Best Pick For...
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $200 cash redemption value
- $0 annual fee and no foreign currency conversion fee
- Earn 3X points on eating out and ordering in
- Earn 3X points on popular streaming services
- Earn 3X points on gas stations, rideshares and transit
- Earn 3X points on travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals
- Earn 1X points on other purchases
- Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions
The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card (Review) has an interesting rewards program with four different categories, most of them related to travel.
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The Propel card is pretty good for gas alone, but the other bonus categories make it much more useful.
Your points will be worth 1 cent each, so you’ll be earning the equivalent of 3% cash back in the categories above. You can redeem in a variety of different ways, like statement credits or for travel expenses, but you’ll only get a maximum of 1 cent per point.
- Entertainment Access: Get access to special offers and ticket presales for events in big U.S. cities.
- Free FICO credit score: Check your FICO Score 9 whenever you’d like, based on your Experian credit report.
- Cell Phone Protection: Pay your cell phone bill with this card to get coverage against damage and theft, up to $600 with a $25 deductible.
- Shopping and travel protections: Including Purchase Protection, Travel Accident Insurance, Travel Inconvenience Insurance, and more
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening (for transfers made in the first 120 days), then 14.49%-24.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Citi Premier® Card
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- Perks: $100 annual hotel credit for booking a stay of $500 or more via thankyou.com; Point transfer
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
- Regular APR13.99% - 23.99% Variable
- Earn 20% back on Amazon.com purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $200 back.
- Plus, earn $150 back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You will receive cash back in the form of statement credits.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- 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.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.99% to 23.99%
- Plan It® gives the option to select purchases of $100 or more to split up into monthly payments with a fixed fee.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Terms Apply.
For many people, modern life requires a constant flow of gas and groceries, and so you may want a credit card that’s good for both. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Review) fits the bill quite well, offering a lot of cash back at U.S. supermarkets and a competitive rate at U.S. gas stations too.
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- Amex Offers: Find offers for extra cash back at a changing selection of merchants.
- $120 Equinox+ Credit: Get up to $10 per month for a stand-alone monthly membership to the Equinox+ app. Will not apply if you purchase the membership through the Equinox app or a third party.
- ShopRunner membership: ShopRunner provides free two-day shipping and returns at participating online retailers.
- Shopping protections: Return Protection, Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection
- Travel protections: Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Global Assist Hotline
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% Variable
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees)
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
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- Perks: Amex Offers; ShopRunner membership; Entertainment Access
- Travel protections: Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Global Assist Hotline
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees)
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Card
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- Perks: Free FICO credit score; Preferred Rewards cash back bonus
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
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- Perks: Amex Offers; ShopRunner membership; Lowest Hotel Rates Guarantee; Shopping and travel protections
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- Annual fee: $95
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
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- Perks: Hilton Honors Gold status; Priority Pass Select membership (10 free visits per year, then $32 per person); Annual Weekend Night Award for spending $15,000 in a calendar year; ShopRunner membership
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty, Baggage Insurance Plan, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Global Assist Hotline
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95, $0 first year
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees)
Hilton Honors American Express Card
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- Perks: Hilton Honors Silver status, with a fast track to Gold status; ShopRunner membership; Entertainment Access program
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty, Car Rental Insurance Plan, Global Assist Hotline
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Hilton Honors American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
Some reward credit cards have bonus categories that rotate every three months, instead of providing a set amount throughout the year. These cards will usually have gas stations as one of the categories.
The best rotating reward card for gas is the Discover it® Cash Back (Review), which has no annual fee. The truly impressive thing about this card is the Cashback Match, which doubles all the cash back you earn in your first year.
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A good strategy could be to buy gift cards for your favorite gas stations during the three months in which you’ll earn 5% cash back at gas stations. Then you can use those gift cards to fill up your tank throughout the year, having already earned your 5% discount when you originally bought them.
Learn more about how to get the most out of the Discover it’s cash back categories.
- Free FICO credit score: Track your FICO Score 8 over time, based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Social Security number alerts: Get notified if your SSN is found on any thousands of risky websites.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms (for transfers made in the first 90 days), then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Chase Freedom Flex℠
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- Perks: Three-month DoorDash membership; Chase Offers/Shop through Chase; ShopRunner membership; Lyft credits
- Purchase APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months, then 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card
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- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months after that the variable APR will be 12.90% - 22.90% , based on your creditworthiness, then 12.90% - 22.90% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Union Strong Card
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- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 9.25% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, home improvement/furnishings
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
- After you spend $2,500 in the 3% and 2% categories, you’ll earn 1% cash back until the quarter ends
- Security deposit between $300-$4,900 is required to open your account upon approval
- Bank of America will periodically review your account and return your security deposit if you qualify
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
People with limited or bad credit have a harder time being approved for regular cards. Secured credit cards offer a different way forward. They’re easier to get for people with poor credit, but require a refundable security deposit at the start to fund their credit limits.
