Costco's gift card is called the Costco Shop Card, and people want to know if it works at the pump: to spend a card they were given, to fill up without a membership, or to pay for gas when their credit card isn't accepted. This post answers that for the US and Canada, then covers the details that trip people up at the pump: digital cards, low balances, buying and reloading, and the "Costco gas gift card" confusion.
Short answer: Yes. A physical Costco Shop Card is accepted as payment at Costco gas stations in the US and at Canadian gas bars, and Costco lets non-members spend one. A digital Shop Card (the emailed version) does not work at the pump, so swap it for a plastic card at a warehouse first. There is no separate "Costco gas gift card": the Shop Card is it, and gift cards for other gas brands don't work at Costco.
Can you use a Costco Shop Card for gas?
Yes, as long as it's the physical card. Costco lists Shop Cards on its gas station payment lists in both countries:
- US: Costco's member terms say "Costco Gas Stations and Car Washes accept: Visa, debit/ATM and Costco Shop Cards," and its customer service payment list for US gas stations includes Costco Shop Cards alongside Visa, PIN debit and Apple Pay.
- Canada: Costco Canada's gas station payment answer lists "MasterCard," "Debit cards" and "Costco Shop Card," and says cash is not accepted.
It is the same card you use inside the warehouse, with the same balance, and it never expires.
| US Costco gas stations | Canadian Costco gas bars | |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Shop Card | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Shop Card (email or phone) | No, per Costco's Shop Card FAQ | No, stated in several Costco pages |
| Non-member paying with a physical Shop Card | Yes, an attendant may need to start the pump | Yes |
| Other payment the pump takes | Visa, PIN debit, Apple Pay | Mastercard, debit (Interac) |
For the full list of cards each country's pumps take, see what credit cards Costco gas accepts and our guide to paying at Costco gas in Canada.
Can you use a digital Costco Shop Card at the pump?
No. The digital Shop Card is the one Costco emails you, which you redeem by showing it on your phone or on a printout. The pump has no way to take it.
In Canada this is spelled out in several places. Costco Canada's Shop Card FAQ says digital cards "cannot be redeemed at Self-Checkout, Food Court Kiosks or the Gas Stations," and the Shop Card product terms on costco.com say digital cards are not accepted "at Canada Gas Stations or Car Washes."
The US is less tidy. Costco's US gas station list just says "Costco Shop Cards" without saying physical or digital, and the costco.com product terms only name Canadian gas stations. But the US Costco Travel help page on digital Shop Cards says plainly that they "can't be used at Food Court Kiosks or Costco Gas Stations." Treat the digital card as warehouse-and-online only in both countries.
The fix is simple: take the digital card to a warehouse register. Both Costco's US and Canadian Shop Card FAQs say you can use a digital Shop Card to buy a physical Shop Card of the same value. The physical card then works at the pump.
How to pay for gas with a Shop Card
Use the Shop Card where you would normally put a payment card. The steps depend on whether you're a member.
If you're a member:
- Scan your membership card (or, in the US, the digital card in the Costco app) when the pump asks for it.
- When the pump asks for payment, insert the physical Shop Card in the card reader.
- Choose your grade and fill up. The amount comes off the card's balance.
If you're not a member:
Costco's US gasoline Q&A says Shop Cards "may only be purchased or recharged by members, but with assistance from an attendant to first authorize the pump, anyone can use a Costco Shop Card to pay for fuel." In practice that means you tell the attendant you're a non-member paying with a Shop Card, the attendant authorizes the pump, and you insert the card.
Costco Canada's gasoline Q&A, as quoted in our Canadian payment guide, says a Shop Card also serves as membership authorization at the pump. Either way, the Shop Card stands in for the membership card. Costco doesn't publish a step-by-step pump sequence for non-members, so if the pump won't start, ask the attendant.
Our post on whether you need a Costco membership to buy gas covers the non-member rules in full, including why state alcohol and pharmacy laws don't extend to gas.
What if the Shop Card balance is less than a full tank?
Check the balance before you pump, and bring a second accepted card. That's the safe plan, because Costco doesn't publish exactly what its pumps do when a Shop Card runs short.
What we could confirm:
- Jalopnik reported in February 2026 that when a fill-up costs more than the Shop Card balance, "Costco allows the stations to accept the difference with any other payment method." That second payment must be something the pump takes: Visa, PIN debit or Apple Pay in the US, Mastercard or debit in Canada. It can't be cash.
- Costco's published pre-authorization rules cover debit and Visa cards (a hold of up to $150 in the US, and in Canada the lower of your card's limit or $200). Costco doesn't say whether a Shop Card gets a similar hold or how a partial balance is handled.
We couldn't confirm from any Costco page whether the pump stops at the Shop Card balance, prompts for a second card, or needs the attendant to split the sale. Reports differ by station. If your card has a small balance, ask the attendant before you start, or spend the small balance inside the warehouse and use a full card at the pump.
