How to Fill Up a Hire Car in Florida: UK Visitors Guide
On This Page
Most Florida petrol stations require you to pay at the pump or prepay inside before filling up. UK cards sometimes work at the pump, but you may need to see the cashier if the machine requests a US ZIP code.
Petrol and Fuel Terms UK Visitors Need to Know
Filling up a hire car in Florida can feel surprisingly unfamiliar the first time. The process is similar to the UK, but Americans use different words for petrol, pumps, and payment. Knowing the basics will make it easier to understand the signs, out the right fuel in the car, and work out how much you are spending.
What is petrol called in America?
In America petrol is called gas or gasoline. The term gas is used on the pumps for unleaded petrol and this is usually what you’ll be filling up your hire car with. If you need diesel it is still called diesel; there is no difference in the name, only the metric used to measure the cost.
The Big Differences Putting Fuel In Your Hire Car In The US
American fuel stations work differently to UK ones in a few ways that catch British visitors out. Not only is the cost of fuel usually cheaper, even though you may get sticker shock from seeing the price in gallons, how you actually fill up is also different:
You pay before you pump. At almost all American fuel stations, payment happens before fuel is dispensed rather than after. If you're paying by card at the pump, it will ask for your zip code as a security check. Entering 00000 or 99999 if your card declines, can work as a non-US workaround, though this isn't universal and heading inside to pay is usually easier. Inside the cashier will authorise a specific dollar amount to your pump number. Paying cash inside first is also perfectly normal.
Fuel grades are labelled differently. Most hire cars run on Regular, but check the fuel cap or the inside of the fuel door for confirmation. Regular is the cheapest grade, so unless your car specifically requires a different grade, there's no reason to pay for it.
The nozzle stays in position by itself. American fuel nozzles have a latch that holds them open so you don't have to keep squeezing the handle. Squeeze the trigger until it clicks into the open position, let go, and the fuel flows. It stops automatically when the tank is full.
How To Identify The Correct Fuel To Put In?
The quickest place to check is inside the fuel flap or on the fuel cap. You may see wording such as "Unleaded Fuel Only," "Regular Unleaded," "Premium Required" or "Diesel Fuel Only." Some cars also show the recommended octane rating, such as 87, 89 or 91.
Fuel can be quite confusing because the US uses a different grading system than we do in the UK. In the US, they use the Anti-Knock Index, (AKI) whereas in the UK we use the Research Octane Number (RON) to grade our fuel. This is what it roughly works out to in comparison:
Regular Unleaded - 87 octane | Mid-Grade or Plus - 89 octane | Premium - 91-93 octane |
|---|---|---|
Regular is the cheapest and most commonly used grade of unleaded petrol in the US. It is broadly equivalent to around 91-92 RON in the UK . For most standard hire cars, including typical saloons and SUVs, this will be the correct option. | Mid-grade sits between regular and premium in both price and octane rating. Most UK visitors will not need it for a standard hire car unless the manufacturer or rental company specifically recommends it. | Premium is the most expensive grade and is similar to 97-99 RON super unleaded in the UK. Mainly meant for high-performance, luxury or specialist vehicles. Only use it when the car specifically requires or recommends premium fuel. |
Always check the fuel flap or rental paperwork before choosing a grade.
Step-By-Step: How To Fill Up Your Hire Car With Petrol In Florida
Most cars are in Florida are unleaded, but always check before filling up a hire car. Here’s a step by step on how filling up at a Florida petrol station forecourt works:
1: Find the fuel cap before you park-up at the pump: do this by looking at the fuel gauge on your dashboard. There’s usually a tiny arrow next to the pump icon pointing to the correct side.
2: Pay before you pump. You have two options to do this:
Pay at the pump: Swipe or tap your credit or debit card. American pumps often ask for a 5-digit ZIP code for security. Since UK cards don't have one, try entering "00000" or the numbers from your postcode padded with zeros. If the machine rejects it, don't stress-just use the second option.
Pay inside: Pop into the shop, tell the cashier your pump number, and ask to authorise a specific amount (e.g., "Can I put $40 on pump 3, please?"). They will authorise your card, and you can head back out to pump. If it only takes $30 to fill the tank, your card will only be charged $30.
3. Choose your fuel: Most American hire cars run on "Regular" (87 octane). It is the cheapest option and perfectly fine for your rental, but be careful because the pump colours are totally different from the UK. Green does not always mean unleaded, so read the labels.
4. Grab the nozzle, select your fuel grade and fill up the car A lot of US pumps have a little metal latch on the handle. You can flip it down to keep the fuel flowing automatically so you don't have to grip it the whole time. Just make sure you stay right next to the car while it fills.
5. Once the tank is full, the pump will click off automatically. Put the nozzle back, and press a button for a receipt, or just grab one from the cashier inside if you need it.
