Challenges for motorcyclists at gas stations

The temperatures are rising, the days are getting longer and the characteristic hum can be heard on the roads again: The motorbike season is starting. For many riders, the time for weekend tours and spontaneous rides is now beginning. However, the first refuelling stop often involves the same annoying routine: taking off your helmet, taking off your gloves, digging out your wallet and then queuing at the shop. With the PACE Drive app, this is a thing of the past: You simply pay directly at the gas pump using your smartphone and are back on the slopes in no time.

Problem: Removing your helmet when paying

In Germany, there is no legal obligation to remove your helmet when entering a gas station. However, most gas stations require you to remove your helmet before entering the sales area, as the operators are exercising their domiciliary rights. This measure is primarily for safety reasons and to prevent robberies, as a helmet covers the face and makes identification more difficult.

For motorcyclists, this means additional effort: taking off the helmet, removing gloves and, if necessary, taking off other equipment. This is a particularly tedious task in bad weather or during short refueling stops. There is also the risk that the helmet is left unattended during the payment process.

The solution: Paying with the PACE Drive app

The solution to this problem is very simple and is called the PACE Drive app. Our app (Android | iOS) offers motorcyclists a convenient way to make the payment process at gas stations more comfortable. With the app, you can pay directly at the gas pump without having to take off your helmet or enter the gas station shop.

This is how it works:

1. Find a gas station: The app shows all participating gas stations in your area.
2. Fill up: Drive to the desired gas station and fill up as usual.
3. Pay for your gas: Open the app, select the gas pump and confirm the payment with your preferred payment method.
4. Continue your journey: After successful payment, you can continue your journey straight away.

The PACE Drive app supports various payment methods, including PayPal, credit card and Apple and Google Pay.

All advantages for motorcyclists at a glance

Using the PACE Drive app offers motorcyclists numerous advantages:

1. Time saving: paying directly at the gas pump eliminates the need to go to the gas station shop, which saves valuable time, especially during short stops or on long tours.
2. Comfort: There is no need to take off your helmet and gloves, which makes the refueling process much more pleasant.
3. Practical: Motorcyclists often don’t have their wallets on them, so they have to rummage around in their backpacks or bags for their wallets when refueling. However, the smartphone is usually always in the trouser pocket or mounted on the handlebars as a navigation device and is therefore always to hand for paying with the PACE Drive app.
4. Digital: Another major advantage of the PACE Drive app for motorcyclists are the digital receipts. Instead of keeping the receipt crumpled up in your jacket pocket, all receipts are clearly organized in the app.
5. The right fuel: It is not always clear whether the right fuel is available for the motorbike before the refueling stop, as motorbikes often require special fuel types such as Super Plus or E5. With the PACE Drive app, you can check in advance whether the gas station offers the right fuel. This saves a lot of frustration and detours.
6. Also useful abroad: As the PACE Drive app is available in many European countries, you can also use the app to pay for motorbike tours abroad. This means you don’t run the risk of encountering language barriers that could make the refueling process more difficult.
7. For motorbike groups: As a motorcyclist, you are often traveling in groups. At the usual refueling stop, a long queue quickly forms to pay. With the PACE Drive app, however, every rider in the group can pay directly at the gas pump and the tour can continue more quickly. 
8. Safety: The helmet can be kept on during the entire refueling process, which not only increases comfort in winter, but also minimizes the chance of the helmet being stolen during the payment process.
9. Flexibility: The app makes it possible to find nearby gas stations and compare current fuel prices, which is particularly useful on longer journeys.

Search Along the Route for all route planners

With the new Search Along the Route function in the PACE Drive app, you can find gas stations with mobile payment options directly along your route – without any detours. Simply enter your destination and the app will show you all relevant gas stations along the route. You will receive information on current fuel prices, opening hours and payment options and can be navigated directly to them. For motorcyclists, this means maximum efficiency in route planning, targeted refuelling stops and more time for what really counts – riding.

Additional functions of the PACE Drive app

In addition to the option of paying directly at the gas pump, the PACE Drive app offers motorcyclists other useful functions:

• Gas station search: The app shows all participating gas stations in the vicinity that support mobile payment and also offers integrated route planning to navigate you directly to the gas stations. As motorbikes have to stop at gas stations more frequently due to their smaller tanks, this feature is particularly relevant for motorcyclists. 
• Price comparison: Current fuel prices are displayed so that you can easily compare prices and always find the cheapest fuel station.
• Digital receipts: After each refueling process, you receive a digital receipt directly in the app and by email, making it easier to manage your fuel expenses.
• Shopping: If you still want to go to the sales area of the fuel station to get a snack or a drink, you can take advantage of special offers in the PACE Drive app.