Fuelling and Other Expenses

Communauto members are responsible for refuelling the vehicle if the tank is below one-quarter full at the end of the trip. This ensures the next user can start their journey without delay.

The good news is that gas is included in the cost of your trip: simply use the gas card provided in the vehicle to refill the tank when needed. For details, see: How do I use the gas card provided in the car?

More good news: if you need to fill up during a short FLEX trip, you could be eligible for a credit on your account. For details, see: Do I get a credit if I fuel the vehicle?

See also:

What should I do if the gas card doesn’t work?

Electric Vehicles

Yes. Members must refill the windshield washer fluid if the reservoir is empty, either using the spare jug in the vehicle or by purchasing a new one.

The member who empties the fluid jug is responsible for replacing it with a new one. The receipt for this purchase can be submitted for a credit on the account. (See: How can I get a credit for an expense?)

Please note: In Canada, Winter windshield washer fluid (-35° or -40°C) must be used all year long.

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.

See also:

What is a valid purchase receipt to submit for a credit?

To receive a credit, we require a detailed sales receipt.

A payment or card statement (bank or credit) that does not indicate the nature of the purchase or the merchant where it was made does not constitute proof of purchase.

The supporting document required by Communauto to obtain a credit is the sales receipt.

If this receipt is not sufficiently detailed, you will need to request a proper invoice from the business.

See also:

How can I get a credit for an expense?

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.

In Canada, these cards only work at the gas pump. They are valid at most gas stations but must be activated before each transaction.

• Once you are at the gas station, click “Credit card” within your active trip in the app.
• The PIN you need to enter at the pump will be displayed.
• The maximum pre-authorization amount is $125.
• Please select regular gasoline only.

In France, to use a gas card, you must have on hand the codes you received when you joined. The cards will only work at Total, Elan, or Elf. Please select grade SP95-E5 or SP95-E10.

In the United States, the cards will not work. It is your responsibility to use your own payment method and submit your receipts for credit on your account.

Important:

• The gas cards only allow pay-at-the-pump fuel purchases.
• Do not rely entirely on the gas card provided. Although we supply fuel cards for your convenience, it is important that you always carry the necessary means to make any required payment during your trip.

See also:

What should I do if the gas card doesn’t work?

How can I get a credit for an expense?

What is a valid purchase receipt to submit for credit?

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:

• Are you at the gas pump? In Canada the cards do not work inside the store.
• Did you just activate the card? The activation is only active for a few minutes at a time.
• Make sure you have not pre-authorized more than $125
• 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.

See also:

How do I use the gas card provided in the car?

How can I get credit for an expense?

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 station-based vehicles for longer trips than they do with FLEX vehicles.  Most reservations on station-based 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.