A mum has discovered petrol station apps that let parents pay for fuel on their phone without leaving children in the car
Abigail Nicholson Content Editor
06:00, 17 Jan 2026
Many people feel like they can’t leave their children in the car when they pay for petrol(Image: Anna Barclay, Getty Images)
A mother has discovered an ingenious solution to a common predicament faced by parents at petrol stations: should they leave their children in the car while paying for fuel?
This is a particular concern for busy parents or those who are the sole caregivers, as they often don’t have the option of leaving their children with someone else while they refuel.
A conundrum arises when parents find themselves low on petrol or diesel while travelling with their children. Although many petrol stations offer the convenience of paying at the pump using a bank card, those wishing to use cash or ApplePay must still venture inside.
As per the UK Government website, there is no specified age at which it is legal to leave a child unattended. However, it is considered an offence if a child is left alone in a situation that could potentially put them at risk.
Parents are advised by the government to “use their judgement” in assessing their child’s maturity before deciding to leave them alone, either at home or in a vehicle, reports the Mirror.
Yet, Astin Maisie, a mother of two, has found an innovative solution to this problem, which had previously resulted in her driving her car on empty.
She confessed: “Maybe I’m just stupid and maybe other people knew this and I was the only one that didn’t. Anyway I’ve got a nearly two-year-old and a five-month-old, and for two years I’ve been driving around and when I get to zero on my tank I just have to keep going because I don’t want to get out.
“I’m not getting both the kids out the car to go and pay for my petrol, so I keep driving around until I have an opportunity where someone’s with me so that I can get out.
“I know you could leave your kids in the car, but I just get scared doing that in case someone kidnaps them or like breaks into the car in the two minutes that I’m gone.
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“I’ve discovered that you could actually just download the app of the petrol garage and then you can just pay on your phone. But yeah I didn’t know that you could download an app and you could just pay on your app.”
Numerous petrol stations across the UK offer this functionality, including Shell, Esso, Texaco and BP. After downloading the relevant app, motorists can utilise the “pay at the pump feature” to settle their bill.
The system enables drivers to input their pump number, choose their payment method and fill up without needing to venture inside the shop.
Astin said: “It’s actually saved me, I literally just went to get petrol I’ve been driving around on zero for ages thinking ‘am I gonna just break down in the middle of the road’.
“I didn’t need to leave the baby or anything so yeah, hopefully this can help another mum or dad because I am dumb and didn’t realise that that was the case.”
Fellow parents were swift to express their gratitude to Astin for highlighting this useful feature.
One person said: “That’s amazing. I didn’t know this so thanks so much for sharing.”
A second added: “Erm you have just saved my life thank you!” The topic sparked a debate among others, questioning whether the “panic” of leaving infants and children in the car while paying for petrol was justified.
One mother expressed her confusion, stating: “Never understood the panic. I’m out the car at the till and back within a few minutes, car is locked, children are safe in their seats and I have the keys. What on earth is going to happen.”
Another individual echoed this sentiment, adding: “I really do not see this as a problem – when I’m paying for fuel, I can still see my car whilst paying through the window.”
