BP is raising the fuel card safety stakes with the introduction of PIN numbers to its BP Plus fuel card.

PIN rollout has already begun and will be completed by August 31, when all BP sites will be capable of accepting PIN verification. There is no need for new cards to be issued.

A spokesman for BP Fuels Marketing, which operates the fuel card, said: “PIN is part of BP’s desire to bring its offer in line with customer expectations on card security as well as align with industry payment security standards. We are committed to delivering a more secure fuel card to our customers that allows them to take more control of their fuel card management.”

Customers have already been setting up their PINs and by the end of July all will have activated them.

To give customers time to adjust to the changeover, for a brief period they will continue to have the option of using signature verification as well as PIN.