September 29, 2023
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If you spend a large amount on gas and are looking for a dedicated card for gas purchases, you’ll find few cards more rewarding that the Citi Custom Cash® Card. It earns a generous cash back rate in your top spending category each month (on up to $500) from a list of eligible categories, including gas.
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Gas can be among a household’s biggest expenses each month, and it makes sense to do everything possible to lower the impact it has on your budget. A gas credit card can be one way to keep some extra money in your wallet. There are two major types of gas credit cards — one gives a discount on gas purchases (usually at a specific brand of gas station), and the other gives rewards on fuel purchases. While there are many different choices for gas credit cards, the best gas credit card will earn at least 2% back on your gas purchases.
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Earning rate on gas: 5% cash back
The Citi Custom Cash® Card has a unique earning structure. Instead of earning rewards in fixed categories, you automatically earn 5% cash back on your highest category of spend each month from a list of categories (up to $500). So if gas is your biggest spending category, you can earn a whopping 5% cash back on up to $500 in gas each month.
Who’s this card best for?
The Citi Custom Cash® Card might be best suited for someone who is looking for a second credit card used only for gas purchases. That’s because you will only earn the 5% cash back in a single category. So if gas isn’t the category where you spend the most, you’ll only earn 1% in cash back rewards.
Its categories include:
Earning rate on gas: 3% cash back
Because cardholders can select gas stations as one of their choice categories, the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card offers one of the highest cash back rates on gas available for a business credit card.
Who’s this card best for?
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card is best for small business owners who are looking for a flexible credit card that provides the opportunity to earn a generous cash back rate on gas purchases. Cardholders can select one choice category to earn the highest cash back rate in each month (up to the yearly maximum), and you can change it once per calendar month.
Earning rate on gas: 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (redeemable for statement credits)
Earn 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 3% cash back rewards at U.S. gas stations and also earns one of the highest rates of cash back around for U.S. supermarket purchases (redeemable for statement credits). If you’re looking for the cash back credit card for these two categories combined, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is the way to go.
Who’s this card best for?
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is best for consumers who spend a lot at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and the cards other cash back categories and are willing to pay an annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.). If you spend at least $1,584 on purchases that earn 6% cash back, you’ll recoup the amount of the annual fee each year. Just know, there is a yearly spending cap of $6,000 on U.S. supermarket purchases, after which your rate for such purchases drops to 1%.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please click here.
Earning rate on gas: 2% cash back
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases with this card.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card lets you earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases without limits. If you want one card that you can use anywhere without the hassle of juggling multiple credit cards, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card can be an attractive option.
Who’s this card best for?
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is best for someone that wants a single credit card that earns cash back everywhere. You’ll get the same high rate of cash back on all purchases in every category with no limit. That is a solid return without having to juggle multiple credit cards or remember which one to use.
Earning rate on gas: 3% cash back
If you’re looking for cash back rewards on gas purchases but your credit is not ideal, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card is one of the most rewarding options you can find, since it offers gas stations as a choice category. For a card for bad credit, it offers a decent credit limit of $5,000.
Who’s this card best for?
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card is best for someone that wants to earn rewards while also working on improving their credit. You’ll put down an initial security deposit of at least $200 that will serve as your credit limit. Reliably making your monthly payments will help you improve your credit score over time.
Earning rate on gas: 15 cents off per gallon
Of all gas discount cards, the BPme Rewards Visa Signature® Card offers one of the largest discounts on fuel: You’ll get 15 cents per gallon off all fuel purchases at BP. You can also earn points on groceries, dining and non-fuel BP purchases.
Who’s this card best for?
While you will earn some cash back points on non-BP purchases, this card is ideal for someone who frequently fills up the tank at BP. You’ll get a 15 cents per gallon discount at BP stations as well as 5% cash back on non-fuel purchases at BP and Amoco.
Earning rate on gas: 4% cash back
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The PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card is our pick for gas and restaurants for its excellent earning in both categories. This card has a wide range of elevated earning categories, making it easy to earn cash back rewards.
Who’s this card best for?
If you’re a frequent spender at both gas stations and restaurants, you might consider the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card. In addition to offering an excellent rewards rate on these two categories, the card offers cash back at grocery stores on all other purchases — all with a $0 annual fee.
Earning rate on gas: 6X points at U.S. gas stations
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns a high rate of rewards for gas purchases in the form of Hilton Honors hotel points. If you’re a frequent Hilton traveler, you’ll enjoy earning travel rewards that you can turn into free nights.
Who’s this card best for?
