You are at the pump with your iPhone in your hand. Can you use Apple Pay at Costco gas? In the US, yes, but only in a particular order and with the right card loaded in Apple Wallet. This post covers exactly how to tap your phone at a Costco pump, the three Tap to Pay options Costco advertises, what happens with Google Pay and Samsung Pay, and why the answer is different at Canadian gas bars.
Short answer: Yes. Apple Pay is on Costco's official list of payment methods for US gas stations. Scan or insert your membership card first, then tap your iPhone or Apple Watch on the contactless reader, using a Visa or an accepted debit card: a Mastercard, Amex or Discover inside Apple Pay is declined like the plastic card would be. Google Pay and Samsung Pay are not on the US gas list. In Canada, Apple Pay is not listed for gas bars, and Costco Canada says mobile devices are prohibited at its gas stations.
Does Costco gas take Apple Pay in the US?
Yes. Costco's customer service page on payment methods, checked on September 30, 2026, lists "Apple Pay" for US gas stations alongside all Visa cards, most PIN-based debit/ATM cards and Costco Shop Cards. Apple Pay is the only phone wallet on that list. The same page lists "Mobile Payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay)" for US warehouses, so the warehouse and the pump have different rules. The rules are the same at every station, whether you fill up in California, Texas or Florida. For the full list of cards and why Costco only takes Visa credit, see our guide to what credit cards Costco gas accepts.
How to use Apple Pay at a Costco gas pump, step by step
The key point is order: membership first, then payment. Apple Pay pays for the fuel, but it does not tell the pump you are a member.
- Start the pump with your membership. As in our first-timer's guide to getting gas at Costco, insert your plastic Costco card, or scan the digital membership card in the Costco app at the pump's scanner. (Our guide to using the Costco app or digital card at the pump covers the scanning step.)
- Wait for the payment prompt. The screen asks you to insert or tap a payment method.
- Pick the right card in Apple Wallet. Make sure the card showing is a Visa (credit or debit) or a debit card that will run on an accepted network. Apple's instructions: to use a card other than your default on iPhone, tap the default card to see your other cards, pick one and authenticate.
- Tap. Hold the top of the iPhone near the contactless symbol on the reader until you see "Done" and a checkmark. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
- Answer any prompts, then fuel. Some cards trigger a ZIP code prompt (see troubleshooting below). Choose regular or premium, pump, hang up the nozzle and take your receipt.
A pre-authorization hold happens exactly as it does with a card. Costco's US gas FAQ says the hold for Visa and PIN debit purchases "may be up to $150." At our September 29, 2026 average of $4.643/gal for Costco regular across 592 US stations, $150 covers about 32 gallons, which is more than most car tanks.
Can you use Apple Pay on an Apple Watch at Costco gas?
Yes, in the same way. Apple Pay on Apple Watch is Apple Pay, and Costco's list does not separate devices. Double-click the side button, check the card (scroll to change it, as your default card opens automatically), and hold the watch display near the reader until you feel a gentle tap. You still need to scan or insert your membership first.
Which cards work inside Apple Pay at Costco gas?
The wallet does not change the network rules. Apple Pay passes a token for whatever card you selected, and the pump treats it like that card. So:
| Card loaded in Apple Pay | At a US Costco pump |
|---|---|
| Visa credit (any issuer) | Accepted |
| Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi | Accepted; earns the card's gas rewards |
| Visa debit | Accepted in most cases |
| Mastercard debit | May fail; use the plastic card with your PIN instead |
| Mastercard credit | Declined |
| American Express | Declined |
| Discover | Declined |
| Apple Card (a Mastercard) | Declined |
Two lines catch people out. The Apple Card runs on Mastercard, so US Costco pumps decline it. And debit cards behave differently in Apple Pay than when inserted. Costco accepts "most PIN-based" debit cards, but a phone tap usually does not ask for a PIN, so a debit card in Apple Pay tends to run over the card's own brand network. A Visa debit card is fine on that basis. A Mastercard-branded debit card may be declined when tapped, though it works when inserted with a PIN. This is how card routing generally works, not a rule Costco publishes, so if a debit tap fails, insert the plastic card and enter your PIN.
If you have the Costco Anywhere Visa, putting it in Apple Pay keeps the 5% Costco gas reward. Our Costco Citi Visa gas rewards guide explains the cap and which stations count.
Costco Tap to Pay: the three ways to tap at the pump
Costco's US gasoline page has a section called "3 Ways You Can Tap To Pay" and links to a Tap to Pay flyer. The flyer lists:
| Option | Step 1 | Step 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tap the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi | Nothing else: it counts as membership and payment |
| 2 | Insert your membership card | Tap a contactless payment card |
| 3 | Insert your membership card | Tap a mobile wallet |
Option 1 works because Citi says the Costco Anywhere Visa "doubles as your Costco membership ID while you are a cardmember." Tapping the physical card lets the pump check your membership and charge the card in one go. That shortcut applies to the plastic card. The card number stored in Apple Pay is a separate device token, so tapping your phone with the Citi Visa inside it pays for the gas but does not reliably prove membership. Canadian members report exactly this with the CIBC Costco Mastercard in phone wallets: the physical card works alone, while the phone tap brings up a "Costco Members Only" prompt. Expect the same in the US and scan your membership first if you pay by phone.
