The convenience of ATM cards and Credit cards extends worldwide, including Europe, thanks to a few global cash networks. These networks allow debit and credit cards to be used in different countries just as you would used them at home in the US. You should have no problems using your American cards anywhere in Europe provided you check a few things before you leave. In addition, if you apply a few simple rules you can also save a bit of money as well when you travel to Europe. This article will outline these few things you need to know before you use your ATM and Credit Cards in Europe.
Can I use my debit card in Europe? Do I need a pin for my credit card in Europe? These are the most common questions I get about using debit and credit cards in Europe. The simple answer is yes, your debit and credit card will work in Europe. Using your credit card and debit card in Europe is very easy these days thanks to global financial networks. While it easy to access your money abroad, learning a few simple rules for using your Debit and Credit Cards in Europe, will make your travel experience much better.
Understand Modern Credit and Debit Networks
Each major credit card network (VISA, MasterCard and American Express) manages their own global cash network as well. VISA's network is called PLUS (also known as Visa PLUS) while MasterCard manages two networks: Maestro and Cirrus.
Take your debit card out of your wallet and take a look at it now. Look on the front side first.
All modern debit cards issued in the United States are working as credit cards as well. This means that you can see the VISA or Master Card symbol on the front of your Debit Card.
Now flip your card on the back side and take a look. In addition to the symbols on the front, your debit card may have a few more symbols on the back side. These days, most new ATM cards don't have any symbols on the back, but some older ones still have them.
These symbols represent the cash networks your card works on. For a VISA branded debit card on the front you could see the Plus symbol on the back. A Master Card branded debit card on the front should have the Maestro or Cirrus symbols on the back. The newest debit cards however, might not have any symbols on the back. If this is the case, use the symbols on the front (VISA or Master Card) to determine which cash network your debit card is working with.
The important thing is to know what symbols are on the front and back of your Debit and Credit Card that you're planning to take with you. You will need to know these symbols when you want to get cash in Europe. Not all ATM machines in Europe support all cash networks. You might see some debit cards bearing the PLUS sign but not the Cirrus and vice versa. It doesn't really matter.
Therefore, pay attention to the symbols on the front and back of your ATM/Debit card. Match these symbols with the symbols on an ATM machine in Europe, and you can be sure you are getting cash the safest and cheapest way. What if you don't see any symbols on the back of your ATM Card? Look at the front then! If it says VISA then it will be on the PLUS cash network. If it says Master Card debit, it will be on the Maestro/Cirrus network.
Simple Checklist for Using Your Debit and Credit Cards in Europe
Here is my complete checklist that I use before leaving on any trip to Europe. Having used it for so many years now, this list is more a mental checklist now. If this is your first trip to Europe, it will help you to print it out and follow it, step by step.
1. Call your bank before leaving
Contact your bank before leaving on your international trip. This rule applies both to your Debit Card and Credit Card issuing banks. This one rule will save you lots of headache. It is the most important rule! If you don't inform your bank, your card may be rejected when you try to purchase things abroad. This is the only way financial companies can protect you against fraud…so help them out. Also ask about what fees they charge for foreign transactions and compare them with the best travel credit cards.
2. Your ATM card's pin number must have 4 digits
In Europe pin numbers still have only 4 digits allowed. In the US most banks allow for 5 digits as well. Before you travel abroad, make sure you go to a local branch and change your pin to 4 digits. Don't forget to test the new pin! Europe has been moving to 5 digit pin numbers lately but there are still many older ATM machines that only work with 4 digit pin numbers.
The safest way to make sure your ATM card works in Europe is to have 4 digits only as your PIN number. Barclays Bank in the UK suggests using 4 digit pins for their own customers if they have to create a new PIN number. So, be safe and use 4 digits.
3. Withdraw cash only by using your ATM card
Can you use American debit cards in Europe? The simple answer is yes, you can. However, in order to not pay any extra fees, withdraw cash from an ATM machine bearing one of the symbols found on the front or back of your Debit Card. These days, many European ATM machines show both the VISA or MasterCard and none of the cash networks symbols.
Best Debit Cards for Europe.
4. Know your cards' fees
Call your bank and ask them how much they charge you for international purchases. Regardless if it's a VISA or MasterCard, each bank that issues a credit card has its own fees and they are required to tell you what fees they are charging. Remember that your bank's fees include the VISA (or MasterCard) foreign transaction fees. The typical foreign transaction fees are 3% of the amount.
5. Increase your daily maximum cash withdrawal
Depending on the fees charged by your bank, it makes a lot of sense to withdraw the maximum allowed in one transaction. The reason is that many banks charge a flat fee per withdrawal, regardless of the amount. If you have a good debit card for travel in Europe, these fees will be minimal.
6. While abroad, withdraw cash only from a local bank ATM machine
Don't take money out from shopping malls or train stations. These ATM machines most likely will charge you extra money. If the ATM has the brand of a local reputable bank, then you can use it safely and cheaply.
7. Always have some cash with you
Even if you have a good travel credit card, a number of places in Europe still only accept cash. These days this rule mostly applies in Eastern Europe as credit cards are still not accepted everywhere.
