Can You Buy Gas with a Gift Card When a Murphy Station is Closed?

Gas stations like Murphy are often a go-to option for drivers, but what if your favorite station is closed? Can you still make a purchase using a gift card? This article dives into the specifics of buying gas with a gift card when a Murphy station is closed.

General Guidelines for Using Gift Cards at Closed Stations

When a Murphy station is closed, buying gas with a gift card usually becomes a bit more complicated. Most gas stations, including Murphy, require their pumps to be operational for transactions to occur. However, there are some exceptions that allow for gift card usage even when the station is closed.

Using a Gift Card at Closed Stations: Common Scenarios

Visa, Mastercard, and Other Credit/Debit Cards: When using credit or debit cards like Visa or Mastercard, you can typically buy gas even if the Murphy station is closed. The pumps are often put into an unattended mode when the store is closing. You can complete the transaction on the pump and pay later at a different location or online.

Specific Scenarios with Walmart Gift Cards and Murphy Stations

Another important point to consider is Walmart Gift Cards and their compatibility with Murphy stations. In some cases, you can still make a purchase with a Walmart gift card, but it often depends on the Murphy station you visit and whether the store is open.

Using Walmart Gift Cards at Murphy Stations

In certain locations, you can add a Walmart gift card to your wallet on the Walmart app. This allows you to use it at the pump. Here’s how:

Add the gift card to your wallet via the Walmart app. Go to the pump and scan the QR code. Select the appropriate email gift card option. Proceed with pumping gas as usual.

However, if the Murphy station is closed, purchasing gas using any type of gift card becomes problematic. The pumps are shut down, and there’s no way to complete a transaction.

Legal and Practical Considerations

Most states have laws that prohibit leaving gas pumps unattended and operational. This is done for safety reasons and to prevent fraud. Most insurance companies also require that gas stations have staff present when the pumps are operational.

While some states, such as certain small towns or rural areas, allow "club" or "private" stations to be open 24/7 with remote monitoring and enhanced safety features, these are exceptions and not the norm.

Conclusion

In summary, while you can often buy gas with a Walmart gift card at a Murphy station, this depends on the specific location and store hours. However, if a Murphy station is closed, it is almost impossible to make a gas purchase with a gift card since the pumps are shut down.

Always check the specific Murphy station you plan to visit, either through their website or by contacting them directly, for the most up-to-date and accurate information.