Retail Payment Mechanisms on the Forecourt

• An assessment of forecourt transactions made by cards across the UK, France, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and the Czech Republic
• Insight into the extent of terminal usage in the forecourt market and the level of EMV compliance both at a national and sector level
• An examination of the number of forecourt terminals versus the size of the network, the extent of card usage and the number of registered vehicles

• Understand the preponderance of different payment methods specifically for petrol station purchases
• Compare the number, age and functionality of terminals at your sites to the market average
• Uncover the markets with potential for new terminals and those which are already heavily saturated

DATAMONITOR VIEW

CATALYST

SUMMARY

METHODOLOGY

ANALYSIS

Cards are used for almost 50% of all transactions made on the European forecourt

The Czech Republic and Poland significantly lag their western European counterparts in card transactions on the forecourt

Debit cards are the most commonly used cards with fuel and credit cards being second and third, respectively

A greater proportion of transactions on the forecourt are made by card than at supermarkets or restaurants

The growing importance of cards on the forecourt is reflected in the high brand acceptance and relative absence of minimum payment thresholds

The number, age and functionality of card terminals varies greatly across Europe's forecourts

France and Spain have the highest average number of terminals per site

The average age of forecourt terminals across the nine markets assessed is 2.8 years

Across forecourt terminals, EMV compliance is varied and implementation is complicated by national factors

Terminal functionality is fragmented, with the emphasis being on card acceptance rather than integration into the wider financial system

In selected markets there is scope for terminal numbers to increase the volume of traffic through the forecourt

Italy and Spain have a large quantity of terminals per site relative to the penetration of auxiliary services in the markets

Poland has the highest vehicle per terminal ratio, indicating there is scope for the number of terminals to increase in this market

Belgium and France provide fewer opportunities for expansion of terminal numbers

APPENDIX

Abbreviations

Related Research

Retail Payment Mechanisms Survey

Core national brands

Datamonitor Consultancy

Ask the Analyst

List of Tables

Table 1: Capabilities of forecourt terminals, 2005

List of Figures

Figure 1: The Czech Republic and Poland significantly lag their western European counterparts in card transactions on the forecourt

Figure 2: Debit cards are the most commonly used cards with fuel and credit cards being second and third, respectively

Figure 3: A greater proportion of transactions on the forecourt are made by card than at supermarkets or restaurants

Figure 4: The growing importance of cards on the forecourt is reflected in the high brand acceptance

Figure 5: The growing importance of cards on the forecourt is reflected in the absence of minimum

Figure 6: France and Spain have the highest number of terminal per site

Figure 7: The average age of forecourt terminals across the nine markets assessed is 2.8 years

Figure 8: Across forecourt terminals, EMV compliance is varied and implementation is complicated by national factors

Figure 9: Italy and Spain have a large quantity of terminals per site relative to the penetration of auxiliary services in the markets

Figure 10: Poland has the highest vehicle per terminal ratio indicating there is scope for the number of terminals to increase in this market

Figure 11: Belgium and France provide fewer opportunities for expansion of terminal numbers