8. Never withdraw cash using a credit card
Using your credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM machine incurs lots of fees. This is valid in the US as well, but even more so abroad. You will pay dearly!
9. Setup a pin number for your credit card
Even though American credit cards have started having a chip in addition to the magnetic band, the American credit cards do not require a pin. However, especially when traveling to Eastern Europe, a pin number may be required for a credit card transaction (note: I have not encountered this situation in my last few trips).
10. Don't change your purchase currency.
When using an ATM or credit card to make a purchase in Europe, don't accept merchants' suggestion to change your purchase currency to your home country's currency when making credit card purchases.
When using a credit card in Europe, the credit card machine or the shop keeper will ask this seemingly benign question: “Would you like to pay for that in US Dollars or Euros?” You may think that it makes sense to simply answer US Dollars! However, it's the wrong answer! You should always answer that you want to purchase in the local currency, in this case Euro.
When you say you want to purchase in your own currency (US Dollars) instead of the local currency (Euro), the local (European) merchant will send the transaction for currency conversion to another provider (not your own bank) which will perform the currency conversion for you at a much higher cost than your own bank. They can set their own rates and it still counts a foreign transaction on your credit card.
Just choose to perform the transaction in the local currency (Euro for example) in the normal way!
European ATM machine showing extra currency conversion
You want to choose the left option to allow your own bank to do the conversion, which is much cheaper.
When using an ATM machine abroad, this question is even more subtle. Starting late 2019 (due to financial legislation being passed in Europe), ATM machines display an exchange rate and might also inform you about the markup on foreign currency conversion (usually 8 to 10%) if you want your bank account to be charged in your home currency (US Dollars) instead of local currency (EUR in this case). Then they ask you if you accept or make a choice. The information on the ATM machine screen varies from country to country.
The message is deceiving and makes it look like you have no choice but to say yes (usually the big button on the right), but choose “No” (the button on the left usually). When you choose “No”, the transaction will go through and your home bank will make the foreign currency conversion which has very little markup usually. If you choose “Yes”, the transaction will be going through a third party foreign transaction processor and will be marked up a lot and you will pay dearly like I did. Based on my calculations it looks like you would lose about 10% of the transaction amount.
Getting the Best Exchange Rate
Should I Use My Debit or Credit Card in Europe?
Using the right card for the right purpose can add up to significant savings when traveling to Europe. Back to my question: should you use your ATM or Credit Card in Europe or both? The answer is a bit more complicated but I'll try answering this question from a pure financial perspective.
You might have a preference for one card over another but for me it really comes down to the fees I pay for every international transaction.
In order to choose the right card for your international trip you must know a few important things about the cards you already have.
Daily cash withdrawal limit
Each bank in the US has a different limit for daily cash withdrawal. US banks vary a lot in their limits but most banks allow you to increase your daily limit for a given period of time. You just have to check with your bank and ask to increase your daily cash withdrawal limit.
Wells Fargo for example, allows $500 maximum daily (which can be increased by a simple phone call), so you would have to do a mental conversion before entering the sum you want to withdraw in the foreign ATM machine. I have not encountered any ATM machine in Europe that would limit the amount you can withdraw (unless they are running out of cash).
This daily cash withdrawal limit was imposed by my bank here at home in the US. So, if you want to increase your daily limit for cash withdrawal you have to call your bank and request it. They will usually increase it without any further questions. It's your money anyway!
Foreign currency cash withdrawal fees
Your ATM card has several foreign currency withdrawal fees. Usually it is a combination of a Flat Rate and/or a percentage of the total sum taken out. Again, it really depends on your bank. You've got to ask them so you will not be surprised.
Using a Wells Fargo debit card in Europe, will cost you $5 fee for each ATM cash withdrawals made outside the United States. If you use your Wells Fargo debit card to purchase things in Europe, you will pay an International Purchase Transaction fee which is 3% of the transaction amount for each purchase made with your debit card in a foreign currency that has been converted into a U.S. dollar amount by a network.
With a Wells Fargo debit card, for each $100 international withdrawal you pay $5 in fees, while for each $1000 international withdrawal you still pay $5 in fees.
Using a Bank of America debit card in Europe will cost you $5 fee for ATM cash withdrawals made outside the United States plus an International Transaction fee of 3% of the withdrawal amount. If you use your Bank of America debit card to purchase goods in Europe it will cost you 3% of the purchase amount.
With a Bank of America debit card, for each $100 international withdrawal you pay $8 in fees, while for each $1000 international withdrawal you pay $35 in fees.
You can avoid the $5 fee if you use an ATM from one of Bank of America’s partner bank in Europe.
Using a Chase debit card in Europe costs you $5 for each ATM cash withdrawal plus 1% of the amount withdrawn. These fees do not apply to Chase's premium banking accounts like Chase Sapphire Banking which wave any ATM fees including foreign ATM machines.
With a Chase debit card, for each $100 international withdrawal you pay $6 in fees, while for each $1000 international withdrawal you pay $15 in fees.
