Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to cash a check but didn't have time to go to the bank? If so, you're not alone. In fact, according to a recent study, roughly one-third of Americans have cashed a check at a gas station in the past year.
So, which gas stations cash checks? Here is a list of all the major gas station chains that will cash your checks. Just be sure to bring along your ID and the original check. Read on!
Which Gas Stations Cash Checks?
If you google “Places to cash checks near me,” you’ll probably get a few gas stations close to your location. But before heading to any of it, let’s clarify which gas stations actually offer this service. Here’s the list:
Ralphs
Ralphs is one of California's largest grocery store chains, with over 460 locations across the state. Alongside a gas station, they offer several financial services, including Western Union money transfers up to $10k, bill payments, money orders, etc.
They also cash COVID-19 stimulus checks and government benefits like social security or unemployment insurance settlements which you can pick up quickly without waiting in line.
Road Ranger
Road Ranger is a truck stop with travel centers that offers many services. They have over 70 locations in Illinois, Iowa, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, and Wisconsin for you to choose from. Whether it's public laundry, lottery, showers available 24 hours, or Western Union money transfer within North America, Road Ranger is one of the best one-stop-shop destinations.
Chevron
Chevron is an excellent option if you're looking for convenience. Their locations are spread across the country, so you'll likely find one near you. They also offer a wide range of services, so you can get your check cashed and take care of other stuff all in one stop.
Citgo
Citgo is another great option for those looking for a gas station and a convenience store, having more than 5,000 gas stations around the United States. Like Chevron, they have locations all over the country, and they supply 4% of the fuel in the US.
Shell
Shell is a great option if you're looking for a gas station that also offers check-cashing services. The company has around 25,000 gas stations in the US, with more than 20 million patrons daily. Their locations are typically open 24 hours a day, so you can get your check cashed when it suits you. They also provide a wide range of other services.
Fred Meyer
Fred Meyer is another one on the list of gas stations that cash checks. It’s a great option if you're looking for a gas station that offers check-cashing services, but it’s also great if you are into shopping. They sell home goods, apparel, electrical gadgets, food, jewelry, etc.
Sunoco
There are over 5,000 Sunoco fuel stations in over 30 states. Since the stores are locally owned, rules and regulations for financial services vary. Therefore, not all locations will accept checks.
TravelCenters of America
TravelCenters of America has locations throughout the U.S., offering check-cashing up to $999 per 24h for NATSO and company-approved accounts. Customers will have fees imposed in all the states except for New Jersey. However, the fees will be waived if a qualified purchase is made within two hours before or after the check is cashed or a cash advance is issued. In addition, if you're an UltraOne Platinum member, this service is entirely free.
7-Eleven
7-eleven doesn't technically offer check-cashing services at their over 9,000 stores, but they do have a service called Transact that you could take advantage of. You’ll need to load your payroll check to 7-Eleven’s reloadable prepaid debit card.
Safeway
When you google “Places to cash checks near me,” probably Safeway is gonna come up. Why? Because it’s one of the largest supermarket chains in America. It has stores across 18 states and includes over 900 locations with attached gas stations, offering check-cashing services for those who need them.
Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee is a midwestern supermarket chain that has over 240 stores. Some locations include gas stations and other add-on services like health clinics, coffee shops, and fitness centers. Hy-Vee doesn’t have a standard check-cashing policy since each store is independently owned.
Dillons
Many petrol stations that provide check-cashing services are affiliated with grocery companies. Dillons, which is part of the Kroger family of stores, is one of the grocery store chains that accept checks. Unfortunately, personal checks are not accepted.
How to Cash a Check at a Gas Station
To cash a check at a gas station, you'll need to bring your ID and the check itself. However, there are some gas stations that cash checks without ID, like 7-Eleven and Dillons.
Once you have all of the documentation necessary, simply present it to the cashier, and they'll be able to process your request. If everything goes smoothly, you should have your money in hand within a few minutes.
Read more: 11 Ways to Get Free Gas
Other Places That Cash Checks
Now that you’ve learned which gas stations can cash checks, you might wonder where else you could cash a check.
There are a few other places where you can cash a check, including banks, Walmart, and PayPal. Each option has its own rules and fees, so be sure to check with the specific institution before cashing your check.
Related: Does Cvs Cash Checks?
Banks
Banks typically offer the most convenient option for cashing a check, as they usually have longer hours and more locations. However, banks may charge a fee for this service, so be sure to ask about any potential charges before cashing your check.
Walmart
Walmart also offers check-cashing services, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
- You'll need to bring a valid photo ID in order to cash your check.
- There is a limit of $5,000 for checks that can be cashed at Walmart.
- There may be a fee for this service, so be sure to ask about any potential charges before cashing your check.
PayPal
PayPal also offers a check-cashing service, but it works differently than the other options:
- You'll need to go to Wallet in your PayPal app and tap on Cash Check.
- Take a picture of both parts of your signed check and click Next.
- Choose when you want to get your money.
