A fuel-price protection mechanism whereby customers may pre-purchase quantity-based amounts of fuel and retrieve said fuel at any participating fuel retailer. The quantity-based amounts of fuel are represented in the customers account as a quantity-based fuel credit. The fuel credits may be redeemed at a participating fuel retailer to obtain fuel. The fuel credits are associated with a customer's home geographical region or a customer's selected price class. A conversion mechanism will allow the customer to redeem fuel credits in a different geographical region or price class. Redemption within the home region or the customer selected price class can occur without conversion.