The bottom line is that you have to know what your bank will charge you. So call your bank and ask.
However, just like home the US where you get charged extra by getting cash from ATM machines in shopping malls and some grocery stores, in Europe also you have to be careful where you get your cash from.
The safest place to withdraw money in Europe, in terms of not being charged extra, is an ATM machine of a local bank.
Foreign currency purchase fees
The fees your bank charges for foreign transactions include 1% charged by VISA or MasterCard for converting to US dollars and a percentage of the transaction total after converting to US dollars.
Again, call your bank so you won't be surprised. And for fun, just ask them why they charge you on top of what VISA/MasterCard charges you. It's always fun to see how banks try to explain that they're just trying to take advantage of the increase in international travel and make lots of money.
American Express foreign currency conversion fees
If you look at the back side of the first page of your American Express statement you will see a somewhat clear statement with regards to transactions made in foreign currency. Transactions Made in Foreign Currencies: If you incur a charge in a foreign currency, it will be converted into US dollars on the date it is processed by us or our agents. Unless a particular rate is required by applicable law, we will choose a conversion rate that is acceptable to us for that date. Currently, the conversion rate we use for a Charge in a foreign currency is no greater than (a) the highest official conversion rate published by a government agency, or (b) the highest inter-bank conversion rate identified by us from customary banking sources, on the conversion date or the prior business day, in each instance increased by 2%. This conversion rate may the rates such establishments use.
What does this mean? Well let's just take a simple example: Let's say you purchase something in France that costs 100 euros. American Express, when they receive the transaction, converts the price from Euros to U.S. Dollars using the highest conversion rate they can find (at least that's what they're saying…it's hard to really check). Let's say that they find 1.5 US Dollars to 1 Euro. That means that they will charge you $150 U.S. Dollars for the 100 Euro item you have purchased. Now, the finance charge is 2%, which means that that they would add an extra $3 (2% from $150). So, your total for that item would be $153 US Dollars.
US Bank Visa fees for purchases made in foreign currency
Here's an example of what US Bank says about foreign transactions on my VISA credit card statement: As a reminder, we may charge a foreign fee of 3% on transactions that occur in a country other than the U.S. Now, this is interesting! As if they will ever NOT charge me 3% on transactions that occur in another country. This 3% consists of 1% VISA foreign transaction fee and 2% US Bank Usage fee. Using the example I have used for American Express, the same 100 Euro item would cost me $154.50 if I would use my US Bank Visa credit card.
What Are the Best Travel Credit Cards ?
The answer to this question used to be very easy. A cash back credit card without foreign transaction fees used to be the obvious answer. Recently however, banks are issuing great credit cards packed with lots of travel rewards for an annual fee. So it really depends on what kind of traveler you are.
My current favorite travel credit card, is the Chase Sapphire travel credit card for its generous sign up bonus and Visa Signature travel rewards. It does come with a $95 annual fee which is not cheap. It also helps save on rental car costs by covering the extra insurance cost.
The simplest and cheapest travel credit card is Capital One Quicksilver. It doesn't charge ANY foreign transaction fees and gives you cash back. To put it simply, you don't pay anything extra for using the card outside of the United States. In addition you also get 1.5% cash back on all purchases and you get Visa Signature or Master Card Elite travel benefits.
Lower on the preference scale, would be American Express credit cards. There are two reasons American Express provides good travel cards. Firstly, foreign transaction fees are 2.7% which are slightly lower than the vast majority of credit cards which charge 3%. Secondly, American Express provides a lot of extra travel services with their cards. However, the big drawback of these cards is that American Express is accepted in fewer countries and stores.
My favorite travel credit cards.
How to Best Use Your Debit and Credit Cards in Europe
There is a lot of hype everywhere about getting the right credit and debit cards for traveling. A good travel credit card only saves you only about $30 for each $1000 spent on your trip overseas.
If finding the right card causes you too much stress, then use whatever credit card you have.
When traveling internationally, I try to simplify everything. When it comes to the debit and credit cards I take with me to Europe, I have only one simple rule. If you really want to squeeze every dollar when you travel, here is my simple rule.
Here is my simple rule for using debit and credit cards in Europe. I use my Wells Fargo Debit Card for all cash withdrawals. For all purchases, I use my current travel credit card. In other words, I use my Debit Card only for cash withdrawals and not for purchases. On the other hand, I use my travel credit card only for purchases and not for cash withdrawals.
Remember that the symbols on the front of your ATM card are for purchases. The symbols on the back are for cash withdrawals. Following this simple rule saves me between $20 and $50 for every $1000 spent in Europe.
Simplest Steps for Maximizing Your Travel Budget
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card is a great travel credit card with the most flexible travel rewards and a generous sign up bonus. With very helpful people working at Chase Travel, you can easily get phone assitance with your travel plans and apply all your points with a 25% bonus towards any travel purchases. I love that I can apply all my points whether then can cover the entire purchase or not.
