a method and system for making payments from a vehicle using onboard wireless communication systems . a near field communication reader is placed a vehicle , such that a customer can pass an nfc - enabled phone or credit card near the reader to provide a source of funding for a purchase . a dedicated short range communications radio onboard the vehicle communicates with a seller of products or services , such as a fast food restaurant , a parking garage , or a toll booth . the seller communicates to the vehicle the amount of a pending payment , the customer approves the payment within the vehicle , and the vehicle sends the authorization to the seller . the entire transaction is handled wirelessly , without the customer having to leave the vehicle or roll down a window . pre - approval accounts can also be established for certain types of payments , thus making those payment transactions automatic .