AFAIK as part of anti-money-laundering (AML) efforts, most places require ID when you try to buy prepaid cards with cash.

Is that an EU thing? In the US you can buy as many $500 visa cards as you want at any grocery store with no ID. You may need a manager's override if you're buying over $10,000 but that's just to verify that you're not falling for a gift card scam.

Converting >$10k from card to cash on the other hand often requires an ID

> In the US you can buy as many $500 visa cards as you want at any grocery store with no ID.

Canada requires retaining a record of the ID used to buy the prepaid credit cards, too.

https://fintrac-canafe.canada.ca/guidance-directives/client-...

Sounds reasonable. You are still anonymous towards the merchant when you use the prepaid card

No it doesn't. I resent being asked to produce ID for every little thing. Someone tried to card me when I bought beer in a supermarket the other day. I'm 52.

That must have been traumatic for you

I didn't know that, thanks, yeah it's the same here in Canada, EU presumably too.

Well, then we're SOL and won't be able to charge our cars (fully) anonymously.