Gas Pumps Not Letting Drivers Get Full Tank

DENVER -- The pain at the pump just keeps getting worse. Gas prices hit record highs again Monday.

Adding to drivers' frustrations, some people aren't allowed to fill their entire tank without having to go inside the station or swipe their card twice.

Most gas stations have a maximum fill-up. For example, if you pay outside, you may only be allowed to fill your tank with $50 or $100 worth of gasoline.

“I've seen pumps where at $75 it shuts off,” said Mike Ray. “And then $75 again it shuts off and then you have to add a little bit more until you get it full.”

Ray sells trucks to ranchers and farmers and drives hundreds of miles in his diesel truck to deliver them. He wishes now that gas prices are so high, gas stations would raise the maximum to $150.

Gas station owners said it's a way to protect them and consumers from fraud. To get around it, station managers recommend paying inside to avoid the pump from stopping.

With gas prices at an all-time high, more and more drivers are reaching that maximum and being impacted by the rule. And it may only get worse as gas prices won’t stop going up anytime soon.

“You try to make a living and you spend a $1,000 a week in fuel,” said Ray.

Some contractors who used to provide free estimates are now charging to cover their gasoline costs.

Others, like Aaron Noffsinger, owner of The Guru of Flowing Arts said he is forced to add the cost of gas to his services.

“I charge a little bit more for my first hour on the job,” said Noffsinger. “My customer has to absorb that. There is no way getting around it.”

For the average driver, a little bit of humor helps the pain at the pump.

Denise Hebert rearranged the letters on her Denali.

“You have to deny that you are driving this pig,” said Hebert. “So I changed the words to denial instead of Denali.”