To put balances in perspective: at our September 29, 2026 reading, the average Costco regular price was $4.643/gal across 592 US stations, so a $100 Shop Card covers about 21.5 gallons. In Canada the average was 173.0¢/L across 78 gas bars, so $100 buys about 58 litres. Prices vary a lot by region; see the US station list and Canadian station list, or look up your own station from the station finder.
How to buy a Costco Shop Card
Only members can buy or reload a Shop Card. Costco's US member terms say "Only members may purchase and reload Costco Shop Cards," and both countries' Shop Card FAQs say you must be a member to buy one. After that, anyone can spend it.
| US | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Where to buy | Any US warehouse or Costco.com | Any Canadian warehouse or Costco.ca |
| Amounts | $25 to $2,000 on Costco.com (third-party guides report lower in-warehouse maximums) | $50 to $2,000, per Costco Canada's gas payment answer |
| Physical card by mail | 7 to 10 business days standard (First Class Mail, no tracking); 3 to 5 business days express by FedEx for $12 | About 7 to 10 business days |
| Digital card | Emailed, usually within a day | Emailed, usually within 24 hours |
| Reload | At a warehouse register only, not online | At a warehouse register only, not online |
| Expiry | Never | Never |
A few rules worth knowing:
- Order the physical card if you want it for gas. Costco's product page says cards are mailed with a zero balance and need a call to a toll-free number to activate. Digital cards don't need activation, but they don't work at the pump.
- You can't buy a Shop Card with a Shop Card on Costco.com. The US product terms say "Shop cards cannot be purchased using another Shop Card as payment."
- There's a daily limit. Costco's US FAQ says it limits the total value of certain gift cards it sells to $10,000 or less per day, across in-store and online.
- How you pay depends on where you buy. US warehouses take Visa, PIN debit, cash, checks and mobile wallets; Costco.com also takes Mastercard. In Canada, Costco.ca takes Visa. That's why a Shop Card is the standard workaround for a card the pump won't take: buy the Shop Card with it, then use the Shop Card at the pump. Our credit card post has the steps for Mastercard, Amex and Discover holders in the US and Visa holders in Canada.
Is there a "Costco gas gift card"?
No. Costco doesn't sell a fuel-only gift card. When people search for a Costco gas gift card, the card that works at the pump is the ordinary Costco Shop Card. Costco Canada's payment guide and costco.com's product terms describe one Shop Card for the warehouse, online orders and the gas station.
Some other cards get mixed up with it:
- Old Costco Cash Cards. "Cash Card" is the Shop Card's older name, and some people still call it that. If you have an old card, check its balance on Costco's Shop Card balance page or at a warehouse register before relying on it at the pump.
- Other brands' gas gift cards. Shell, Chevron, Exxon, Mobil, Esso or Petro-Canada gift cards only work at those brands' stations. Costco pumps take the payment types on Costco's lists, and third-party gas gift cards aren't on them.
- Third-party gift cards Costco sells. Costco sells discounted gift cards for restaurants, entertainment and other brands in its warehouses and on Costco.com. Those are for spending at the other brand, not at Costco. We couldn't find a gas-brand card in the Costco.com gift card listings we could load on September 30, 2026, but the lineup changes and warehouse displays differ, so check yours if you're looking for one.
- Prepaid Visa and Mastercard gift cards. A prepaid Visa is still a Visa, so it's allowed at US Costco pumps, but it can be declined if its balance can't cover the pump's pre-authorization hold. A Shop Card is more reliable.
Using Executive rewards or Citi certificates for gas via a Shop Card
You can't hand a reward certificate to the pump, but you can turn it into a Shop Card and use that. Costco Canada says so directly: rewards "may be redeemed at any Canadian Costco warehouse towards the purchase of a Costco Shop Card which then may be used online at Costco.ca or at our gas stations." In the US, Costco's Executive reward FAQ says you can buy a Shop Card with your reward at a warehouse, and Costco's customer service says the same for the Citi annual reward certificate.
Buy a physical card, not a digital one. Shop Card purchases don't earn the Executive 2% reward in the US, and neither does gas. The details, including the CIBC certificate in Canada, are in our post on whether gas counts toward the Executive 2% reward.
Checking your balance and what to do if you lose the card
Check the balance on Costco's Shop Card balance page with the card number and the PIN on the back (for a digital card, both are in the email), or ask at any warehouse register.
If the card is lost or stolen, Costco's answers differ by page. The US Shop Card FAQ says Costco "is not responsible for lost or stolen cards and unfortunately, they cannot be replaced." The costco.com product terms and Costco Canada's FAQ both say that with proof of purchase, Costco will issue a replacement for the balance on its records (Costco Canada gives Member Service at 1-800-463-3783). Keep your receipt or order confirmation, and treat the card like cash.