Hilton has more than 7,000 properties in 122 countries and territories. If Hilton is your go-to hotel chain when planning a stay away from home, and if you want to earn generous rewards on gas, dining, hotel stays and more, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a solid choice. Plus, if you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, you can earn a free weekend night reward. Be aware there’s a $95 annual fee, so this might not be the right card for your wallet if you only travel occasionally. Also, you can only earn the elevated rewards rates at gas stations, restaurants and supermarkets located inside the U.S.
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Earning rate on gas: 3X points
The Citi Premier® Card is an outstanding travel rewards credit card that offers ThankYou points at gas stations, as well as air travel and hotel stays. You can then transfer these points to Citi’s travel partners for maximum value.
Who’s this card best for?
The Citi Premier® Card is a great option for consumers who prefer to earn flexible travel rewards. With a wide array of bonus categories, savvy shoppers should have no problem accumulating a good stash of Citi ThankYou points to help pay for their next big trip.
Earning rate on gas: 4% cash back
Get 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases.
Buying gas at Costco does require a Costco membership (either $60 or $120 annually), but gas at Costco is often cheaper than surrounding stations. And if you’re filling up at Costco, you’ll want the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi.
Who’s this card best for?
This card is best for Costco members. While its annual fee is $0, you must have a Costco membership, which costs $60 or $120 a year depending on the membership type you choose. It’s also important to note that there are strict limitations on how you redeem your rewards earned with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. Costco cash rewards can only be redeemed for merchandise or cash back at Costco warehouses located in the U.S., including Puerto Rico. Plus, rewards are only distributed one time per year (after your February billing statement closes) and must be redeemed by December 31 of the year they are issued.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Recommended Credit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Citi Custom Cash® Card
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
Winner
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Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 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. | Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. | Excellent/Good/Fair |
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
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Business
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Get a $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening. | Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter), 2% cash back on dining purchases (for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter) and 1% cash back on all other purchases | Excellent | |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
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Groceries
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Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply. | Excellent/Good | |
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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Review Coming Soon
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Flat-rate cash rewards
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Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months | Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases | Excellent/Good | Review Coming Soon |
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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card
Review Coming Soon
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Bad credit
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N/A | Earn 3% cash back in a category of your choice each month | Excellent/Good | Review Coming Soon |
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BPme Rewards Visa Signature® Card
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Gas discount card
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Get 30¢ off per gallon on bp and Amoco fuel purchases in the first 60 days after account opening. | Get 15¢ off per gallon on fuel purchases at participating bp and Amoco stations. Earn 5% cash back on non-fuel bp and Amoco purchases, 3% cash back on grocery store and dining purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. | N/A | |
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PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card
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Restaurants
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$200 after you make $1,000 or more in purchases during the first three billing cycles | Earn 2% on grocery store purchases, 3% on dining purchases at restaurants and 4% on gas station purchases for the first $8,000 in combined purchases in these categories annually. 1% cash back on purchases everywhere, every time. | N/A | |
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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
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Hotels
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Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership | Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio. Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. | Excellent/Good | |
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Citi Premier® Card
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
Travel
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Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening | 10X total ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024. 3X -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels 3X -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets 1X -- Earn 1 Point on All Other Purchases Annual Hotel Savings Benefit | Excellent/Good |
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
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Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Review Coming Soon
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Costco
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N/A | 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases | Excellent | Review Coming Soon |
A gas card can mean a few different things, depending on the context. Some gas station brands offer gas cards that offer discounts on fuel purchases at their particular stations. These are generally referred to as gas discount cards. There are also traditional gas credit cards that are good anywhere the associated credit card processing network (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) are accepted. They may or may not be co-branded with a gas station brand and usually offer rewards on gas purchases.
Gas discount cards
A gas discount card is a gas card that is specific to one particular brand of gas station. These cards usually offer a discount on specific types of gasoline, and may only be good for purchases at that particular brand. A couple of examples of gas discount cards include the Exxon Mobil Smart Card+™ and the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard®.
Credit cards with gas rewards
If you are looking for a card that you can use for multiple types of purchases, you might opt instead for a credit card with gas rewards. These credit cards are usually issued by a major processing network such as Visa or Mastercard and good anywhere those networks are accepted. Rather than a discount, the card will offer points or cash back on your gas purchase.
Using a credit card that offers discounts and rewards can often be worth it, compared to paying with a debit card or cash. You can earn rewards or discounts on your fuel purchases, plus most credit cards come with fraud protections that can protect you against theft and skimming at the pump. As long as you’re able to pay the charges off each month, a gas card is a good way to go.