Get a money belt. Or, if you're like me and need more space, you might prefer a small fanny pack that you can carry everyday and easily hide it under your clothes. This is a must have for international travel. I use a small and comfortable fanny pack to keep my passport and money always safe with me and always hidden out of sight. It's a lifesaver when traveling. Bringing a large fanny pack that sits on top of your clothes is very dangerous as it clearly labels you as a tourist and make you a target for pickpockets.
Know what you have in your wallet! Call your banks and find out what fees you will be paying by using your Debit Card for cash withdrawals and Credit Cards for purchases. Write them down!
Know your rough budget! Knowing this can save you a lot of frustration. For example, if you budget for spending in a foreign currency is $2000, then getting a better credit card may save you only $60, while getting a better debit card may save you a max of $100. Ask yourself the question if it's worth switching banks for a better debit card.
Do you need a better travel credit card? If it makes sense, get a better credit card for Europe travel. Credit cards are easy to get and obtaining a good travel credit card is an easy way to save money on foreign transaction fees.
Do you need a better travel debit card? Do some research about the best debit cards for Europe travel and see if it makes sense to switch banks. Depending on how long you will be traveling, this might not make sense.
- Use your Debit and Credit Cards in Europe
- Best travel credit cards
- Best travel debit cards
- Get the best foreign exchange rate
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I have had a Wise account for quite some time but haven’t really used it. Recently they came out with a MasterCard debit card so I started looking into that. I found that it works where I travel most, Europe, Japan, and Mexico. Meaning, it will convert to that currency as I use it and there are no fees. My understanding how it works, I deposit USD and as I use the card, Wise does the conversion on demand. Another great thing is they are offering me, and you, %4.33 on cash just sitting in there doing nothing. I’m attracted to that. I did have to pay $9.00 one time fee for the card and a small transfer fee to fund the Wise account. I expect to recover all that shortly on a small deposit with that interest rate. Oh, and by the way, Wise does FDIC pass through insurance on your deposit. I’m not really using Wise the way it was intended but if I can figure out how to stop bleeding on currency exchanges, well I’m in.
John…thank you for sharing your experience with Wise. Sounds like Wise can save you some money, but only if you travel a lot. From looking around, it doesn’t seems like it’s a better deal than having a great travel credit card with no conversion fees. For US travelers, having a good travel credit card will be more than sufficient for making sure they’re not being charged extra fees for currency conversion. For travelers from other countries, where credit is much more expensive, a Wise account (or another modern fintech company) might make a lot more sense.
So, now it’s 2023. We are planning a trip to Spain next month. Your older posts seem to indicate that Europe was going to the chip and pin system. Is it prevalent now? Will there be any issues using our Costco Citi Visa?
Alice….Europe has been on chip and pin system for a long time fro credit card purchases. The US is chip only. You should not have any problem using your CITI Costco credit card. Call COTI anyway and create a travel plan for your trip to Spain. You can also do it in the CITI phone app…just click “Add a trip”.
For this example: “When using a credit card, the credit card machine or the shop keeper will ask this seemingly benign question: “Would you like to pay for that in US Dollars or Euros?” You may think that’s a good thing but it’s not! They can set their own rates and it still counts as foreign transaction on your credit card. Just answer no!”
Instead, it would be clearer if it ended with, “Just answer US Dollars” (right)?
Tim…I see that I phrased it incorrectly…I have re-written the paragraph. The actual correct answer would be Euro not US Dollars. You want to buy in the local currency which is Euro and let your bank do the currency conversion instead of a third-party conversion service that the merchant has chosen.
Great info about ATMs because it’s so important to know… I found this app, you should check it out. It’s called “ATM Fee saver” and it’s super useful while travelling. It shows ATMs around you with the lowest fees for withdrawing money and it has some other information as well. It’s for free and I highly recommend it!
Sophia…good suggestion. I haven’t heard of the app, maybe I’ll check it out next time I travel.
This information is only partially true. I traveled in Europe last year and in Holland I could not pay smaller vendors with my VISA debitcard from the United States. It simply said “rejected”. One prime example in Amsterdam where the trams don’t take cash. I had to buy a ticket and the machine rejected my debitcard. I looked puzzled at the train conductor and he looked puzzled at me….21st century! How dumb… My debitcard did work at ATM’s but then equally problematic was that more places cash was not accepted. I then had to borrow money from friends. The smaller vendors told me that a debitcard with a Mastercard logo typically would work, but that’s not what my bank issued. So when traveling in Europe, you do need cash with you. I was able to pay cash in most places, but it is really annoying that cash has taken a backseat, especially after Covid. Like I mentioned, on several occasions, cash was not accepted and neither was my debitcard. Forget about creditcards. There is a lot to resolve around card payments in the 21st century. Cash may not be always convenient but we for sure can’t do without cash and I don’t want to see it going away. Regarding the trams in Amsterdam…I traveled without paying. Ridiculous! Cash is King folks!
A different thought…thank you for sharing your experience! It is true that the only place where I had problems using my credit card was Amsterdam…at the train station. However, my ATM card worked fine. I can imagine that buses and trams, especially automated machines might have some trouble sometimes. This is one of the reason I always suggest to have some cash with you, just in case.
