Petrol & roadhouse · Australia
Compare EFTPOS Fees for Petrol & Service Stations
Petrol sites process high card volumes across fuel, shop and takeaway sales. The right EFTPOS setup reduces merchant fees on the shop side and keeps forecourt traffic moving.
Most enquiries receive a response within 3 hours during business hours.
The problem
Why petrol-site EFTPOS fees need a closer look
Petrol and service stations handle high card volumes across fuel, shop and takeaway sales with very different average values. A single blended rate rarely reflects that mix, and terminal downtime on a 24-hour site directly costs revenue.
- Fuel and shop sales have very different average values and card mixes.
- Older bundled bank plans often include terminal rental that no longer matches current volumes.
- Long trading hours mean terminal downtime directly costs sales.
- Remote and highway sites need reliable connectivity and fast replacement support.
Why it matters
What a better EFTPOS setup changes
- Splitting fuel and shop card streams can reveal where the merchant cost is really coming from.
- Interchange-plus can be cheaper than blended for sites with a high proportion of debit cards.
- A free ATM on site moves some customers to cash, removing card acceptance cost on those sales.
- Same-day or next-day settlement improves working capital for fuel stock purchases.
Fee breakdown
The six charges that make up your EFTPOS cost
Merchant service fee
A percentage of every card sale, often blended across card types. This is usually the largest line on a statement and the one worth comparing first.
Terminal rental or hire
A fixed monthly cost for the EFTPOS machine itself. Some providers bundle it into the transaction rate, others bill it separately.
Interchange and scheme fees
Costs set by the card schemes and passed through to you. Interchange-plus pricing shows them separately; blended pricing hides them inside one rate.
Fixed per-transaction fee
A cents-per-tap charge. On low-value convenience-store baskets this can matter more than the percentage rate.
Minimum monthly fee
A floor charged when your card volume is low. Seasonal and regional sites should check this carefully.
Surcharging (zero-cost EFTPOS)
Passing the cost of card acceptance to the customer within the RBA surcharging rules, so the fee sits with the transaction rather than your margin.
Comparison checklist
What to compare before you switch EFTPOS provider
| What to compare | Why it matters | Ask the provider |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Blended rates are simple but can hide expensive card mixes. | Is this blended or interchange-plus, and what does each card type cost? |
| Total monthly cost | A low rate with high rental can cost more than the reverse. | What is my all-in monthly cost at my current card volume? |
| Contract term | Long lock-ins remove your ability to re-compare later. | What is the term, and what does early exit cost? |
| Settlement time | Same-day settlement changes your working capital. | When do funds land, and does that change on weekends? |
| Surcharge support | Zero-cost setups must stay inside RBA surcharging rules. | Can the terminal surcharge compliantly, and who configures it? |
| Support and replacement | A dead terminal in a convenience store stops trade immediately. | What are support hours and the replacement turnaround? |
How it works
A petrol-site fee review in four steps
- 1
Send a recent merchant statement
One month showing fuel, shop and any takeaway card sales is enough to start.
- 2
Split the all-in cost by sales channel
We separate fuel, shop and other card turnover so you can see which channel drives the fees.
- 3
Compare models for high-volume trade
You get the pricing structures suited to high card volume, including interchange-plus and compliant surcharging.
- 4
Decide, or stay as is
If your current deal is competitive we say so. The review is free and there is no obligation.
Enquire
Ask about cheaper EFTPOS fees for your site
Tell us your fuel and shop card turnover, state and current terminal setup.
Questions
Petrol station EFTPOS FAQ
Do petrol stations pay different EFTPOS rates to other retailers?
Not because of the industry itself, but because of high turnover and mixed card types. The effective rate depends on the pricing model, average sale value and card mix, which is why a statement review is the only reliable comparison.
Can surcharging work at a service station?
Yes, where it is configured within RBA rules and displayed clearly. Many sites surcharge only on shop sales or above a threshold, while fuel remains at the advertised price.
Should a petrol site also offer an ATM?
Yes — eligible sites can have an ATM supplied and maintained at no cost. It gives customers a cash option and earns the site a share of withdrawal surcharges.
What happens if the terminal breaks down?
Support and replacement terms matter as much as the rate for 24-hour sites. We compare support hours, turnaround and backup options as part of the review.
By state
Compare EFTPOS fees in your state
- EFTPOS fees NSWCompare merchant rates for New South Wales businesses.
- EFTPOS fees VICCompare merchant rates for Victoria businesses.
- EFTPOS fees QLDCompare merchant rates for Queensland businesses.
- EFTPOS fees WACompare merchant rates for Western Australia businesses.
- EFTPOS fees SACompare merchant rates for South Australia businesses.
- EFTPOS fees TASCompare merchant rates for Tasmania businesses.
- EFTPOS fees ACTCompare merchant rates for Australian Capital Territory businesses.
- EFTPOS fees NTCompare merchant rates for Northern Territory businesses.
EFTPOS topics
More EFTPOS fee comparisons
- EFTPOS Fees for Convenience Stores & Mini-MartsCompare EFTPOS machine fees for Australian convenience stores and mini-marts. Low-basket, high-volume sites often pay more in fixed per-tap fees than percentage rates.
- EFTPOS Machine Fees for Small BusinessCompare EFTPOS fees and terminal rental for Australian small businesses. See whether your current merchant rate is competitive against your real card volume.
- Zero Cost EFTPOS & Compliant SurchargingLearn how zero-cost EFTPOS works in Australia. Pass card acceptance costs to customers within RBA surcharging rules and compare terminal options.
- EFTPOS Fees for Cafes, Restaurants & TakeawayCompare EFTPOS machine fees for Australian cafes, restaurants and takeaway venues. Small average sales make per-transaction fees the cost that matters most.
- EFTPOS Fees for Retail Stores & ShopsCompare EFTPOS machine fees for Australian retail stores and shops. Review merchant rates, terminal rental and surcharging against your real card mix.
Want to know what your site is really paying?
Send a recent merchant statement or call 0412 025 552 — Mon–Fri 8:30am – 7:30pm AEST · Online enquiries 24/7.