By: James McAllister

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There are over 25,000 Shell gas stations in the United States alone, making it one of the most popular gas station chains to ever exist.

Of course, Shell isn’t only a gas station – there is also a convenience store inside where you can purchase food, drink, and other items for travelers.

However, you may be wondering – does Shell take EBT or food stamps? Let’s find out!

Does Shell Take EBT Cards?

Here’s the short answer – Shell does allow you to pay using an EBT card, but only for qualifying food or drink items. You cannot use EBT at Shell to buy gasoline or to fill up your gas tank.

Additionally, you may be restricted with what you’re actually able to buy with EBT inside of the convenience stores. Note that this a limitation of EBT itself and not due to Shell’s policies.

Here are some example items that can be purchased with EBT cards at Shell:

  • Fruits, vegetables, and produce
  • Cold beverages (including soda and eligible energy drinks.)
  • Bread, cereal, and other grains
  • Candy, ice cream, and other pre-packaged, non-prepared desserts
  • Pre-packaged snacks
  • Cold drinks, such as slushies or iced coffee
  • Meat, poultry and seeds.

Unfortunately, not all food and drink items can be purchased with EBT. Here are a few examples of items that can not be purchased with EBT:

  • Gasoline (as already discussed)
  • Supplements
  • Pet food
  • Prepared or ‘hot’ meals. This also includes hot drinks, such as coffee
  • Alcohol

How To Use Your EBT Card At Shell

Paying with EBT / SNAP / food stamps at Shell gas stations is simple.

Simply take your eligible items up to the register and pay using your EBT card, the way you would any other credit or debit card.

Take note however that you will need to split your purchase into two separate transactions, if your order consists of both EBT and non-EBT eligible items. In these instances, you should pay for your EBT items first, then use an alternate payment method to pay for the rest of your order.

Payment Methods Accepted At Shell

Other than EBT, here are some of the other payment methods accepted at Shell gas stations:

  • Cash
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Discover
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Samsung Pay
  • Google Pay
  • Visa Checkout
  • Most major debit cards
  • Most major credit cards
  • PayPal (when paying on your phone via Pay at Pump)
  • Shell gift card

Note that if you fill up at Shell regularly, Shell also has their own credit card that offers 10 cents off per gallon, up to 35 gallons each purchase at the time of writing. Other credit cards are available that offer up to 5% cash back on fuel purchases, so this may lead to even greater savings if gasoline is over $2 / gallon in your area.

Can You Use Your EBT Card At Shell Gas Pumps?

Unfortunately, use of an EBT card is only permitted inside Shell convenience stores. If you try to use your EBT card at Shell gas pumps, the transaction will be declined.

Therefore, if you’re also going to be purchasing gasoline when you visit Shell, you should bring a backup payment method to use specifically for fuel and other non-food items.

Alternative payment methods at Shell are listed above for your convenience.

Other Gas Stations That Take EBT Cards

If you’re looking for other gas stations that take EBT, SNAP or food stamps, we’ve got you covered.

Here is a list of other gas stations that take EBT. Like Shell however, EBT cards cannot be used to purchase gasoline, only food and drink items inside the respective stores.

Because some gas stations chains are franchised (owned by individual owners), there’s a chance that not every single location accepts EBT. Therefore, it would be best to call ahead of time to ensure your card will be accepted.

Conclusion

Does Shell take EBT? Fortunately, they do!

However, EBT cards cannot be used for gasoline or other items for your car. They can only be used to purchase qualifying food or drink items, some examples of which are listed above.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them using the comment form below, or contact Shell directly.

Disclaimer:

Shell is a registered trademark of its owner. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Shell in any way. We cannot guarantee accuracy of this information and facts may change at any time. For the most up-to-date information, contact Shell directly or visit their official website. Shell’s name is used only for nominative fair use.

About the author 

James McAllister

James is the owner of JamesMcAllisterOnline.com. He started his first blog at the age of 11, and has since gone on to start several successful businesses. In total, these businesses have sold hundreds of thousands of units and have touched millions of lives. Here on JamesMcAllisterOnline.com, he shares his knowledge that brought him to where he is today. If you want to connect with James, follow him on your favorite social networks!

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