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With the right card in your wallet, you can maximize the cash back, points or miles you earn at the pump.

On average, Americans spent $1,968 on gasoline and other fuels in 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With the drastic increase in gas prices in 2022, that number has more than doubled to $5,000 a year, according to Yardeni Research. If you own a vehicle and spend that much or more on gas every year, it may make sense to get a cash rewards credit card for buying gas.

No, we're not talking about the gas cards offered by gasoline companies like Shell and BP. The best rewards credit cards for gas stations offer accelerated rewards at gas stations, as well as great rewards on other everyday purchases you make.

Rewards Credit Cards for Gas Purchases

Card Gas Rewards Annual Fee Learn More

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

4% cash back up to $7,000 in annual gas and EV charging purchases (and then 1% after)

$0 More info

Active Costco membership required

Citi Premier® Card

3X ThankYou Points per $1 spent at gas stations

$95
Citi Double Cash

Citi Double Cash® Card

2% cash back on purchases, including gas stations

$0

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Earn 3% cash back on gas from U.S. gas stations

$95 More info

$0 Intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Earn 3% cash back on gas from U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%

$0

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

2% cash rewards on purchases, including gas stations

$0

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

5X IHG points per $1 spent on on travel, gas stations, and restaurants

$99

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

2% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined annual purchases at gas stations and restaurants

$0

>>Review the methodology our credit card experts use to evaluate credit products and determine the best-in-class cards from our credit card partners, or skip to the most frequently asked questions about gas rewards.

Best Credit Cards for Gas Station Purchases From Our Partners

Depending on what else you spend your money on, these top rewards credit cards for gas station purchases will do a lot more than that. With all that in mind, here are our top choices from our partners.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

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Secure application on issuer’s website

Rates & Fees

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card is a credit card from our partner Citi made exclusively for Costco members. It comes with cash back potential on annual gas and EV charging purchases, on restaurant and travel purchases, and at Costco and Costco.com. With a generous rewards rate for dining, groceries, gas and Costco purchases, this card can add up to big savings.

Overview

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card is a credit card from our partner Citi made exclusively for Costco members. It comes with 4% cash back on up to $7,000 in annual gas and EV charging purchases (and then 1% after), 3% back on restaurant and travel purchases, 2% back at Costco and Costco.com and 1% everywhere else. Aside from the $7,000 caveat, there are no other limits on what you can earn with this card.

Pros

  • Generous cash back on gas, restaurants, travel and of course, Costco purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • No sign-up bonus
  • You'll need a Costco membership to apply for the card

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, one of our partners, is a credit card made exclusively for Costco members. It comes with 4% cash back on up to $7,000 in annual gas purchases and EV charging purchases (and then 1% after), 3% back on restaurant and travel purchases, 2% back at Costco and Costco.com and 1% on other purchases.

One unique feature of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card is how you get your cash back. While most credit cards give you a monthly credit or a credit when you hit a certain rewards level, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card offers an annual rewards credit for all of your cash back earned. Also, this co-branded Citi credit card doesn't have an annual fee, but you will need to be an active Costco member to enjoy its benefits.

Citi Premier® Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

Rates & Fees
  • Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$95
  • Sign Up Bonus 60,000Citi ThankYou Points More Info

    Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou Points after making $4,000 worth of purchases during the first three months of account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,080 (60,000 Citi ThankYou Points * 0.018 base)

The Citi Premier® Card, from our partner Citi, is worth considering if you’re looking for accelerated travel rewards but don’t want to pay a huge annual fee. It’s easy to quickly rack up lots of points on this card. While you can redeem ThankYou points for gift cards, you’ll get more value when you redeem points for flights and hotels, and potentially even better value when you transfer points to travel partners.

Overview

This credit card offers its members a range of incentives, such as bonus points, gift cards and 1:1 point transfers with airline partners. One of the more unique features of the Citi Premier® Card from our partner Citi is that it offers 3x ThankPoints for every dollar spent at supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants and travel purchases. Plus, new cardholders can earn 60,000 ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 during the first three months of account opening.