Using my USA ATM card in india, a phone confirmation code has to be entered before withdrawing money. I had turned data off, so could not get the code. (Luckily relatives helped out). Is a confirmation code sent to your phone in France? If so, I need to figure out how to withdraw money, as I turn data off when traveling.
Thanks.
Sunita…I was never required to enter an extra code sent to my phone in addition to my pin code. This is not standard practice unless your US bank has extra security. Call your bank at the international phone number on the back of your card and ask. Tell them the countries you would be traveling to. They should be fine with that.
This is a great article with lots of valuable advice–except for one bit: NEVER wear a fanny pack! That’s like hanging a neon sign around your neck saying that you are a tourist. Use your normal knapsack, messenger bag, handbag, whatever, and always keep it closed (that is, zipped up, buttoned, etc.)–and just be aware of it at all times.
I have lived abroad for years and have traveled extensively. Trust me on the fanny pack advice, unless you want to advertise that you are a US tourist. (Note: don’t call it a “fanny pack” in the UK. “Fanny” is somewhat vulgar slang for female genitalia. I think Britons call is a “bum bag.”)
P.S. I have a Cap One credit card and love it. That’s an excellent recommendation.
Indy…good comment about the fanny pack if you have a large one…it is indeed very obvious. The one I recommend here is a slim one that can be easily concealed under your clothes. I will make a change to the article to make sure to conceal it under your clothes
Hello. I have a ATM card that is not have a Visa or Mastercard attached to it. It’s the old type of card that is just a simple ATM card. On the back of the card it has the Cirrus and Maestro logos, can this type of ATM be used in Switzerland?
Thank you!
Julie…First, talk to your bank before you travel. Secondly, as far as I understand these networks, if your ATM card has Cirrus/Maestro symbols then your ATM card should work in Europe everywhere you see those symbols including the MasterCard symbol. But call your bank to make sure, and while you call ask about how much they charge you for foreign currency transactions.
I haven’t read the full article regarding using Debit and Credit cards, in Europe.
ENSURE YOU KNOW YOUR PIN NUMBER FOR ALL DEBIT AND CREDIT CARDS.
You can ONLY use your Debit and Credit cards (including all American Express cards) from both VISA and MasterCard if you use a PIN.
There is NO fallback system using a signature.
NO PIN, NO PURCHASE
If you have a VISA Debit card you can check your balance at most ATMs. The balance will be converted into £ or €
Andrew…your statement is not correct. You can use your US credit card with a chip and only signature…everywhere in Europe. The exceptions are when the store workers don’t know that their machine will work without a pin…they just have to try it. However, since you have to insert it, there is usually no problem and they just assume you entered the pin many times. Sometimes I have to explain that no pin is required. Yes, for your debit card you do need to know your pin.
24 Oct 2021. Sorry Vlad, you are partly wrong. I am a US citizen, based in Maryland, and have been visiting Britain for a week, leaving in 2 days. I have used my Chase Visa Card (a US card) with no trouble all week, signing for each transaction. BUT, when today I went to buy some gas (petrol) at an automatic pump, it demanded my PIN code for the card. Being an American, I didn’t have one. So it refused to provide the gas. So I tried to get info or assistance from Chase on their website. Being Chase (translation: “morons” in Finnish), they refused to let me onto their site, because they “didn’t recognize my device” (a lie — I have been on that site hundreds of times) and wanted to “send me a one-time security code” via “text or by calling me.” BUT, I am in Britain and like many Americans, have gotten a different SIM card here temporarily, so that neither texting nor calling will work. (Chase US has not heard that there are 195 other countries on the planet, evidently.) What to do? 1. pay cash with pounds tomorrow if I can find a gas station with an actual live attendant; 2. get rid of Chase/morons.
So, Vlad, I DO need a PIN number here.
Lew…thank you for your comment. You have an interesting situation that has happened to me a few times. However, the pin that you can ask for from your Chase credit card is not the same type of pin used by European credit cards.
When you add a pin to an American credit card, it is a pin used for withdrawing cash from an ATM in Europe and it is not for purchases. So having a pin for your Chase credit card would not have helped you, based on what I know.
I have had a couple of similar situations when I lived in the UK, but it was because of the human operator of the cash register in smaller towns usually. However, I have just asked them to run my card and it did work without a pin. Only one time in Amsterdam I couldn’t use my pin less card and I had to use my ATM card for the purchase because US ATM cards have a pin also for purchases.
My suggestion is to use your US ATM card instead of a credit card. Your ATM card pin number will allow you to make purchases, provided your US bank doesn’t block the international transaction (hopefully you have called your bank before leaving).
Good Afternoon. I will be traveling to Amsterdam, Belgium, Paris and London soon. Will I be able to use a Master Card Debit card and a Visa credit card in all 4 places? Also, if I am reading the replies correctly, it is better to have some of their currency and pay with my credit card instead of my debit card, correct?
Lori…Yes, your Master Card debit card as well as your VISA credit card will work fine in these places. Make sure you call your banks before you leave or go to their websites and create a travel plan with specific dates and countries you would be visiting. That way the banks will not block your cards. And also make sure your debit card pin number has 4 digits. Both cards will work for purchases.
