay for fuel, the machine will temporarily lock around £100 (often £99, depending on your card and retailer) to make sure you’ve got enough money to cover the cost. After you fill up, the exact amount you spend is charged, and the remainder of the hold is released back to your account—usually within minutes, but sometimes it might take up to an hour.

How Does the New System Work?

1. You insert your card at the pump; up to £100 is reserved.
2. You fill your tank.
3. The petrol station tells Starling the exact amount spent.
4. The hold is adjusted and any leftover amount is unlocked.

Don’t worry—you won’t have to hang around waiting for the payment to clear. Starling will send you a notification once the fuel money has left your account.

Don’t Have £100? No Problem, Partial Authorisation Saves the Day

If you’ve got less than £100 in your account, the Pay at Pump system uses partial authorisation. This clever process checks your available balance, then caps your fuel purchase to what you can afford.

For example, if you only have £20, that’s your limit at the pump. Your entire available balance is frozen until the exact amount is confirmed, just like the £100 hold—but scaled to your balance.

Be aware, though, not every petrol station may support this partial authorisation yet.

Why the New £100 Hold?

The old system could land people in unplanned overdrafts or hit their overdraft limits, causing surprise fees and financial stress. The new £100 hold makes sure you can afford your fuel before you finish filling up.

Other FAQs

• No Credit Checks: You won’t have to give consent for a credit check just to pay at the pump.
• Hold Amount Variations: The exact hold charge (£99 or £100) varies by retailer and card network.
• Delays in Processing: Sometimes, if the petrol station takes a while to communicate the actual spend, your whole £100 stay locked until the payment clears.

So next time you fuel up, expect a £100 hold but only pay exactly what you use—no nasty surprises.