Perks

  • Earn 3x ThankYou Points per dollar spent on travel, grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations
  • Annual $100 hotel savings benefit. Just book a hotel stay of $500 or more through thankyou.com or 1-800-THANKYOU to earn the discount.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Easily transfer your points to Citi's airline partners

Pros

  • High reward rate on common categories of consumer spending
  • Points are easily transferable to airlines and hotel partners
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Points never expire

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No standout rewards category

More Details: The Citi Premier® Card, from our partner Citi, is worth considering if you’re looking for a travel credit card, but don’t want to pay a huge annual fee. The Citi Premier Card offers new cardholders a sign-up bonus of 60,000 ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 during the first three months of account opening.

Additionally, this Citi credit card offers a range of incentives, such as bonus points, gift cards and deals with retail partners. Best of all, you’ll get more value when you redeem points for flights, and potentially even better value when you transfer points to Citi's travel partners.

Read our full review of the Citi Premier Card.

Citi Rewards+® Card

This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

  • Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$0
  • Sign Up Bonus 20,000Citi ThankYou Points More Info

    Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com Dollar Equivalent: $360 (20,000 Citi ThankYou Points * 0.018 base)

The Citi Rewards+ Card, from our partner Citi, rounds up all purchases to the nearest 10 ThankYou Points. For example, if you bought a cup of coffee for $2, you’d earn 10 ThankYou Points. Similarly, if a burger and fries cost $15, you’d earn 20 ThankYou Points. So if you make a lot of small purchases, like a morning cup of coffee, this could be the card for you.

Overview

The Citi Rewards+® Card,  from our partner Citi, may be ideal for people who want to earn cash-back rewards for everyday spending, but do not want to pay an annual fee. It’s also a strong option for people who make frequent small purchases, since this credit card rounds each purchase to the nearest 10 points — even buying a $0.75 candy bar will earn you 10 points.

Pros

  • Great for small purchases: All transactions round up to the nearest 10 points
  • Get 10% of your redeemed points back each year (for the first 100,000 points redeemed annually)
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • 3% foreign transaction fee, don't use this card abroad if you don't have to

Citi Rewards+® Card, from our partner Citi, is a cash-back rewards credit card with no annual fee. The card includes unique features, including a round-up to the next 10 Thank You Points on any purchase and 10% back on redemptions. New cardholders can earn 20,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $1,500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.

When shopping with the Citi Rewards+ Card, you’ll earn 2x ThankYou Points per dollar spent at supermarkets and gas stations up to $6,000 in annual purchases (once you hit the annual cap, these purchases are worth 1x ThankYou Points per dollar). That means you can earn up to 12,000 points per year from these bonus category purchases. As an added bonus, for a limited time you can also earn 5x ThankYou Points per dollar spent on car rentals, hotels and attractions booked using the Citi Travel℠ Portal through June 30, 2024. All other purchases outside of these bonus categories earn the card’s regular rewards rate of 1x point per dollar. Read our full review of the Citi Rewards+ Card.

Citi Double Cash® Card

Citi Double Cash
Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

Rates & Fees
  • Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$0
  • Sign-Up Bonus $200Cash Bonus More Info

    Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

The Citi Double Cash® Card, from our partner Citi, is among the top cards on the market for general spending. Forget the cards that offer 1% and 1.5% cash back. The Citi Double Cash Card offers you a whopping 2% cash back for all spending. Earn 1% back when you make a purchase and 1% back when you pay your account balance.

Overview

The Citi Double Cash® Card, from our partner Citi, offers attractive and uncomplicated cash back for people who value a flexible credit card reward program. The Citi Double Cash Card gives you the chance to earn 2% cash back on your purchases. You can receive 1% cash back when you make a purchase and an additional 1% cash back once you pay your bill.

Pros

  • No category bonuses to remember, unlimited 2% cash back on everything
  • Earns ThankYou Points, which gives the potential to unlock valuable travel rewards

Cons

  • Foreign transaction fees are applied
  • Limited perks

With the Citi Double Cash® Card, from our partner Citi, you earn a flat 2% back on all purchases with no limit on how much cash back you earn. However, this card takes a unique approach to earning cash back—you earn 1% back when you make a purchase, plus an additional 1% back when you pay for the purchase. To earn cash back, you also must pay at least the minimum due on time.