Deciding whether a gas discount card will save you more than a credit card that pays cash rewards on gas purchases depends on the price of gas in your area. The lower the price of gas, the more likely that a discount card will offer more savings than a cash back card. The table below shows how a gas card with a 10 cent discount compares to a credit card with 3% cash back rewards on gas. In this specific scenario, $3.50/gallon and higher is the tipping point where the 3% cash back card is better than the 10 cent/gallon discount card.
| Gas card with a 10 cent discount | Credit card with 3% cash back | |
|---|---|---|
| $3 per gallon | $1.50 | $1.35 |
| $4 per gallon | $1.50 | $1.80 |
| $5 per gallon | $1.50 | $2.25 |
Figure which stations you use the most
The first thing that you’ll want to do is determine which gas stations you use the most. A co-branded gas card is a good choice for those who are brand loyal, while a general credit card is better for those who use many different brands. If you live in a rural area that only has one or two stations, you might be more brand loyal than if you live in a more populated area with more choices.
Calculate the amount you spend on gas and the amount of gallons you use
Next, you should estimate how much you spend on gas each month. This calculation will help you determine whether a discount card or a rewards card will be the better choice. Generally speaking, the more expensive the gas prices in your area, the more likely a gas rewards card will be a better choice.
Decide if you want to earn rewards in other categories
If you only want to carry one card, you may be better off with a gas rewards card. A card with multiple bonus categories will allow you to earn credit card rewards on all of your purchases, instead of only your gas purchases. A gas discount card can be a good option as a secondary card that is used only for gas.
Decide which type of rewards you prefer
There are many different options for credit card rewards — airline miles, hotel points, bank points and cash back are the main options. Another step towards choosing a gas credit card is deciding which of these rewards will be most useful to you.
Look at the other benefits on the card
Many rewards credit cards also offer other perks or benefits that you might find useful. A credit card that offers travel protection or primary rental car insurance might be something that would provide real value to you. As you compare different gas credit card options, finding one with valuable benefits can help you decide which card is right for you.
If you’re ready to get a gas card, here are a few steps to follow:
Most gas stations now offer the ability to pay at the pump with an authorized debit or credit card. To use a credit card at the gas pump, insert your card when you pull up at the gas station. Some gas pumps still use the magnetic stripe to authorize your payment, but most have converted to using the EMV technology chip. Insert your chip card and leave it inserted into the pump until you’re told to remove your card. Then simply follow the prompts until you have completed your purchase.
While gas stations are a favorite spot for “skimming” (a type of credit card fraud that involves placing a device on top of a credit card machine to steal your card number), most gas stations offer protection against skimming. You should keep an eye out for a piece of anti-tampering tape around the credit card reader — if the tape is broken, the machine may have been tampered with. You should inform the gas station attendant. Fortunately, EMV chip readers also offer strong protection against this type of fraud.Yes, getting a gas credit card can help you build credit as long as you use it responsibly. Most credit card issuers report your account and payment history to the three major consumer credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, which can positively impact your credit profile as long as you pay on time and keep your balance well below 30% of your credit limit.
The best gas credit cards are likely to require good to excellent credit, which is typically considered a FICO Score of 670 to 850. However, if you have a poor or fair credit score, a better choice might be a secured credit card, which will require a security deposit in the amount of your desired credit limit, but can help you rebuild a poor credit score through responsible usage. For example, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
Nearly all gas stations take most major credit cards. This is especially true in urban and suburban areas. You may still find a rural gas station that doesn’t take credit cards — if that is the case, you’ll have to go into the building and pay with cash or another form of accepted payment.
Generally speaking, it’s as safe to use a credit card at the gas pump as it is to use a credit card anywhere. However, there is a known scam called credit card skimming which sometimes affects gas station pumps. Gas pump credit card skimming is when a criminal uses an unauthorized device attached to the gas pump to collect your credit card information. Be vigilant when using any gas pump and be on the lookout for anything that looks out of place.
Visa and Mastercard have different rules and also higher credit card processing fees for larger transactions. Because gas stations may not be reimbursed by Visa or Mastercard for fraudulent transactions above a certain amount, they may limit the total dollar amount for any gas purchases. The guidelines are different for in-store purchases, so if you want to make a gas purchase for more than the listed amount at the pump, you can go inside to pay at the register.
We selected the best gas cards through a review of cards available on LendingTree and from top issuers. The following factors influenced our top card picks:
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please click here.
The information related to Exxon Mobil Smart Card+™ and Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.
The above offers and/or promotions may have since changed, expired, or is no longer available. Check the Issuers’ website for more details.
