How much can you save with a gas credit card?
Your annual gas rewards savings depend on how much you spend filling up your car’s fuel tank each year.
To develop our rewards predictions for the cards above, we used average consumer gasoline spending data. Based on that, we expect you can save around $50 to $100 annually using a card that earns 3x/3% or more at gas stations — and that’s before accounting for any other rewards categories or spending.
Starting from the average, you can use your own spending to determine which card offers the best savings for you.
If you have a long commute or take regular road trips, you may want to prioritize a card with no annual cap on gas rewards, for example, so you can ensure you maximize that spending year-round. On the other hand, if you spend closer to the national average (about $160 to $250 per month) on gas, you might be fine with a spending cap in exchange for a higher rewards rate up to that max.
What counts as ‘gas’ for credit card rewards?
Credit card issuers can have different standards for “gas” or “gas station” rewards categories, so it’s always important to read the terms of any new card before you apply.
Gas stations, for the purpose of rewards, usually means retailers that sell gasoline for cars, which you can either buy at the pump or purchase inside with an attendant. Boat marinas, as well as gas pumps at supermarkets, superstores like Walmart, and wholesale clubs like Costco may not count toward your gas rewards, but it often depends on how the transaction is coded by the merchant when you buy.
Some issuers also offer the same bonus rewards for both gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations. If you have an electric vehicle, look for this specifically within the terms of your card — if it’s not listed, you may not earn boosted rewards at EV charging stations.
Finally, look for any requirement of “U.S. gas stations” within your rewards agreement. Say, for example, you plan to rent a car on a vacation abroad and want to use your card to earn rewards internationally. Before doing so, make sure your card earns gas rewards worldwide (and don’t forget to check potential foreign transaction fees, too).
General gas credit cards vs. retail gas credit cards
For our list of best gas credit cards, we primarily looked at general rewards credit cards that offer solid perks on gas station purchases. For most people with variable expenses and average spending on gas, we believe a more general rewards option can help maximize overall spending.
If you’re a regular at a particular gas station for its convenience or competitive gas prices — and you also spend a significant amount on filling up your gas tank each month — you may also consider a retail gas card offered by your preferred gas station chain.
However, there are restrictions to know, compared to more general rewards cards. For one, you’re more likely to earn rewards as discounts per gallon of gas than cash back or points: 5 cents off per gallon, for example, compared to 5% cash back on your overall purchase. Some retail gas credit cards (like store credit cards) are also limited to purchases with the gas station, so you can’t use them for any other regular spending.
Finally, while any credit card today is likely to have a very high interest rate, retail cards are notorious for raising those rates even higher. It’s important to pay off your balances in full anytime you can, but if you must carry a balance, you’ll accrue interest much more quickly with a variable APR of over 30%. Always read the card terms before you apply to understand your interest obligations.
Frequently asked questions about gas credit cards
Are gas credit cards worth it?
Top gas credit cards can help you earn valuable cash back, points, or miles on all your fuel purchases and other eligible purchases at gas stations. This could be useful if you drive a lot for work or everyday errands. It could also make sense if you frequently use car rentals when traveling.
What are the benefits of a gas card?
The best gas credit cards offer elevated rewards for making purchases at gas stations. These could include buying fuel or items inside a gas station, such as gift cards, food, and beverages. For frequent travelers, road trippers, RV enthusiasts, and anyone who drives a lot for work, gas credit cards are useful tools for earning rewards on purchases you already make.
What credit card is the best for gas rewards?
Our recommended credit cards with gas rewards include:
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Best for essentials: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
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Best for cash-back categories: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
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Best for business: American Express® Business Gold Card
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Best for customized categories: Citi Custom Cash® Card
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Best for travel rewards: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
How do I get 5% cash back on gas?
While we haven’t found a card that consistently offers 5% back for gas purchases, some cards come close.
The Citi Custom Cash Card offers 5% cash back on your highest eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to $500 per billing cycle, then 1%) and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Gas stations are an eligible category for earning up to 5% each billing cycle, making the Citi Custom Cash an excellent credit card for gas.
A card like the Chase Freedom Flex® may also fit the bill, but only for part of the year. With quarterly rotating categories, gas purchases may offer 5% back for up to three months at a time.
To find the best credit cards for gas, we used our existing rubrics for the best cash-back credit cards and best travel credit cards. Taking the top-rated cards from these rubrics, we compiled a list of rewards cards that could be good for people who spend a lot on gas. We especially took into consideration any cards that earned more rewards on gas station purchases.
We narrowed down our list by removing cards with lower rewards rates and fewer benefits. We did not include every rewards card from every issuer in our list. We did not include co-branded hotel or airline cards in our list.
We used available Bureau of Labor Statistics data and each card’s rewards rate to calculate the potential annual gas rewards.
Our final list comprises various high-ranking cards from our cash-back and travel card rubrics.
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