Connected car as a payment device

1 . A computer-implemented method for purchasing fuel via a vehicle payment application communicating with a merchant communication terminal or server associated with a merchant location, the method executed by one or more processors programmed to perform the method, the method comprising:

presenting, by one or more processors executing a vehicle payment application, a financial card entry screen including one or more user controls for receiving financial data for a financial account;

receiving, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, one or more sets of financial data each corresponding to a financial account for making payments;

generating, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, a virtual map display of a geographic area including indications of merchant locations;

presenting, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, a payment activation screen;

receiving, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, a selection to make a payment;

after receiving the selection to make the payment, presenting, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, a payment authorization screen indicating a method of payment associated with a selected financial account from the one or more received sets of financial data; and

transmitting, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, a request to purchase fuel to a merchant communication terminal or server associated with a merchant location, the request including an indication of the method of payment associated with the selected financial account from the payment authorization screen, wherein the request automatically activates a fuel pump and enables fuel to be dispensed to the vehicle.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, a token representing the financial data for the selected financial account; and

transmitting, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, the token representing the financial data to the merchant communication terminal or server.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein obtaining the token includes:

transmitting, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, the financial data to a third-party token server; and

receiving, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, the token representing the financial data from the third-party token server, wherein the third-party token server stores the token and the financial data.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, login information or mobile device identification information; and

comparing, by the one or more processors, the login information or the mobile device identification information to a stored unique identifier for an authorized user.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, a personal identification number (PIN) from the user; and

comparing, by the one or more processors executing the vehicle payment application, the PIN to a stored PIN for an authorized user.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle which automatically navigates to the merchant communication terminal and further navigates to a position relative to the merchant communication terminal for receiving the fuel from the merchant.

7 . A computer system configured for purchasing fuel via a vehicle payment application communicating with a merchant communication terminal or server associated with a merchant location, the computer system comprising one or more processors, transceivers, and/or sensors configured to:

present, by a vehicle payment application, a financial card entry screen including one or more user controls for receiving financial data for a financial account;

receive, by the vehicle payment application, one or more sets of financial data each corresponding to a financial account for making payments;

generate, by the vehicle payment application, a virtual map display of a geographic area including indications of merchant locations;

present a payment activation screen;

receive, by the vehicle payment application, a selection to make a payment;

after receiving the selection to make the payment, present a payment authorization screen indicating a method of payment associated with a selected financial account from the one or more received sets of financial data; and

transmit, by the vehicle payment application, a request to purchase fuel to a merchant communication terminal or server associated with a merchant location, the request including an indication of the method of payment associated with the selected financial account from the payment authorization screen, wherein the request automatically activates a fuel pump and enables fuel to be dispensed to the vehicle.

8 . The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the computer system is further configured to:

obtain, by the vehicle payment application, a token representing the financial data for the selected financial account; and

transmit, by the vehicle payment application, the token representing the financial data to the merchant communication terminal or server.

9 . The computer system of claim 8 , wherein to obtain the token, the computer system is configured to:

transmit, by the vehicle payment application, the financial data to a third-party token server; and

receive, by the vehicle payment application, the token representing the financial data from the third-party token server, wherein the third-party token server stores the token and the financial data.

10 . The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the computer system is further configured to:

receive, by the vehicle payment application, login information or mobile device identification information; and

compare the login information or the mobile device identification information to a stored unique identifier for an authorized user.

11 . The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the computer system is further configured to:

receive, by the vehicle payment application, a personal identification number (PIN) from the user; and

compare, by the vehicle payment application, the PIN to a stored PIN for an authorized user.

12 . The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle which automatically navigates to the merchant communication terminal and further navigates to a position relative to the merchant communication terminal for receiving the fuel from the merchant.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon a set of instructions for purchasing fuel via a vehicle payment application communicating with a merchant communication terminal or server associated with a merchant location, the set of instructions when executed on one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

present, by a vehicle payment application, a financial card entry screen including one or more user controls for receiving financial data for a financial account;

receive, by the vehicle payment application, one or more sets of financial data each corresponding to a financial account for making payments;

generate, by the vehicle payment application, a virtual map display of a geographic area including indications of merchant locations;

present a payment activation screen;

receive, by the vehicle payment application, a selection to make a payment;

after receiving the selection to make the payment, present a payment authorization screen indicating a method of payment associated with a selected financial account from the one or more received sets of financial data; and

transmit, by the vehicle payment application, a request to purchase fuel to a merchant communication terminal or server associated with a merchant location, the request including an indication of the method of payment associated with the selected financial account from the payment authorization screen, wherein the request automatically activates a fuel pump and enables fuel to be dispensed to the vehicle.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the set of instructions further causes the one or more processors to:

obtain, by the vehicle payment application, a token representing the financial data for the selected financial account; and

transmit, by the vehicle payment application, the token representing the financial data to the merchant communication terminal or server.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein to obtain the token, the set of instructions further causes the one or more processors to:

transmit, by the vehicle payment application, the financial data to a third-party token server; and

receive, by the vehicle payment application, the token representing the financial data from the third-party token server, wherein the third-party token server stores the token and the financial data.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the set of instructions further causes the one or more processors to:

receive, by the vehicle payment application, login information or mobile device identification information; and

compare the login information or the mobile device identification information to a stored unique identifier for an authorized user.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the set of instructions further causes the one or more processors to:

receive, by the vehicle payment application, a personal identification number (PIN) from the user; and

compare, by the vehicle payment application, the PIN to a stored PIN for an authorized user.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle which automatically navigates to the merchant communication terminal and further navigates to a position relative to the merchant communication terminal for receiving the fuel from the merchant.