This card doesn’t have the highest rewards rate you can find when it comes to the cash-back credit card category. But with no annual fee and an easy-to-use redemption process, the card is still a worthwhile cash-back candidate to consider. Read our full review of the Citi Double Cash Card.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

Rates & Fees
  • Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$0
  • Welcome Bonus $200Cash Bonus More Info

    Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

If you’re a fan of earning cash rewards for your everyday spending, you need a credit card that rewards you for purchases outside of popular bonus categories like travel, grocery stores and gas stations. With the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (Rates and Fees), you earn 2% back for every dollar spent without the fuss of tracking specific bonus categories.

Overview

While many rewards credit cards tempt you with bonus rewards for specific purchases, these cards invariably offer a mere 1% rewards rate on the vast majority of charges that don’t qualify for a bonus. And with many of these cards, the amount of purchases that are eligible for your bonus is capped, restricting the overall potential value.

But with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, you simply receive a high level of cash rewards on purchases. There’s no need to register for anything, and there are no limits on the amount of cash rewards you can earn.

Pros

  • Earn an unlimited 2% cash back on every single purchase
  • No annual fee
  • Automatic cellphone protection when you pay your monthly bill with the card

Cons

  • Points don't transfer to travel partners unlike other card currencies
  • No bonus earning categories

Many rewards credit cards tempt you with bonus rewards for specific purchases, but with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (Rates and Fees), you simply receive a 2% cash rewards on purchases. There’s no need to register for anything, and there is no annual fee to carry this credit card in your wallet.

Plus, get up to $600 of cellphone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card. (subject to a $25 deductible).

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card applicants can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on the card within the first three months of account opening. Additionally, new accounts receive a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR after low intro APR period). Qualifying balance transfers must be made within 120 days of account opening with a 3% fee. Then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5. Read our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

  • Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR21.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$99
  • Sign Up Bonus 165,000IHG One Rewards Points More Info

    Earn 165,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $825 (165,000 IHG One Rewards Points * 0.005 base)

Aside from its astounding sign-up bonus, this card offers tons of value, especially for loyal IHG customers, like a free Reward Night on your account anniversary and Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member. Plus, it offers a Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA Pre✓® fee credit every four years, and IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at a variety of hotels.

Overview

Frequent customers of IHG hotels and other people who enjoy earning rewards nights for hotel stays and premium hotel status should consider picking up this card.

Pros

  • Generous rewards rate on IHG Hotels and Resorts purchases
  • Automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status which gets you perks like upgrades
  • Free reward night every account anniversary, with the potential to be worth hundreds of dollars

Cons

  • Has an annual fee
  • Only makes sense if you plan to stay at IHG properties

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a solid card, especially if you're already a loyal IHG customer. The perks accompanying this co-branded Chase credit card are worth way more than the $99 annual fee. The IHG One Rewards Premier Card comes with Platinum Elite Status, a free anniversary night every year and a free reward night for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay. It’s great for international travel because there are no foreign transaction fees.

This hotel credit card comes with an attractive offer — new cardholders can earn a sign-up bonus of 165,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening.

A sign-up bonus like this can go a long way towards free reward nights at participating IHG hotels around the world, including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton, EVEN Hotels, Indigo Hotels and Holiday Inn. Read our full review of the IHG One Rewards Premier Card.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

  • Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR18.49% - 24.49% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$0
  • Sign-Up Bonus $750Cash Bonus More Info

    Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Business owners looking to earn a high rate of cash back on common business expenses like office supplies and internet could get a lot of value from this card. The trade-off for the high cash-back rate, though, is a lower spend cap than you’ll find with other Ink Business cards.