Which one you want to use depends on the fees your banks are charging you for foreign transactions. It is very good to call your bank and find out. It is always a good plan to take some local currency from an ATM machine while in country. However, yes, I do prefer using my no fee credit card to pay for any purchases. I accumulate miles or get cash back when I do that.
I believe some of your information on credit cards is outdated. Other sources indicate that only chip+pin credit cards are guaranteed to work in Europe in places such as gas stations, parking garages and train stations
Ramesh…I am certain my information is up to date. I have recently traveled to Europe in August 2019 and again in August 2021. I have used my Chase Travel card in Romania, France and Greece without any problems. My card is chip and signature…no pin. Also my brother used his Citi Costco card in the summer of 2019 as well…in Spain and France. No problems either. So it is up to date and verified.
You may encounter some trouble at gas stations or freeway toll booths, this is why it is always advisable to carry cash with you.
In the past I have tried to use American credit cards in Europe. Sometimes they just work, but other times the merchant or checkout terminal seem to not understand that American cards are not on the Chip-and-pin system.
Fenil…yes…I have also found that in Europe, especially in smaller towns, store clerks simply don’t know that US credit cards use chip and signature. Simply telling them to just run the card has usually solved the problem.
In a number of replies, you used the expression “just run the card has usually solved the problem.” What does “run the card” mean? Do you mean to use the magnetic strip of the card instead of using the chip?
MurSak…good question! Running the card means telling the clerk to insert the card or run it with the magnetic strip or pressing the ok button on the terminal even though there is no pin. These days it should work fine with the contact less payment terminals. The machines can use US cards without the pin; it is usually the clerks who are confused. Hope this makes sense.
I’ve been using chip and pin in the UK since early 1990s so I don’t know what the heck one of your writers is talking about. They may have visited a small business that hasn’t moved forward. What a hell of a way to generalise and makes me a little crazy living in America. My daughter’s Bank of America debit card was declined at a France ATM….our local branch had no idea about what we should do. After some research, yes, they should have told her to change her 6 digit pin to 4 digit pin. I find customer service here non existent!!!!!
Jan…not sure where the confusion is, but US credit cards do not have pin numbers….only a chip. Debit cards on the other hand have both pin and chip.
May I add my 5 cents? In US when you activate your credit card there is an option to set 4 digits PIN. Just listen whole messege carefully.
My experience has been in England that they refuse to take my Capital One card that is NOT chip and pin – it’s chip and signature only. When dining out, the server brings the card reader to the table and asks me to enter a pin, and when I say only a signature is required they tell me that they can’t process it. I have been told there is a way to bypass it (but am assuming places refuse to do so because of security reasons) but this is a huge problem since I want to primarily use my Cap One card because of no foreign transaction fees etc. I just got off the phone with Cap One and encouraged the person I spoke with to take this up higher in her organization; no reason that they have not gone to chip and pin technology, and what all of this results in, is me not using their card. If you know of any way to get around this while in England (other than using a different card), please let me know!
Meredith…I only had it happen one time in Amsterdam when I had to use my debit card as it has both chip and pin. The rest of the time all my credit cards worked fine everytime without a pin. It looks to me that the people in England simply don’t know that it works.
I don’t know where you visited but your comments are frightful. Chip and pin has been used in UK since early 1990s!!!!!!
Teddy…we are not talking about chip and pin. We know in the UK, credit and debit cards use them both. However, in the US only debit cards have both chip and pin while credit cards only have chip and no pin. This is where the confusion is for US tourists when they go to Europe. And sometimes smaller businesses in Europe do not know that their machines work fine without providing a pin when the credit card doesn’t have one.
This is a very helpful article. Thank you for sharing your expertise with the rest of us.
Dominique…glad to hear my article was helpful to you. Happy travels!
Thanks for the info, very insightful. However, no mention of using a Discover Card. I am told that they do not charge a transaction fee.
Paul…good question! True, Discover doesn’t charge a transaction fee, but the Discover network is very limited in Europe, so trying to use your Discover Card in Europe will be a struggle.
Thank you for letting us know how we can use the ATM card in Europe. There are certain guidelines and rules that are need to be followed. Besides that, I get the idea on foreign exchange policies which is also helpful.
I do not see a date on your post re: “10 rules for using your Debit and Credit Cards in Europe.” I have been researching whether I need to change my PIN to 4 digits and find no consensus on the internet. Older blogs (2005-2015) seem to suggest “older” European ATMs only accept 4 digit PINs but that “newer ATMs” are converting over to 6 digit PINS. Your post says to convert American 6 digit PINs to 4 digit PINs before going to Europe. Is your post current, as of March, 2019? Thank you.
John…I keep my post current to the best information I know. I still have a 4 digit pin number on my US ATM card and have never had problems getting money in Europe. It is true that I did not test a 6 digit pin in Europe. So, it might work but 4 digits have always worked. How is that for a long “I am not sure answer”?
I did read however now in 2019, on Barclay Bank’s website in the UK that when changing your debit card pin should use 4 digits. So having 4 digits is the safest.
