Fuelling and Other Expenses

While the cost of gas is included in our rates, every member is responsible for making sure they leave the car with at least one-quarter tank of gas at the end of their trip.

If the gas level drops below one-quarter tank during your trip, we ask that everyone does their part and fuels up (regular grade only in Canada, and preferably SP95-E5 or SP95-E10 in France). This is a matter of courtesy to other members, and it’s never fun to show up to an empty tank.

A gas card is provided in all vehicles (except 100% electric vehicles). 

If, for whatever reason, you are unable to use the gas card, please pay for gas out-of-pocket and submit the receipt for reimbursement.

Purchase receipts for gas, washer fluid, or minor maintenance items such as new wiper blades, can be submitted via the mobile app.

To submit receipts:

If your reservation is ongoing:

• Click on “Purchase receipt” in the reservation banner.

If your reservation has ended:

• Select the appropriate trip under “My trips” and click on “Add/View receipts”

Once the expense is verified, the amount(s) indicated on the receipt will be credited on your next monthly invoice. As a precaution, please keep your paper receipt until the credit has appeared on your invoice. Please note: only detailed purchase receipts, and not transaction statements, will be accepted.

Expenses for items other than gas exceeding $40 must be authorized by Communauto in advance.

All Communauto vehicles are equipped with a gas card so members can ensure there is at least a quarter tank of gas before ending their trip. The cards should work at the majority of gas stations in Canada. In France, they will only work at Total, Elan, or Elf. 

If you are planning a trip to the United States, don’t forget to bring your own payment method. You can submit your receipts for reimbursement.

The gas cards only allow pay-at-the-pump fuel purchases.

In Canada, gas cards must be activated via the mobile app to work.

• During your reservation, click “Credit card” within your active trip.
• The PIN you need to enter at the pump will be displayed.
• The maximum pre-authorization amount is $100 (higher amounts will not work).

In Paris, to use a gas card, you must have on hand the codes you received when you joined.

If, for whatever reason, you are unable to use the gas card, please pay for gas out-of-pocket and submit the receipt for reimbursement.

Although we provide gas cards for your convenience, it is important that you always maintain the ability to make any purchase payments that may be required in the course of your trip. Do not rely entirely on the gas cards!

No, it is not necessary to submit a receipt if you use a card provided by Communauto to fuel the car.

If, for whatever reason, you are unable to use the gas card, please pay for gas out-of-pocket and submit the receipt so we can credit the amount to your account.

Although we provide gas cards for your convenience, you should always prepared to make any purchases that may be required during your trip. Do not rely entirely on the gas cards!

Before concluding that the card has a problem

If the gas card is not working for your purchase, you can try one of the following:

• Make sure you have not pre-authorized more than $100
• If the machine asks for a driver number, simply enter the PIN and press OK

If you or a previous member used the card within the last few hours, it’s possible that the daily limit has already been reached. You can try the purchase again with a lower pre-authorized amount – this might be enough to add some gas without needing to use another payment method.

We offer a time credit on specific FLEX trips when members refuel the vehicle because a visit to the gas station could take up a significant portion of their short trip.

In general, members book Round-trip vehicles for longer trips than they do with FLEX vehicles.  Most reservations on Round-trip vehicles are more than an hour long, so it’s reasonable to expect members to fuel up as needed within the reserved period.

Even when using a FLEX vehicle, only trips of one hour or less qualify for a 20-minute credit. This credit serves both as an incentive and as compensation in the case of very short trips billed by the minute.

Whichever type of vehicle you use, regardless of the length of your trip, it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure that the tank is at least a quarter full when you return.  Think of the next member!

If you have submitted a receipt to claim credit for an expense, the transaction needs to be verified by a Communauto agent before your account can be credited. Therefore, you could be charged for a trip and receive a credit for it later. As a precaution, please keep your paper receipts until the credits appear on your monthly statement. Please note: only itemized purchase receipts, not transaction records, are accepted.

Was it a FLEX trip?

If your transaction entitles you to a time credit, you will see this appear at the same time as the transaction is processed, as explained above. Rest assured: the time credits you are entitled to will be granted retroactively even for trips that have already been charged to your card.

You are more likely to receive your credit right away if you use the credit card provided in the vehicle. It all depends on where you use the card: some service stations provide us with the data in real-time. Other locations process the information manually, which can result in delays. You do not need to retain or submit receipts when using the credit card provided in the vehicle.

See also: Fuelling and Other Expenses

The credit card provided by Communauto can only be used for pay-at-the-pump fuel purchases.