Overview

The Ink Business Cash® is legendary for its offer of 5% cash back for purchases at office supply stores and on many telecommunications services, with no annual fee. And while 5% cash back sounds great, these rewards can be much more valuable when paired with another Chase credit card that allows transfers to airline miles or hotel points. In addition to earning excellent cash-back rewards, it also includes competitive introductory offers and provides cards for employees at no additional charge.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • 5x back on a broad array of business spending categories
  • Robust travel and purchase protections
  • Don't need a full-fledged business to apply

Cons

  • Businesses that don't spend on the category bonuses won't benefit

The Ink Business Cash® Card is a valuable business cash-back card for entrepreneurs of all types. Earn an impressive rewards rate of 5% cash back on select business purchases. These include the first $25,000 you spend each account anniversary year at office supply stores and on phone, cable and internet services. Ink Business Cash also offers 2% cash back on up to $25,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and gas stations. You’ll earn 1% cash back on virtually all other purchases.

As a new cardholder, get $750 in bonus cash back when you make $6,000 worth of purchases within the first three months of account opening. Read our full review of the Ink Business Cash.

American Express Credit Cards for U.S. Gas Station Purchases

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

  • Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR19.24%-29.99% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$95 More info

    $0 Intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

  • Welcome Bonus $250Cash Bonus More Info

    Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

The Blue Cash Preferred offers outstanding rates of cash back in common categories like U.S. supermarkets, streaming services, gas stations and transit. If you have significant spending on these categories and care about cash back, then this card is for you.

Overview

It’s rare for a cash-back card to charge an annual fee, but it’s even more unexpected to earn a whopping 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and with select U.S. streaming services. This card may also be ideal for families who spend a lot of time commuting around the city and who also have multiple streaming subscriptions. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is designed to help busy households maximize their cash-back earnings.

Pros

  • An extensive array of category bonuses including up to 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets
  • $0 annual fee the first year, then $95
  • An array of purchase and travel protections

Cons

  • Rewards are earned as pure cash back with no ability to transfer to Amex's travel partners
  • There's an annual fee after the first year

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is designed to help on-the-go households maximize cash-back earnings. While this card carries a $95 annual fee after the first year (see rates and fees), which is rare for a cash-back product, large families that spend heavily at U.S. gas stations and supermarkets will most likely spend enough to offset the $95 annual fee.

The card earns:

  • 6% back at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 each calendar year (then 1%)
  • 6% back on select U.S. streaming services
  • 3% back on gas at U.S. gas stations
  • 3% on transit expenses, including parking, tolls, bus fare and more
  • Other eligible spending earns 1% cash back

New cardholders have the opportunity to earn a welcome offer of $250 once they spend $3,000 with the card during their first six months of card membership (Terms Apply; see rates and fees). Learn more with our full review of the The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

Enrollment is required for select benefits

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

  • Our Rating 4/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR19.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$0
  • Welcome Bonus $200Cash Bonus More Info

    Earn $200 back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You will receive the $200 back in the form of a statement credit.

The Blue Cash Everyday Card is a great cash-back American Express card with no annual fee. It earns a solid 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on U.S. online retail purchases and at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year.

Overview

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers good value among cash-back rewards card competitors with no annual fee. With a competitive rewards rate and welcome offer, it’s easy to get a lot of value from this card. If you want to earn cash back on everyday purchases but can’t justify a more premium card with an annual fee, this card might be a good choice.

Pros

  • Earn cash back on valuable everyday spending categories
  • No annual fee to worry about

Cons

  • Not ideal for high spenders
  • Bonus categories are not for everyone

For a card with no annual fee, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers an impressive amount of value. Right off the bat, new cardmembers can earn a $200 welcome offer as a statement credit (Terms Apply; see rates and fees). To earn this welcome offer, you have to spend at least $2,000 on purchases using the card over the first six months. This will get you a $200 statement credit.

This card earns:

  • 3% cash back per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 each calendar year (then 1%)
  • 3% cash back per dollar spent at U.S. gas stations, up to $6,000 each calendar year (then 1%)
  • 3% cash back per dollar spent on U.S. online retail purchases, up to $6,000 each calendar year (then 1%)
  • Other purchases earn 1% back, and cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit

If you’re looking for a simple card to get cash back and earn a welcome offer on the popular U.S. supermarkets and gas categories, this card could fit your spending needs. Check out our full review of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.

Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Rewards Credit Cards for Gas Versus Oil-Company Gas Cards

So, you know you want to be rewarded at the pump, but you still aren’t sure if you should go for a rewards card with gas perks or an oil-company card? We’ll help you do the math.

Many rewards cards will allow you to earn points or cash back on the amount you spend on fuel. You will earn the same percentage back on any U.S. gas station you use, so you don’t have to be a company loyalist. Even better, cash rewards credit cards come with other perks, as well as more opportunities to earn points or cash back on other spending. You can choose a card based on your spending habits to reap the most rewards.

Co-branded oil-company cards typically offer cents off per gallon or cents per gallon rebates. Gas credit cards that are more than just loyalty rewards credit cards tied specifically to the gas station will allow cardholders to earn cents per gallon per dollar spent elsewhere. For example, the Techron Advantage Visa card allows cardholders to earn 20 cents per gallon at Chevron and Texaco for the 90 days after opening an account.

There are pros and cons to both cards and the right card depends on your unique spending situation and credit score.

Co-Branded Gas Card Pros

  • Better chance of approval: Individuals who are working to rebuild their credit or who have been rejected from popular rewards credit cards are more likely to be approved for a gas card.
  • Card limit: If you are afraid of overspending, gas cards come with smaller credit limits, so there is a less likely chance you will get yourself into unbearable debt.
  • Comes with limited protection: Most gas cards come with some level of fraud protection which makes it a better choice than using a debit card at the pump.
  • Cents off each gallon: Gas cards give you the opportunity to save money on what you are already spending. You might only earn an additional $50 to $100 per year, but that is more than if you were to pay with your debit card.

Co-Branded Gas Card Cons

  • High APRs (interest rates): You don’t want to hold a balance on these cards because the interest rates are high and will cost you more than any cents per gallon saved or earned.
  • Limited rewards
  • Reward caps

Gas Rewards Cards Benefits

  • Earn more back on a variety of spending
  • Redeem rewards on what you want, not just gas
  • Better APRs (interest rates)

Gas Rewards Cards Downsides

  • Stricter credit approval
  • Many cards come with an annual fee
man using a gas pump Related Article

How Do Gas Credit Cards Work?

Read More

Maximizing Rewards How to Choose a Credit Card for Gas Rewards

When choosing the right card for your gas rewards, don’t just look at how much you earn for spending. You want to compare these important factors too:

  1. 1

    Check if there is a Rewards cap

    Is there a limit to how much you can earn on your annual gas spending? Some cards might offer 5% cash back on gas for one quarter’s spending (usually three months) and then drop it down to 1%.

  2. 2

    Look for an Annual fee

    Annual fees are not an automatic deal-breaker, but you need to weigh the card’s perks against the fee.

  3. 3

    Determine the Redemption Value

    How can you spend your gas rewards? Cards with redemption flexibility will allow you to use your rewards to benefit your budget rather than being wasted on programs that use points for magazine subscriptions.

  4. 4

    See if a Membership is Required

    Some credit cards have warehouse membership fees and rules attached to it. For example, the Costco Citi card requires a $60 annual Costco membership, but you can earn 4% on gas purchases at other fuel stations.

How Much Money Can a Gas Credit Card Save You?

On average, Americans spend $5,000 per year on gas. Your number might be higher if you are a regular commuter or drive a large vehicle. With an average gas price of $3.85 per gallon, that comes out to almost 1,299 gallons per year. Using those stats, here’s how much you would save with a gas credit card versus a rewards credit card:

  • A gas card that saves 5 cents per gallon: $64.93
  • A rewards card that earns 2% back: $100
  • A rewards card that earns 3% back: $150
  • A rewards card that earns 5% back: $250

Choosing a cash rewards credit card that earns 2% or more cash back on gas will save you more on your gas purchases. While gas spending is pricey, there is probably another spending category (such as groceries or dining out) that you spend more on. Look for a card that will reward you both for gas purchases and your other frequent purchases.