There is a lot of good info here but I seem to read a lot about “Europe” ! What about the rest of the world?
I just came from Peru where my 6 digit pin number was not accepted and heard that maybe I should have use only the last 4? Bizarre!
Michelm…sad to hear about your experience in Peru. I focus mainly on trips to Europe and California, as I have not traveled on other continents. Some countries still have older banking systems, which require 4 digit pin numbers, while others have moved to 6 digits but 4 digits still work. For international travel, your safest bet is to have a 4 digit pin number.
This article helped me immensely before my trip. Thank you!
You are welcome Kathy! Have fun on your trip!
“VISA or MasterCard charge 1% for converting to US dollars plus a percentage of the purchase total after converting to US dollars”.
I am no expert but wouldn’t the ATM you use absorb the 1% fee in their charge? So is that 1% of the 3% really going to the credit card network or to the bank?
When using out of network ATMs in Country, you still use the debit network but are just charged a flat rate from that ATM provider.
I am surprised you did not also mention Charles Schwab debit card. Zero fees of any kind when overseas. I use that with my Capital One credit card.
I never use a debit card as credit. I like having a space cushion for fraud and my money. Newer accounts don’t allow you to have just an ATM card (no credit logo) which I prefer. Banks are more likely to help when its their money on the line.
D…for purchases using a credit card, yes Visa and Master Card get 1% of the transaction amount. And yes the 1% is part of the normal 3% banks charge. For ATM cards it really depends on the bank as they can charge a combination of a flat fee and a percentage. Yes, they are all combined into one fee. I do mention Charles Schwab in my article about Best Debit Cards for international travel.
In the past I have tried to use American credit cards in Europe. Sometimes they just work, but other times the merchant or checkout terminal seem to not understand that American cards are not on the Chip-and-pin system.
If you call an American bank and ask for a PIN, they’ll give you a special pin that allows you to use your credit card like an ATM card and get cash advances at an ATM.
So my question is: Now that American credit cards have chips, do I still use that same PIN (the PIN I would use to make a cash withdrawal) as the PIN for a “Chip and pin” credit card transaction in Europe?
Thank you.
PS I am asking only about using a credit card as a credit card in a store.
My experience has been that once they insert the American credit card in the European machine, it will start the transaction without waiting for a pin. I was never asked though…they just put it in and then after the transaction went through I was asked to sign the receipt which surprised some of the clerks. But I never had to explain anything before the transaction…only after…a few times. I never had to enter my cash advance pin.
Thanks, Vlad!
That was mostly my experience too, however this was all pre 2015 when Chips were not prevalent in US Credit cards, so it was all magnetic swipe. Most of the time it just went through, but occasionally it seemed that they wanted a PIN.
So are you saying that you have recent experience using US Chip-enabled credit cards and it did not even ask for a PIN?
Yes that has been my experience in late 2015, 2017 and 2019! Used both Capital One Master Card and United/Chase Visa in Holland, France and Romania. Both have chips/signature technology…no pins. They worked fine.
What about using a AAA Travel Money Card. It has a chip for security, and is not connected to your personal accounts. You fill it up with money before you leave, so you can make cash withdrawals as needed along the way. Is this a smart move?
See link attached. Thanks!
Here’s the link to the AAA Travel Visa Card: http://minneapolis.aaa.com/aaa-financial/visa-travelmoney-card/
David…the Aaa Money card is essentially a gift card. As such it looks like it has 3% transaction and ATM use fee. In addition, there is no protection from a bank in case it is stolen. Over the years I found that an ATM card with reasonable fees is the best option. If however you don’t want to use your bank account overseas then the aaa money card might work ok…provided you are willing to pay the fees. For a couples of weeks vacation the fees are not that much anyway.
Why isn’t my US credit card or debit card accepted for online purchases in Madrid? I have contacted my bank and they said the problem is on the Spanish side of the transaction.
Normally if you let your US bank know that you are traveling or making an online purchase where the server is in another country…so if the bank knows prior to the transaction then it should work. So your bank is probably right, maybe there are limitations on the Spanish vendor site. They usually have an email address on their site…you can ask them…they will help…usually.
I read ALL this and my question was not answered. well, not directly anyway. Using a credit card they ask ‘Dollars or Euros’, I should say Euros, but at ATM it ask for “conversion” or no conversion… is that the same thing? NO Conversion is the right answer?
Roderick…at the ATM machine always ask for local currency even if the ATM can dispense US Dollars. When you take out dollars in an euro denominated country it will still appear as a foreign transaction and you will pay fees.
Why is america so behind the times with chip and pin technology? Cannot use the cards at petrol stations, TGV trains, nada. The US is archaic.
Sara….good question! I am not sure but one of the reasons is that banks in America make it very easy for people to have many credit cards. So, if you have many then you must remember many pins which is hard. The newer credit cards however have chips and a signature instead of a pin…for the same reason.
Canada has used chip technology for about 10 years or more. I can use the same pin for more than one debit or credit card. I feel kinda badly if the reason US customers don’t have PIN is because they cannot remember a 4 digit number,….