Option 2 is plain tap-to-pay with any contactless Visa credit or debit card. Look for the contactless symbol (four curved lines) on the card.
When did Costco start taking Apple Pay and contactless at the pump?
Contactless readers went into Costco gas stations as part of the 2018 Apple Pay rollout, but the pumps went live after the warehouses. Costco activated contactless terminals at all of its roughly 750 US warehouses on August 10, 2018. Coverage at the time (9to5Mac, Marketing Dive and Retail Dive, August 21–22, 2018) reported that contactless readers had been installed at gas stations but were not yet in use, and that only a few had gone live.
We could not find a public Costco announcement dating when every US pump went live with tap. What we can say is that Apple Pay is now on Costco's official US gas station payment list and Costco promotes Tap to Pay on its gasoline page. The flyer itself is undated.
Does every US Costco pump have a contactless reader?
Costco treats Apple Pay and Tap to Pay as standard at its US gas stations, but it does not publish a pump-by-pump list. A reader can be out of order, so if a pump will not respond to your tap, insert your card or move pumps. Carrying a physical Visa, a PIN debit card or a Costco Shop Card as backup is sensible, because Costco gas stations have no cashier and don't take cash.
Does Costco gas take Google Pay or Samsung Pay?
Not officially. Google Pay and Samsung Pay are on Costco's US warehouse payment list but are missing from the US gas station list, which names only Apple Pay. So the honest answer is: Costco does not promise they will work at the pump.
Technically, the pump's reader is a standard contactless reader, and a Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet tap with a Visa inside sends the same kind of token as Apple Pay, so some taps may go through. But Costco has not listed these wallets for gas, and there is a Google Wallet Community thread titled "Unable to use Google pay to tap and pay for gas at Costco gas stations, must use physical card." Canadian members on RedFlagDeals report that phone taps fail the membership check, as described above. If you use an Android phone:
- Scan or insert your membership card first, never tap the phone alone.
- Make sure the card in the wallet is a Visa.
- Have the physical Visa or debit card ready in case the tap is declined.
The Costco app is a different thing from a payment wallet. It holds your digital membership card, which US pumps accept for the membership step. See can you use the Costco app or digital card at the gas pump for how that works and why screenshots don't scan.
Can you use Apple Pay at Costco gas in Canada?
No, not officially. Costco Canada lists Apple Pay as a payment method in its warehouses, but its gas station list is only "Mastercard credit & debit", "Debit Card" and a physical "Costco Shop Card". Google Pay and Samsung Pay are not listed anywhere for Costco Canada.
Costco.ca's gasoline Q&A goes further. Under "Can I use my cell phone?" it says: "The use of mobile devices is prohibited at Costco gas stations. For your own safety and the safety of those around you, please refrain from using your cell phone." Costco Canada's digital membership card is also not accepted at gas bars, so you need the plastic membership card or a CIBC Costco Mastercard.
Tapping a physical card is different. Members on RedFlagDeals report that tapping a physical CIBC Costco Mastercard at the pump works and handles membership and payment in one step. Tapping a phone with the same card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet was reported to trigger the "Costco Members Only" prompt. The safest routine in Canada is to insert a Mastercard or debit card and enter your PIN, particularly for a large fill. At our September 29, 2026 average of 173.0¢/L for Costco regular in Canada, the $200 maximum hold covers about 115 litres. Our full guide to paying at Costco gas in Canada covers debit, Visa Debit, holds and the best Mastercard to use at the Canadian gas bars we track.
Apple Pay, tap and phone wallets at Costco gas: US vs Canada
| Method | US Costco gas station | Canada Costco gas bar |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Pay (iPhone) | Yes, with Visa or accepted debit inside | Not listed; mobile devices prohibited |
| Apple Pay (Apple Watch) | Yes, same rules as iPhone | Not listed |
| Google Pay / Google Wallet | Not on the gas list (warehouse only) | Not listed |
| Samsung Pay / Samsung Wallet | Not on the gas list (warehouse only) | Not listed |
| Tap a physical contactless card | Yes, Visa credit or debit, after membership | Members report it works with Mastercard |
| Tap the Costco co-branded card alone | Yes, Citi Costco Visa (membership + payment) | Members report it works with the CIBC Costco Mastercard |
| Digital membership card in Costco app | Accepted for the membership step | Not accepted |
| Mastercard in any wallet | Declined (credit) | Accepted network, but phone use not listed |
| Visa credit in any wallet | Accepted | Declined |
Cross-border drivers should note the network flips. A Visa in Apple Pay works in Bellingham but not in Abbotsford, and a Mastercard does the opposite.
