Why do gas stations require a ZIP code for card payments while almost no other type of (physical) merchant requires this verification?

Question

Why do gas stations require a ZIP code for card payments while almost no other type of (physical) merchant requires this verification?

In: 4

Answer 1

It’s a minimal verification that you’re not using a card that was lost or stolen. You know at least *that* much about the card’s owner.

For other uses, you generally have to “sign” something to charge some amount, even if it’s just making a squiggle on the pad.