During my recent trip to Iceland, there were a couple of times I was glad to have a credit card that had chip-and-PIN capability. Especially at gas stations!
I’ll share my experience about which cards I used in Iceland. And helpful tips so you don’t get stuck without gas!
A Trip to the Land of Fire and Ice Index:
- Part 1 – Flying to Iceland? Here’s How to Get There!
- Part 2 – How to Get the Best Deal Renting a Car in Iceland
- Part 3 – Why You Need a Chip-and-PIN Credit Card to Get Gas in Iceland
Some Gas Stations Require a Chip-and-PIN Capable Card
Link: Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard
Link: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Link: Chase British Airways Visa
There were a couple of times while in Iceland that I was glad I had a chip-and-signature credit card that was able to default to Chip-and-PIN!
Cards such as the Barclaycard Arrival Plus, Chase Sapphire Preferred, and British Airways Visa are Chip-and-Signature. But I was able to use my Arrival Plus at unattended kiosks because it defaulted to being a chip-and-PIN card when that was the only option.
Note: The only true Chip-and-PIN cards available in the US are listed here and none are the travel rewards cards we usually use.So, US Chip-and-PIN cards are really Chip-and-Signature cards that can handle PIN-based transactions. This means if your transaction can be completed with a signature, it will go through as a chip-and-signature purchase.
But if you can NOT sign for a transaction (like at an unattended gas station in rural Iceland!) the transaction will process as a Chip-and-PIN purchase.
Not all cards, with a chip, issued by American banks are Chip-and-PIN compliant. Most are Chip-and-Signature cards.
In Iceland, some gas stations in rural areas are completely unattended. And others are left alone after closing hours. You can still get gas, but NOT if you have the wrong card.
If you don’t have a Chip-and-PIN card (or a Chip-and-Signature card which will default to a Chip-and-PIN mode if you can’t sign for the transaction) or a prepaid debit card, you will NOT be able to get gas.
The Best Cards to Use
Barclays
I used my Barclaycard Arrival Plus many times during the trip. It was the best card because it worked every time. What a lifesaver!
And it earns 2X Barclays Arrival miles on every purchase. It also has NO foreign transaction fees, which makes it a great card to travel with overseas.
American Express
NONE of my AMEX cards worked at the gas stations in Iceland because they only have chip-and-signature technology. So they can’t handle transactions that require a PIN.
Chase
Something funny happened. I found I could use my Chase Sapphire Preferred with ANY random 4-digit combination! But I would not recommend that folks rely on this.
There are reports that the Chase British Airways Visa now comes with chip-and-PIN technology. You may have to request a new card if you’ve had it for a while, and Chase will send you 1 with a chip.
Again, these cards are primarily Chip-and-Signature. But in my experience in Iceland, I found that the Arrival Plus and Chase Sapphire Preferred both defaulted to Chip-and-PIN when necessary.
How to Set a PIN Online for the Barclaycard Arrival Plus
To set a PIN on the Barclaycard Arrival Plus, call the number on the back of your card. Or you can set it on the online banking website.
After you log-in, click on “Account settings.”
Scroll down almost to the bottom of the page. Look for a section that says “Manage your PIN.”
Then click “Change your PIN” to set a new number.
Buy Prepaid Gas Cards Instead
If you don’t have a Chip-and-PIN card but need to buy gas, there’s a way around it.
You can buy prepaid gas cards during business hours and use them when you’re in other parts of the country.
The biggest gas station chains in Iceland are N1 and Olis. So if you buy a gas card to either, top off your tank whenever you pass a pump. Especially if you are planning to drive to rural areas.
Other Places You’ll Need a Chip-and-PIN Card
These tips don’t apply to just Iceland. There are many parts of the world where you’ll need a chip-and-PIN credit card to purchase gas.
You might also need a Chip-and-PIN card at:
- Train ticket machines
- Subway stations
- Toll roads
- Parking garages
- Luggage lockers
- Bike rental stations
- Smaller merchants or independent shops
For example, if you want to take the train into Paris from the airport, you’ll need a chip-and-PIN card. The same is true for buying metro tickets in other European cities.
Of course you can always pay cash in those situations.
But if you have a Chip-and-PIN card, you won’t have to carry cash. And you can earn miles and points!
Bottom Line
I’m glad I had a chip-and-PIN capable card with me on my trip to Iceland!
Cards such as Barclaycard Arrival Plus are actually chip-and-signature. But they’ll automatically switch to chip-and-PIN at machines without human attendants, such as at unattended gas pumps in Iceland!
There are other places that will only accept chip-and-PIN cards, like train ticket machines and toll booths.
One trick is to buy prepaid gas cards and fill up your tank whenever you pass a gas station that will accept it.
But I prefer using my card to earn extra miles and points when I travel abroad.
Have you been in a situation where you had to use a chip-and-PIN capable card?