Some card readers will accept your card as is, but others may prompt you to enter your PIN - so it's important to know the code for each of your cards, including your credit card.Īt self-service machines (transit-ticket kiosks, parking, etc.), results are mixed, as US cards may not work in some unattended transactions. Most chip cards issued in the US instead have a signature option.Īlthough US cards no longer require a signature for verification, don't be surprised if a European card reader generates a receipt for you to sign. I've been inconvenienced a few times by self-service payment machines that wouldn't accept my card, but it's never caused me serious trouble.Įuropean cards use chip-and-PIN technology: Europeans insert their chip cards into a payment machine slot, then enter a PIN. Despite some differences between European and US cards, there's little to worry about: US credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) generally work fine in Europe.
