# Cash on Delivery (COD)

By Nick Bruzzi · Published 2026-07-08 · https://heatprice.com/glossary/cash-on-delivery-cod

A buying model where you pay for your heating oil in full at (or just before) delivery — cash, check, or card — rather than being billed later or on a plan.

COD dealers are typically low-overhead discount operations that price close to the daily wholesale cost and pass the savings on; they generally don't offer service contracts or emergency repair. COD rewards homeowners who are comfortable watching their own tank and paying up front, in exchange for a lower price per gallon.

Source: industry-standard payment term (see the full-service-vs-COD guide for the trade-off).

## See also

- [full-service vs COD](https://heatprice.com/guides/full-service-vs-cod-heating-oil)
- [Will-call delivery](https://heatprice.com/glossary/will-call-delivery)
- [Budget plan](https://heatprice.com/glossary/budget-plan)

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