Why Has a Florida Petrol Station Put a Temporary Charge on My Card?
When you pay at the pump in Florida, your banking app may show a temporary charge that is higher than the amount of petrol you bought. This is usually a preauthorisation, also known as a card hold; not an additional fuel charge.
The petrol station does not know how much fuel you will take when you first insert or tap your card. It therefore asks your card issuer to reserve a set amount before activating the pump, confirming that the card is valid and funds are available.
Once you have finished filling up, the station submits the actual purchase amount. For example, you might buy £33.75 ($45.00) of petrol while temporarily seeing a larger pending authorisation in your account. The pending amount should eventually be replaced or released, leaving only the final fuel purchase.
A preauthorisation may appear in your banking app as:
Pending
Authorised
Card verification
Preauthorisation
The time taken to release it depends on the petrol station, payment network and your bank or card provider, so do not assume the reserved funds will become available immediately. A pending card authorisation has not yet been posted as a completed transaction. Paying a fixed amount inside at the cashier may help you avoid a larger pay-at-the-pump authorisation.
Returning your hire car with a full tank
Every hire car agreement will specify that the car should be returned with a full tank unless you've opted for the prepaid fuel option. This is rarely good value, so we suggest you avoid this option and fill the car up yourself to save money.
Fill up at a station on the airport back to the airport, not at an airport station. Airport fuel stations in Orlando, like at most major airports globally, charge a significant premium.
If you’re taking the 417 route back to Terminal C drop-offs, we have used both of these petrol stations and had a full tank when returning the car without paying higher costs for fuel.
Also allow yourself plenty of time, as traffic can get busy and it is easy to overshoot turnings.
Filling up a hire car in Florida is straightforward once you understand the fuel grades, payment process and common pump prompts. Check the correct fuel before you start, keep your receipt, and ask the cashier for help whenever your UK card or the pump causes a problem.
Next steps
Where to go next
The next steps from here
Planning A Disney World Holiday From The UK: Ultimate Guide (2026-2027)Find out about heading to Disney World from the UK here, from turning the dream into a holiday plan, booking, and planning your days in the parks
Where Can You Buy Walt Disney World Tickets In The UK?Find out the best places to buy Disney World tickets in the UK, from booking direct to authorised sellers and holiday packages.
Disney World Planning & Booking Timeline: What To Book & When From The UKA full timeline for UK visitors planning Disney World trips with guidance for key milestones, perfect for first timers
Disney World Booking Timeline: When and How To Book From The UKQuestions From UK Visitors About Filling Up With Hire Cars
Using an American petrol station for the first time can be confusing, particularly when the pump uses unfamiliar payment prompts or your hire car works differently from your car at home. These answers cover the most common problems UK visitors may encounter when filling up in Florida.
Why Has My UK Card Been Declined at a Florida Petrol Pump?
A UK card may be declined because the pump cannot verify your billing details, your bank has blocked the overseas transaction or the card does not support the petrol station's preauthorisation process. Instead of trying again go inside, tell the cashier your pump number and ask to prepay for the fuel. You can also try another card or pay with cash.
What Should I Do When the Pump Asks for a ZIP Code?
The simplest solution is to cancel the transaction and pay inside if the machine will not accept a UK postcode, and wants only 5 numerical digits. Asking for a zip code is part of an address-verification check to confirm the person using the card is the cardholder.
How Do I Know Which Fuel to Put in My Florida Hire Car?
Check the label inside the fuel flap or on the fuel cap before selecting a pump. You can also check the rental agreement, vehicle handbook or information displayed on the dashboard.
Most standard Florida hire cars use regular 87 unleaded, but never rely on this assumption
What Happens If I Prepay for More Petrol Than I Use?
When paying inside, you normally tell the cashier your pump number and the maximum amount you would like to spend. If you paid with cash, return to the cashier to collect any unused balance before leaving. When paying by card, the transaction may initially show the authorised amount before being adjusted to the value of the fuel you put in the car.
Why Will the Petrol Pump Not Start?
First, check that the payment has been approved and that you have selected a fuel grade. At some stations, you may also need to lift a small lever beneath the nozzle holder after removing the nozzle.
If you prepaid inside, make sure you are using the pump number you gave the cashier. The cashier may need to activate or reset the pump when the transaction has not registered correctly.
How Do I Find and Open the Fuel Cap on My Hire Car?
Look at the fuel-pump symbol on the dashboard. On many vehicles, a small arrow beside the symbol points towards the side of the car containing the fuel flap. The fuel flap may open by:
Pressing the flap while the car is unlocked
Pulling a lever near the driver's seat
Pressing a dashboard or door-panel button
Unlocking it automatically with the central locking