Methodology

There are a lot of credit cards out there that offer bonus rewards on gas purchases or simply high rewards rates on every purchase you make. We picked our top five based on the overall value they can provide. We looked at the other bonus rewards rates the cards offer and focused on cards that provide extra cash back or points on purchases you're likely going to make regularly.

In general, we focused on credit cards with no annual fee, so you don't have to worry about figuring out how to make the card worth it every year. But in the case of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, we chose it because it makes it easy to recoup the annual fee every year.

Frequently Asked Questions on Gas Cards

  • The PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature is the highest-earning card for gas purchases — it earns 5x points per dollar on gas at the pump, 3x points per dollar on groceries and 1x point per dollar spent everywhere else. Points are worth 1 cent apiece, so you’re getting about as high of a rewards rate on gas as possible. We like the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Card because it focuses on giving you the best value at the pump. The only thing to keep in mind is that you need to join PenFed Credit Union in order to apply for the PenFed Platinum Card.

  • Many U.S. gas stations accept most major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card and others. The biggest gas station brands such as Shell, Chevron, Texaco, QuikTrip, Love’s and more take credit cards. Some gas stations might charge a fee for paying with a credit card.

  • Gas credit cards can be a good idea for people who have a long, daily commute or live in communities where gas prices are above the national average. When you drive a lot, you’ll earn points every time you fill your tank. Additionally, a gas credit card can be a valuable option for those who live far from work, shuttle kids to school and other other activities, drive trucks or SUVs, or travel by car for trips and leisure.

  • A gas-branded credit card is one issued by the oil companies, usually in partnership with a bank. Many gas-branded cards can only be used at that fuel station, but research each fuel companies’ offerings for exact rules. For example, Shell offers a Fuel Rewards Credit Card and a Fuel Rewards Mastercard. The latter can be used on non-Shell purchases and earns rebates on dining and select expenditures. Gas credit cards usually do not have any fees and allow you to save a set amount of cents off of each gallon of gas purchased. Some cards come with rewards on non-fuel purchases made at the fuel station too.

  • You can start by looking for a gas card that is accepted at services stations near you. Some options earn rewards regardless of which gas station you frequent, while others earn accelerated rewards for spending at specific brands. Consider credit cards that also earn rewards for non-gas purchases. Additionally, you can increase your fuel rewards by opening a gas card without an annual fee.

  • Gas credit cards work similarly to a store credit card. For example, if you have a Kohl’s or JCPenney credit card, you know that your card is only useful at those stores. Like all other credit cards, you will be required to pay a monthly minimum and any amount that is carried over to the next month will earn interest. Gas credit cards generally have a higher interest rate than average rewards cards. Since oil-company cards are limited, individuals with fair credit have an easier time being approved. Gas cards are a good option for those who have fair credit or those who are looking to rebuild their credit. Since you can only use the card for gas, it will be harder to rack up the bill, making it easier to keep track of.

  • If you don’t drive often or work from home, then a gas card may not be for you. Also, anyone who drives a hybrid, fuel-efficient, or eco-friendly vehicle might not spend enough on gasoline to justify a gas credit card.

  • A statement credit is money paid to your account by your card issuer. It essentially works the same as a cash payment to your account. Some rewards card issuers often offer statement credits as a payout for cash rewards or other point redemption. Statement credit can be used to pay down your card balance or they can remain on your statement as a positive account balance for future purchases.

Disclosures

For rates and fees of The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please visit https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card-application/apply/prospect/terms/blue-cash-preferred-credit-card/25330-10-0#FeeTable

For rates and fees of The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please visit https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card-application/apply/prospect/terms/blue-cash-everyday-credit-card/25330-10-0#FeeTable

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Ben Luthi

Ben Luthi is a personal finance and travel writer and credit card expert. He has a degree in finance from Brigham Young University and worked in financial planning, banking and auto finance before writing full-time for NerdWallet and Student Loan Hero. Ben is now a full-time freelance writer and enjoys traveling and spending time with his two kids. His work has appeared in several publications, including U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, Money, Success and Slickdeals.