Shop Card scenarios: does it work at the pump?
| I have… | Works at the pump? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A physical Shop Card and a membership | Yes, US and Canada | Scan membership, insert the Shop Card to pay |
| A physical Shop Card, no membership | Yes, US and Canada | Ask the attendant if the pump won't start |
| A digital Shop Card (email or app) | No | Exchange it for a physical card at a warehouse register |
| A Shop Card with less than a full tank on it | Partly | Check the balance; bring Visa or debit (US) or Mastercard or debit (Canada) for the rest |
| A US Shop Card at a Canadian gas bar (or the reverse) | Yes | Shop Cards are valid in both countries; ask the cashier how the balance converts |
| An old Costco Cash Card | Likely, if it has a balance | Check the balance first |
| A Shell, Chevron or other gas-brand gift card | No | Use it at that brand's stations |
| An Executive reward or Citi certificate | Not directly | Buy a physical Shop Card with it inside, then use that |
| A prepaid Visa gift card | US: may work; Canada: no | It can fail the pre-authorization hold; Canada doesn't take Visa credit |
A Shop Card also helps cross-border drivers: a Canadian card may hit a ZIP prompt at a US pump, and a US Visa is refused at a Canadian gas bar. Costco's Shop Card FAQs say cards work at any Costco in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, and Costco Canada's FAQ explains how balances carry over between US and Canadian funds. If you fill up near the border, compare Bellingham, WA with Abbotsford, BC and Langley, BC, or read our cross-border Costco gas comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a Costco gift card for gas?
Yes. Costco's gift card is the Costco Shop Card, and the physical card is accepted at Costco gas stations in the US and Canada. Digital Shop Cards can't be used at the pump.
Do you need a membership to use a Costco Shop Card for gas?
No. Costco lets non-members spend Shop Cards, and its US gasoline Q&A says anyone can pay for fuel with one once an attendant authorizes the pump. Only members can buy or reload the card.
Can I split a gas purchase between a Shop Card and a credit card?
It's reported that Costco stations accept the difference on another payment method when the Shop Card balance runs out, but Costco doesn't publish how each pump handles it. Bring a second card the pump accepts and ask the attendant if the pump doesn't prompt for it.
How do I turn a digital Costco Shop Card into a physical one?
Take the digital card (on your phone or printed) to any Costco warehouse register and use it to buy a physical Shop Card of the same value. Costco's US and Canadian Shop Card FAQs both describe this exchange.
Can I reload a Costco Shop Card online?
No. Costco says Shop Cards, physical or digital, can only be reloaded at a warehouse register, and only members can reload them.
Can I use a Costco Shop Card at Shell, Chevron or other gas stations?
No. A Costco Shop Card only works at Costco locations, Costco.com and Costco.ca, including Costco gas stations. It isn't on the Visa or Mastercard network, so other gas stations can't take it.
Does a Costco Shop Card expire?
No. Costco's Shop Card FAQs in both countries say Shop Cards never expire, and the balance carries over until you spend it.
Sources
- Shop Card FAQs, Costco Customer Service (US) — members-only purchase, non-member use, where cards are valid, no online reloading, balance check, no expiry, US lost-card wording, digital-to-physical exchange, $10,000 daily limit.
- Shop Card FAQs, Costco Customer Service (Canada) — digital cards not redeemable at gas stations, reloading, no expiry, replacement with proof of purchase, delivery times, currency conversion, digital-to-physical exchange.
- Costco Shop Card product page, Costco.com — digital cards not accepted at Canadian gas stations, member-only item, no paying with another Shop Card, activation, shipping times and fees, replacement with proof of purchase.
- Digital Costco Shop Card, Costco Travel Customer Service (US) — digital cards "can't be used at Food Court Kiosks or Costco Gas Stations"; exchange for a physical card.
- Member Privileges & Conditions, Costco (US) — gas station payment list including Shop Cards; only members may buy and reload; non-members may use Shop Cards.
- What payment methods are accepted at Costco?, Costco Customer Service (US) — US gas station, warehouse and Costco.com payment lists; where Shop Cards can be bought.
- Costco Gas Station FAQs, Costco Customer Service (US) — pre-authorization of up to $150 for Visa and PIN debit.
- What are the gas station payment options?, Costco Customer Service (Canada) — Mastercard, debit and Shop Card; $50 to $2,000 Shop Card amounts; no cash.
- Costco Gas Stations Q&A, Costco.com (seen in search results; the page did not load for us) — "with assistance from an attendant to first authorize the pump, anyone can use a Costco Shop Card to pay for fuel."
- How can I use my Executive Membership 2% Reward?, Costco Customer Service (Canada) — rewards can buy a Shop Card usable at gas stations (via our Executive reward post).
- The One Way Non-Members Can Still Get Gas At Costco, Jalopnik (February 2026) — reported non-member Shop Card use and paying the difference with another method.
- Costco Gas: How To Buy Gas At Costco Even Without A Membership, Camping for Foodies — reported attendant step for non-members.
- Costco Gift Cards, CostcoGuides — reported $25 to $2,000 range and lower in-warehouse maximum (third-party, not confirmed by Costco).