PayPal and Shell partner up for mobile payments at the pump

Shell has teamed up with PayPal to allow motorists to pay for their petrol from inside their vehicle. Customers will be able to make payments through the Shell Motorist app or PayPal itself when the service launches in April.

Mobile payments are coming to the petrol pump from April as part of a partnership between PayPal and Shell to enable drivers to pay directly on their smartphone when filling up at Shell’s nearly 1,000 UK petrol stations.

After driving into the station the customer simply selects the corresponding pump on the Shell Motorist App or the PayPal App. The app then authentificates the transaction and the customer can fill up and go. When fueling is complete a receipt is automatically sent through the phone.

“At PayPal, we’ve always believed people will use their mobile phones to pay if there’s a clear benefit,” said PayPal UK mobile commerce director Rob Harper. “With today’s announcement, we’re offering drivers a faster way to fill up their car and pay, and get back on the road.”

Shell UK retail marketing manager Michael Hominick said the deal would offer “security, choice and convenience” for motorists.
„From busy parents who want to ease of remaining by their vehicle with their children, to those in a rush,or even those who simply left home without a wallet, we are thrilled to team up with Shell to bring the convenience of mobile payment at the pump to the UK”, says the company.

Shell will begin rolling out a pilot of the service for invited Shell Drivers’ Club members from April, with plans to expand mobile payments nationwide later this year. This innovative new service is similar to PayPal’s collaboration with MAPCO in the US.

Today consumers can use their mobile to pay at over 8,000 UK shops and restaurants with PayPal. In the US, mobile based payments are expected to reach $142 billion in volume in 2019.