Troubleshooting: Apple Pay or tap declined at the Costco pump
The tap was declined straight away. Check which card Apple Wallet actually used. If your default card is a Mastercard, Amex, Discover or the Apple Card, the pump refuses it. Switch to a Visa before tapping, or change your default in the Wallet settings.
The pump says "Costco Members Only" or asks for a membership card. You tapped before the membership step, or you tapped a phone expecting the Citi Visa inside it to count as membership. Insert or scan your membership card, then tap again.
The pump asks for a ZIP code. US pumps often ask for the billing ZIP code for credit card purchases, and this can happen with Apple Pay too. Enter the five-digit ZIP on the card's billing address. Cards with a non-US billing address have no ZIP, which is the most common reason Canadians get stuck at US pumps; our credit card guide covers the workaround people report.
The debit card in Apple Pay was declined. A phone tap usually runs debit without a PIN, over the card's brand network. Insert the plastic card and use your PIN instead, and check the account has enough available funds to cover the hold of up to $150.
Nothing happens when you tap. The reader may be off or faulty. Try inserting a card or using another pump; attendants can help, but there is no register.
For price checks before you go, look up your nearest station on the station finder or the US price hub.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use Apple Pay at Costco gas without a membership card?
Not with Apple Pay alone. The pump needs a membership check first, from the plastic card, the digital membership card in the Costco app, or a tapped physical Citi Costco Visa. A Costco Shop Card is the one way to fuel without a membership, since it also serves as authorization at the pump.
Does Costco gas take tap to pay?
Yes, in the US. Costco promotes three Tap to Pay options at its gas stations: tap the physical Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi alone, or insert your membership card and then tap a contactless Visa or a mobile wallet such as Apple Pay.
Can I use my Apple Card at a Costco gas station?
No. The Apple Card is a Mastercard, and US Costco gas stations accept Visa as their only credit card network. Choose a Visa or an accepted debit card in Apple Wallet instead.
Does Apple Pay at Costco gas still earn my Costco Citi Visa rewards?
Yes. Apple Pay passes the purchase to the card you selected, so a Costco Anywhere Visa used through Apple Pay earns its normal Costco gas cash back, currently 5% on up to $7,000 a year of combined gas and EV spending.
Is there a pre-authorization hold when paying with Apple Pay at Costco?
Yes. Costco requests a pre-authorization before fueling for Visa and PIN debit purchases, which it says may be up to $150 in the US. The final amount replaces it after you hang up, and your bank releases the difference.
Why is phone use prohibited at Canadian Costco gas bars?
Costco Canada's gasoline Q&A says mobile devices are prohibited at its gas stations for your safety and the safety of those around you. That is one reason Apple Pay is not offered at Canadian gas bars, so pay with a physical Mastercard, debit card or Shop Card.
Sources
- What payment methods are accepted at Costco?, Costco Customer Service (US) — US gas station list (Visa, Citi Costco Visa, most PIN debit, Apple Pay, Shop Cards) and US warehouse list including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
- Costco Gasoline Pay, Costco.com — "3 Ways You Can Tap To Pay" section and link to the Tap to Pay flyer; membership card required at the pumps.
- Tap to Pay at Costco Gas Stations, Costco (US) flyer — the three options: tap the Citi Costco Visa; insert membership card and tap a contactless card; insert membership card and tap a mobile wallet.
- Costco Gas Station FAQs, Costco Customer Service (US) — pre-authorization of up to $150 for Visa and PIN debit.
- Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, Citi — the card "doubles as your Costco membership ID"; contactless tap; digital wallets.
- Make purchases using Apple Pay, Apple Support — how to tap with iPhone and Apple Watch and how to choose a card other than the default.
- Gasoline Q and A, Costco.ca — "We accept MasterCard, Canadian debit cards and Costco Shop Cards"; "The use of mobile devices is prohibited at Costco gas stations"; $200 pre-authorization; membership read from card or co-branded Mastercard.
- What methods of payment does Costco Canada accept?, Costco Customer Service (Canada) — Apple Pay on the Canadian warehouse list but not the gas station list.
- Apple Pay now accepted at all US Costco warehouses, coming soon to gas stations, 9to5Mac — August 2018: contactless terminals installed at gas stations but not yet in use.
- Costco now accepts Apple Pay at all US stores, Marketing Dive — activation at all 750 US warehouses on August 10, 2018; only a few gas station readers live.
- Costco adopts Apple Pay as it embraces contactless payments, Retail Dive — Costco planning contactless payment at its gas stations (August 2018).
- Unable to use Google pay to tap and pay for gas at Costco gas stations, Google Wallet Community (seen in search results) — user report of Google Pay failing at Costco pumps.
- Tap Virtual CIBC Costco MC (in Google Wallet on smartphone) at Costco Gas Pump?, RedFlagDeals forums (seen in search results) — member reports: physical card tap works alone; phone wallet tap triggers "Costco Members Only".