How a gas card can help you navigate high prices at the pump

Limited oil supplies worldwide, a result of the ongoing war in Iran, are having a major impact on gas prices across the U.S.

Gas prices are well above $4 a gallon across the U.S., up $1.38 from a year ago, according to AAA data. Diesel fuel is edging closer to $6 a gallon at $5.66.

Those rising prices could continue upward in the coming weeks.

“This is the most volatile summer at the pump in years, and the Strait of Hormuz closure is at the center of it,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy in the analysis. “Americans are going to pay billions more to get where they’re going this summer, and even after the Strait reopens, it could take a year or more for prices to fully recover.”

You may not see lower fuel prices anytime soon, but you can take action to reduce the price you pay at the pump with a gas rewards credit card.

What to look for in a gas card

A credit card with gas rewards can help you earn cash back or points on every fuel up. Today’s top gas credit cards offer around a 3%-5% (or 3x-5x) return on your gas station spending. That may be a small amount on each purchase, but it can add up over time, especially while fuel prices are high.

Make sure you look at the specifics of any rewards card that offers gas station spending as a bonus category. Some cards may limit bonus rewards to a certain maximum amount spent per month or per year, while other cards have unlimited rewards. Depending on how much your regular gas bill is, these caps could make a difference in how much you can earn.

Don’t forget the card’s other rewards categories, too. Many credit cards with gas rewards are great everyday cards with rewards on common spending categories, like groceries, dining out, streaming services, and more. If you can find a card that helps you save on gas along with your other regular budget items, you can save even more over time.

Finally, consider the card’s annual fee. Many gas rewards cards (especially cash-back cards) have no annual fee, so every dollar you earn in rewards can help you save on gas station spending. But if your card does have an annual fee, you’ll want to make sure you earn enough in rewards each year to offset the cost of the fee and more. Otherwise, it may not be worth paying for your rewards card.

Read more: What credit card is best for me? A guide to help you choose

Use gas station rewards programs to save

One way to stack your savings at the pump is by joining a gas rewards program from your most frequented gas station chains.

For example, the Shell Fuel Rewards program offers cents off each gallon of gas you buy at a Shell station, depending on your status. As a Silver member, you’ll get 3 cents off per gallon. That goes up to 5 cents per gallon when you reach Gold status and 10 cents with Platinum status. Your status increases as you complete fillups at Shell stations; make at least six fillups of at least 10 gallons within three months for Gold status and twelve fillups within three months for Platinum status.

Exxon Mobil Rewards+ is similar. You’ll earn rewards on your purchases at Exxon Mobil — including 3 points per gallon of fuel you buy. You can redeem every 100 points you earn for $1 in savings. If you purchase 100 or more gallons of Synergy fuel within a calendar month, you can get Frequent Filler status and earn 1 extra point per gallon of fuel for the rest of the month and the following month (though you can earn this status each month).

Combine gas rewards programs

Gas stations with rewards programs often have retail credit cards that you can use to increase the rewards you earn at the pump. But you can also maximize your rewards by participating in a rewards program while using your regular gas rewards credit card.

For example, let’s say gas costs $4.00 per gallon, and your gas station loyalty program gives you a 10-cent discount at the pump. You need 12 gallons of gas to fill up your car. In total, you’ll pay $46.80 at $3.90 per gallon, and save $1.20 in rewards.

On top of that, you use your rewards credit card with 3% cash back at gas stations. You’ll earn about $1.40 in cash back on your $46.80 purchase. Together, that’s $2.60 in savings on a single trip to the gas station.

With multiple trips per month, that can quickly add up to meaningful savings — especially as prices increase.

Best gas credit cards

The best gas credit cards offer top rewards on spending at the pump. Here are some of our favorite options today.

Read more: Best credit cards for gas

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Why we like it: The Blue Cash Everyday Card has no annual fee and earns (among other bonus categories) up to 3% cash back on up to $6,000 in annual gas station spending. If you spend the max $6,000, that’s a total of $180 in cash back at the gas pump. After that, you’ll still earn 1% at gas stations.

Read our full review of the Blue Cash Everyday Card from Amex

Wells Fargo Autograph® Card

Why we like it: Instead of cash back, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card earns points you can redeem for travel, gift cards, account credits, and more. You’ll get 3x points across multiple bonus categories, including gas stations. There’s no limit to the 3x bonus rewards, so you’ll continue to earn that amount no matter how much you spend on gas throughout the year.

Read our full Wells Fargo Autograph Card review

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Why we like it: The Capital One Venture is another travel rewards card. You can use the miles you earn on spending toward future travel, transfer them to Capital One travel partners, redeem them for statement credits, and more. This card doesn’t have a specific gas rewards category, but you’ll earn an unlimited 2x miles on every purchase you make, including gas. Unlike the others on our list, the Capital One Venture does have a $95 annual fee. Compare your spending to ensure you’ll earn enough rewards each year to offset the cost and still maximize savings on gas and other purchases.

Read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Why we like it: The Citi Custom Cash Card works a bit differently than the other gas rewards cards on our list. For no annual fee, you can earn 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle. The 5% applies to the first $500 you spend in a month, then you’ll earn 1% cash back. You don’t need to worry about selecting categories each billing cycle — the rewards will automatically adjust based on your spending. If you spend enough on gas each month to make it your regular top category and max out the $500 bonus spending, you could earn a total of $300 cash back in bonus gas rewards each year.

Read our full Citi Custom Cash Card review

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