Most secured cards come don’t offer any rewards, and some have annual fees. But the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Card is a bit of an outlier, with terms that seem to belong more to a regular rewards card. This card requires a security deposit of $300 to $4,900 when you’re approved.
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- Free FICO credit score: Track your FICO Score 8 over time, based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Security deposit: $300 to $4,900
Discover it® Secured
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- Perks: Free FICO credit score; SSN alerts; New account alerts
- Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Security deposit: $200–$2,500
NFCU nRewards® Secured Credit Card
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- Perks: Free FICO credit score; Member Deals; Shopping and travel protections
- No balance transfer fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Security deposit: $200+
Wells Fargo® Business Secured Credit Card
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- Perks: Earn More Mall; Upgrade to unsecured card
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Security deposit: $500–$25,000
- Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card after you use your new Card to make $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Earn a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- 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.
- Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
- Annual fee: $95, $0 first year
- Terms Apply.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Review) is designed for travelers who frequently stay at Hilton properties, but it also provides quite a few points for gas.
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You’ll need to redeem your points through the Hilton Honors system. That’s not a bad thing because it has quite a few options like free night stays, vacation packages, and resort-specific services.
- Hilton Honors Gold status: Includes an 80% point bonus, room upgrades when available, complimentary breakfasts, and more
- Priority Pass Select membership: 10 free visits to Priority Pass lounges per year; additional visits cost $32 per person
- Annual Weekend Night Award: For spending $15,000 in a calendar year
- ShopRunner membership: ShopRunner provides free two-day shipping and returns at participating online retailers.
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty, Baggage Insurance Plan, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Global Assist Hotline
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95, $0 first year
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees)
Hilton Honors American Express Card
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- Perks: Hilton Honors Silver status, with a fast track to Gold status; ShopRunner membership; Entertainment Access program
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty, Car Rental Insurance Plan, Global Assist Hotline
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Hilton Honors American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
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- Perks: Free night stay; IHG Platinum Elite status; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; Shopping and travel protections
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $89
IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card
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- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
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- Perks: Hilton Honors Gold status, and fast track to Diamond; Priority Pass Select membership (10 free visits per year, then $32 per person); Annual Weekend Night Award for spending $15,000 in a calendar year, and a second for spending $60,000; Amex Offers
- Shopping and travel protections: Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Baggage Insurance Plan, Global Assist Hotline
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (Rates & Fees)
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card
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- Perks: Free Night Award after account anniversary, and a second Free Night Award for spending $60,000 in a calendar year; Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, with a fast track to Gold Elite; Free premium in-room WiFi; 15 Elite Night Credits; $100 property credit at The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis
- Shopping and travel protections: Baggage Insurance Plan, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Global Assist Hotline, Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $125
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The information related to Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
If your business doesn’t have the same kind of spending from month to month, it can be hard to plan out a rewards strategy. But the American Express® Business Gold Card (Review) adjusts to fit your needs, with a variety of potential 4X bonus categories that include U.S. gas stations.
So if you don’t spend a lot on gas one month, that’s OK. You’ll earn points on the categories you spend more in, and 4X gas rewards will be waiting for you next month.
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- 25% airline bonus: Get 25% of your points back when booking eligible airfare through American Express Travel using Membership Rewards Pay with Points.
- The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay
- Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel partners
- Amex Offers: Access to extra point offers at a wide variety of merchants
- Shopping and travel protections: Baggage Insurance Plan, Trip Delay Insurance, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Global Assist Hotline, Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $295
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
American Express® Business Gold Card (Rates & Fees)
Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
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- Perks: Bank of America Preferred Rewards cash back bonus; Shopping and travel protections
- Annual fee: $0.00
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
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- Perks: Chase Offers; Shop through Chase; Shopping and travel protections
- Purchase APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card
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- Perks: Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection; Concierge; Shopping and travel protections
- Annual fee: No annual fee for the first year, $95 thereafter.
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
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- Perks: Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit; Point transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs; Shopping and travel protections
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Capital One Spark Cash for Business
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- Perks: Shopping and travel protections
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
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- Perks: Amex Offers; Lowest Hotel Rates Guarantee; Connect to QuickBooks
- Shopping and travel protections: Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Global Assist Hotline
- Annual fee: No annual fee
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (Rates & Fees)
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
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- Perks: Amex Offers; Point transfer; Connect to QuickBooks
- Connect to QuickBooks: Enroll to automatically tag your card transactions with your QuickBooks categories.
- Shopping and travel protections: Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Global Assist Hotline
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months from date of account opening, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- Annual fee: No annual fee
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Rates & Fees)
The information related to American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- New Offer: Maximize your cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement /furnishings
- Now earn 3% cash back in your choice category and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases
- You can update your choice category for future purchases once each calendar month using the Mobile banking app or Online banking, or do nothing and it stays the same.
- No changing categories and no expiration on rewards
- 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then, 13.99%–23.99% Variable APR. 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers.
- If you’re a Preferred Rewards client, you can increase that bonus to 25% – 75%. Click “Apply Now” to learn more about Preferred Rewards.