J…I agree with you, but you have to understand how much easier credit is made to work in the USA. Anything that threatens that easieness will not be used in the US. Whether it is good or bad…I don’t know.
Just because they did not invent the chip…They did not want to pay the fee…
In Europe the chips existed long before in States. They created them for a more secure system.
Rule number 10 for using Credit Cards in Europe as I see car rental as a “foreign transaction”. Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card to use for car rental. No countries are excluded and it offers primary car insurance which means you can decline the Collision Damage Waiver fee among a few other insurance fees. Many other credit cards offer secondary insurance coverage. Plus this card also offers several benefits for flight and bagage delays. Make sure you pay all car rental expenses through this card.
Patrick…good point. Several other cards offer the same thing…American express cards for instance.
Could you tell me if SWIFT debit card will work in Switzerland?
Debbieh…the simplest answer would be to check with the bank that issued your ATM card. You have to contact them anyway to let them know you are traveling to Switzerland. My educated guess is that it will work fine as long as your PIN number is 4 digits. You can also look on the front of your ATM Card and see what symbols you have: VISA or MasterCard. If it’s VISA then it will work on ATM Machines that display the PLUS sign while if you have MasterCard on the front, your card will work on ATM Machines that display the CIRRUS sign. Hope this helps.
Nice article. Fidelity offers a cash management account ATM/Debit card for no fees and will reimburse you for ATM transaction fees in the Plus,Interlink and Star networks. For overseas there is 1% currency conversion charge. Not as good as Schwab but close. For using a credit card overseas, Capital One Visa has no currency conversion charge and no fees for holding the card.
Michelle…yes Capital One credit cards are my favorite travel cards for their no-fee policy and travel rewards and cash back. Great cards to have when traveling internationally. As far as ATM Cards go, Charles Schwab, Fidelity and then Wells Fargo top my list.
I recently just got a debit card from Charles Schwab, they wave all foreign transaction and ATM fees while abroad.
I thought it would be good information to add to your website.
Megan…yes, Schwab is a one of the lowest cost ATM cards. Thank you for mentioning them.
Hey,
Do you mind updating the fees you entered to the current status?
Very very very interesting post.
Jack….these are the current fees charged by credit card companies for foreign transactions. Pretty much 1-3% unless you have a fee free credit card.
What do we call these bank networks such as PLUS and Master Cards?
Justin…if you are asking what the name of these networks are…they are called cash networks and they are part of the VISA and MasterCard corporations. If you are asking how you call them on the phone? Well…you don’t directly call them…instead you call your atm/credit card company on the number listed on the back of your card.
I was in Finland, Amsterdam, London last year, my MasterCard/debit card did not work in the ATM machines, as I will be there again next month, I hate to ask my family for cash.
Tuula…I have never had trouble with my debit card from Wells Fargo. I have used in Amsterdam this year and England and Switzerland last year…no issues. I know that for some US credit unions, their debit cards don’t really work overseas. Not sure what bank issued your ATM card, but any of the major banks should work ok.
I believe some of your information on credit cards is outdated. Other sources indicate that only chip+pin credit cards are guaranteed to work in Europe in places such as gas stations, parking garages and train stations where unattended kiosks are involved. I recently got a Bank of America chip card, only to discover when it arrived that it is a chip+signature card, which will not work with European kiosks that do not have provision for a signature..
Pete…it is true that the new “chipped” cards in the USA are chip and signature. Personally I was able to use my new Amex card which is “chip and signature”, everywhere I needed to both in England and Switzerland in a recent trip.
The regular swipe cards still work fine in Europe even paying toll on a recent trip in France where I did not have to sign. However, you are right that there are a few limitations to using “swipe” credit cards in Europe. I did not encounter these limitations however on any of my trips.
This being said, I really do not understand why we do not convert to chip and pin since we are converting to “chipped ” cards. I can’t understand why we need to be different…maybe still make it very easy for people to spend money.
I travel to Ireland and the U.K. carrying groups to play golf once or twice a year. The best way to save money on exchange rates is to open an Irish or UK current account (in my case the Bank of Ireland (they have Euro banks in the Republic and Pound Sterling banks in Northern Ireland which is a part of the U.K.) Each carries an ATM card which they refer to as a “Laser” card in the Republic and “Switch” card in Northern Ireland. I watch the currency exchange during the year and when it is advantageous I purchase the currency and have it wired to my Irish accounts. I get the currency at slightly higher rates than inter bank rates and there is no charge for withdrawal when I use my cards in “Euro land” or Great Britain.
Thank you Tom…that’s really good insight for those who travel often to UK/Ireland.
I know this is post is a bit old, but I just stumbled across it and thought I’d add my two cents. Whenever overseas, I use my Capital One Visa Cards…not only do they not charge a foreign transaction fee, they absorb the fee passed down by VISA.
Thanx for the comment Adam…yeah I have first written this post long time ago but very useful apparently. In addition, I do keep it up to date with the latest information so it is very relevant today. Thanx for the good info on Capital One Visa Card. Capital One credit cards are among my favorite cards for traveling to Europe.