Credit-Card Surcharge Rules — by Industry
The same network baseline applies everywhere, but each industry has its own flashpoint: the dual-price pump, the Italian Colors ruling for dealers, the convenience-fee model for utilities and government, and the never-on-the-tip rule for restaurants.
Credit-Card Surcharges & Cash Discounts at Gas Stations (2026)
Gas stations overwhelmingly use a cash-discount / dual-price model protected by federal law. When a surcharge is allowed, the caps and pump-price rules that apply.
Read guideCredit-Card Surcharges at Car Dealerships (2026): CA, the Italian Colors Ruling & Beyond
Auto dealers face a uniquely litigated surcharge question. California’s Civil Code § 1748.1 nominally bans surcharges, but a federal court enjoined enforcement — what dealers can and cannot do.
Read guideCredit-Card Surcharges & Convenience Fees for Utilities (2026)
Utility companies usually recover card cost through a flat convenience fee on alternative payment channels, not a percentage surcharge. The distinction and the state-authorization backdrop.
Read guideCredit-Card Fees on Taxes & Government Payments (2026): IRS, States & Convenience Fees
The IRS and most government entities recover card cost via a convenience fee through a third-party processor, not a surcharge. How it works and what taxpayers see.
Read guideCredit-Card Surcharges & Cash Discounts for Restaurants & Bars (2026)
Restaurants and bars can recover card cost via cash discount (legal everywhere) or surcharge (where permitted). The non-negotiable tip rule and state junk-fee laws.
Read guideCredit-Card Surcharging for Medical & Dental Practices (2026)
High-ticket, insurance-billed, patient-sensitive — medical and dental practices may surcharge like any merchant where the state allows, but a cash-discount program is often the safer choice.
Read guideCredit-Card Surcharging for Salons & Barbershops (2026)
Appointment-based, tip-heavy, often small teams — the same state rules apply, but the tip math (tip on the pre-surcharge subtotal) is the local flashpoint.
Read guideCredit-Card Surcharging for Auto-Repair Shops (2026)
Repair invoices differ from dealership financing: high-ticket parts/labor and deposit patterns, but the ordinary state surcharge rules apply.
Read guideCredit-Card Surcharging for Contractors & HVAC (2026)
Invoiced work, deposits, and progress payments create recurring card-charge moments — each is a separate transaction subject to the same rules.
Read guideCredit-Card Surcharge vs Convenience Fee on Rent (2026)
Rent portals are the classic convenience-fee use case. The line between a permitted convenience fee and a prohibited surcharge matters — and debit exclusion still applies.
Read guideCredit-Card Surcharging for Parking & Lots (2026)
Parking is often a flat fee and sometimes municipally regulated; a percentage surcharge on a small ticket breaches the cap, so dual pricing is the norm.
Read guideCredit-Card Surcharging for Events & Ticketing (2026)
Platforms already layer service and facility fees; adding a card surcharge on top needs care so it does not duplicate or breach caps.
Read guideCredit-Card Surcharging for Retail Stores (2026)
General retail is the baseline case — the state matrix and network rules apply directly at the register and online.
Read guideMedical & Dental Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for medical and dental practices: whether you can surcharge, the 52-jurisdiction matrix, and the go-live steps that fit insurance billing and patient care.
Read guideSalons & Barbershops Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for salons and barbershops: the 52-jurisdiction matrix plus the go-live steps that fit tipping and booth-rent setups.
Read guideAuto-Repair Shops Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for auto-repair shops: the 52-jurisdiction matrix plus go-live steps that fit estimates, deposits, and large repairs.
Read guideContractors & HVAC Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for contractors and HVAC businesses: the 52-jurisdiction matrix plus go-live steps for deposits, progress payments, and large jobs.
Read guideLandlords & Rent Payments Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for landlords: whether you can surcharge rent by card, the 52-jurisdiction matrix, and the lease + landlord-tenant law steps to check first.
Read guideParking & Garages Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for parking operators: the 52-jurisdiction matrix plus the flat-fee vs percentage distinction that matters at pay stations.
Read guideEvent Ticketing Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for event ticketing: the 52-jurisdiction matrix plus the all-in pricing / junk-fee disclosure rules that separately govern ticket fees.
Read guideRetail Stores Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for retail stores: the 52-jurisdiction matrix plus go-live steps for in-store, online, and fuel/pump situations.
Read guideGas Stations & Fuel Retailers Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for gas stations and fuel retailers: the 52-jurisdiction matrix plus the dual-price pump model and the steps that fit fuel dispensers.
Read guideCar Dealerships Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for auto dealers: the 52-jurisdiction matrix plus the California Civil Code § 1748.1 / Italian Colors wrinkle and the RISC/contract steps.
Read guideUtilities & Billers Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for utilities and billers: the 52-jurisdiction matrix plus the flat "convenience fee" model used for alternative payment channels.
Read guideGovernment & Tax Payments Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for government entities and tax collectors: the 52-jurisdiction matrix plus the flat convenience-fee model used for taxes and fees.
Read guideRestaurants & Bars Credit-Card Surcharge: State-by-State Compliance Checklist (2026)
A per-state landing checklist for restaurants and bars: the 52-jurisdiction matrix plus the no-surcharge-on-tips rule and the California SB 478 junk-fee carve-out.
Read guideNot sure which model fits your industry?
A cash-discount program is legal in every state and avoids almost every industry-specific trap. Use the decision tool to confirm surcharging is even allowed where you operate.
Educational content, not legal advice. Cashbizly is an independent educational resource. Nothing here is personalized legal advice and it does not replace a licensed attorney or your state’s Attorney General.
Our state-by-state status reflects the consensus of published 2025–2026 compliance guides (card-network rules, LawPay, Stax, NCSL) as of the “last verified” date on each page. Surcharge law changes frequently and is actively litigated — always confirm current figures with your state Attorney General or a professional. Read our full disclaimer.