Important Advisories
- ESSO Fuel Card Expiration Advisory
- Super E10
- Refund Unused Fuel Coupons
- Customer Support
- Expiration Dates
- New Fuel Ration Card
- Remaining Prepaid Balance
- Service Outages
- Visitors to Germany
- Visitor Documents
- Germany Fuel Ration Card Overview (Outside Germany)
ESSO Fuel Card Expiration Advisory
Attention: Important Customer Advisory!!
Dear ESSO Fuel Card Customers:
Please be advised the ESSO fuel card is like any other debit or credit card has an expiration date. The expiration date is located on the front of the fuel card in the lower right hand corner. To avoid interruption of service please check the expiration date on the lower right hand corner and verify the month and year of expiration. If your card has expired, please return to a Fuel Card Issuing Location where we will gladly replace your card.
This message applies only to the expiration of your ESSO Fuel Card. Please consult your RMV documentation for information about when your vehicle’s registration expires. We apologize for the inconvenience.
MAINZ-KASTEL, Germany – A change is on the way for Exchange gasoline customers in Germany. Currently all gasoline sold in Germany, including Exchange facilities in Germany, contains up to 5% ethanol, also known as E5 fuel. In compliance with a German law amending the German Federal Pollution Control Act, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is required to add another type of gasoline to its facilities in Germany. This new formula will be designated as Super E10, which contains up to 10% ethanol. While all makes and models of gasoline-fueled automobiles are able to use E5 gasoline, there are some automobiles which can’t use E10 gasoline.
According to Ruth Wagner, the Exchange-Europe ESSO Fuel Card Manager, "Customers must check with their car manual or manufacturer to determine if 10% ethanol gasoline is safe to use in their car. If in doubt, don’t use E10."
Both Exchange and ESSO gas stations in Germany will clearly label their pumps dispensing E10 fuel. Some ESSO stations have already started selling E10, and customers can purchase it using their Germany Fuel Ration Card. All Exchange gas stations in Germany plan to offer Super E10 starting early February 2011, and most will continue to offer E5 gasoline in the grades of Super and Super Plus where possible. The Exchange price for Super E10 will be based on the current weekly U.S. Department of Energy average price of regular fuel, plus incremental costs associated with providing gasoline overseas.
The Exchange Service-Europe announced today that as of Sunday, January 31, 2010 customers will no longer be able to refund unused Germany fuel coupons. The German government asked the U.S. Forces in Germany to change from fuel coupons to an automated fuel ration card. This transition from fuel coupons to the fuel ration card took place from May 2008 through December 31, 2008.
Attention customers, the ESSO customer support phone number (0800-1819945) as listed on your fuel ration card is now accessible from all cell phone providers in Germany!
The long term automated fuel-ration card expiration date for privately owned vehicles is tied to the vehicle registration expiration date shown on AE Form 190-1A. Any delay in renewing the vehicle registration will cause the fuel-ration card (s) for that vehicle to be deactivated.
PLEASE NOTE: Your ESSO Fuel Ration Card also needs to be replaced if your identification number changes (Passport or Identity Number for Consulate / Embassy Personnel and NATO Customers)! All ESSO accounts are kept under the unique ID number that your vehicle is registered under in the Vehicle Registry data base. Any change will deactivate your fuel ration card.
The Exchange urges customers to visit any Exchange Retail Facility to receive their refund for unused fuel coupons with an expiration date of September 30, 2008 that are still attached to the original fuel coupon booklet, before Sunday, January 31, 2010. After this date, the Exchange will not refund any German fuel coupons.
All sponsors should note that they must get a new fuel ration card anytime they change the license plates on their vehicle. As soon as the license plates change, the fuel ration card(s) for the vehicle will no longer function. After changing license plates, take the registration document (AE Form 190-1A) to an Exchange card issue site for replacement card(s)
Transaction Receipt Data: We've received many inquiries about the "Remaining Prepaid Balance" info being rounded to the nearest full dollar amount. The customer's account does not lose or gain any money when the number is rounded on the transaction receipt. Customers may log into their on-line account https://odin.aafes.com/esso/ and confirm that the exact amount charged for transactions is shown correctly.
The reason for the "rounding" on transaction receipts is to keep the transactions moving quickly. If the system was required to report exact data on receipts, the transaction approval process would take much longer.
There have been occasional service outages at specific ESSO stations. Anyone affected by a service outage should be patient and encourage the ESSO personnel to use the telephone back-up system to complete the fuel card transaction.
Visitors to Germany should get their 550-175L form and have the Exchange issue / activate their short-term fuel ration card as early as possible while they are in Germany. Otherwise, fuel ration eligibility for their visit becomes limited to the days remaining as the card is activated.
Visitors to Germany should remember to have their leave, TDY, or military pass document with them as they apply for eligibility document (please review the "Visiting Germany" portion of our "FAQ" page.
Information on eligibility and processes for individuals who will be visiting Germany:
Download Adobe Acrobat to view pdf documents.
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