- Now with chip technology for enhanced security and protection at chip-enabled terminals
- No annual fee
Take a gander at the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards™ Credit Card for Students (Review).
College students are typically new to credit, with limited or no credit history. This makes getting that first credit card tough. Student credit cards are designed with this in mind, and often come with less favorable terms to reflect that.
But this card from Bank of America is pretty great all-around, with a nice selection of bonus categories you can adjust from month to month.
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- Good Grades Reward: A $20 statement credit for each year that your GPA is 3.0 or higher, for up to five years
- Free credit score: Track your FICO Score 8 over time, based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Social Security number alerts: Get notified if your SSN is found on any thousands of risky websites.
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Discover it® Student chrome
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- Perks: Good Grades Reward; Free credit score; SSN alerts; New account alerts
- Purchase APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms (for transfers made in the first 90 days), then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Discover it® Student Cash Back
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- Perks: Good Grades Reward; Free credit score; SSN alerts; New account alerts
- Purchase APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Wells Fargo Cash Back College Card
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- Purchase APR: 0% for 6 months, then 12.15%–22.15% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 6 months then 12.15%–22.15% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America Travel Rewards® Credit Card for Students
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- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 14.99%–22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn 5% cash back on your first $3,000 in gas and military base purchases annually on these categories combined
- Earn 2% on your first $3,000 on supermarket purchases per year
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- USAA membership is available to active and former military and their eligible family members
USAA offers a variety of credit cards for military members and their families. The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card (Review) is one of the most rewarding, and with no annual fee it’s not a bad choice for gas purchases.
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That 5% cash back is a relatively high offer, although it’s limited to the first $3,000 you spend in those categories every year. That means you can only earn a maximum of $150 per year in those categories, but if you’ll stay under that limit this could be the right card for you.
USAA cards come with a variety of useful benefits specifically designed for military members and their families. So even if you’re not getting the best rewards program, you might like the other features enough to value this card very highly.
- Special active duty rate: 4% APR for eligible balances for members who are on active duty, until one year after they have completed active duty.
- Specially trained customer service: Dedicated, military-specific customer support to provide assistance before, during, and after deployment.
- Shopping and travel protections: Including Travel Assistance Services and Identity Theft Resolution Services
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
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- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months, then 11.74% to 17.99% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
- Discover one of Citi’s best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
- 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
- Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.24%. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
Costco members have a special advantage with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi (Review), which is actually one of the better gas credit cards. This card has no annual fee but requires a Costco membership to apply, which is at least $60 annually.
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In general, gas rewards credit cards don’t offer any bonus categories for wholesale clubs, like Costco. So this card is one of your only options for earning rewards for gas at Costco.
The other spending categories are pretty good as well. The 3% cash back for restaurants and travel is on the upper end compared to most cards without annual fees. And the 2% back at Costco will be a welcome bonus for any member.
- Just pay with the Costco Visa: Your credit card will be counted as your membership card when making Costco purchases.
- Shopping protections: Like Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty
- Annual fee: $0 (Costco membership required, a minimum of $60 per year)
- Open-loop card: You can use this card anywhere Visa is accepted.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi
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- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 (Costco membership required)
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
- 5% cash back for gas in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including gas at Sam’s Club; only on the first $6,000 per year, then 1%
- 3% cash back for dining and travel expenses
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Get a $45 statement credit if you open your account online and make a $45 purchase at samsclub.com on the same day
- Cap of $5,000 in cash back rewards per year
The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® is an obvious choice for anyone who is already a Sam’s Club member. This card is available if you have a Sam’s Club membership, which costs a minimum of $45 annually.
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The 5% back you’ll get on gas is a great rate, about as high as it usually ever gets for credit cards.
If you spend $900 on gas in a given year you’ll earn $45 in rewards, enough to offset the minimum Sam’s Club annual membership fee. And if you spend $2,000 on gas you’ll earn $100, enough to offset the Plus membership fee. And that doesn’t even factor in the cash back rewards you’ll earn from the dining and travel categories.
If you’re already paying for a Sam’s Club membership you might as well get some good rewards too. Since this card can be completely free to use as long as you avoid interest and fees, it should be a welcome addition to your wallet.
- Just use your credit card: The Sam’s Club Mastercard also functions as your membership card.
- Shopping and travel protections: May include Price Protection, Extended Warranties, and Travel Assistance Services
- Annual fee: $0 (Sam’s Club membership required, a minimum of $45 per year)
- Open-loop card: Use this card anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Sam’s Club Business Mastercard
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- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Co-Branded Gas Station Credit Cards
Most of the cards above are general-use rewards cards, which can be used at any gas station. But there are also co-branded gas credit cards that can only be used at their specific gas station brands. These “gas store credit cards” are similar to retail store cards in that way.
If you already have a member card with a particular gas station, or you always find yourself filling up at the same station over and over, you might find value in its co-branded credit card.
Anyone who does a lot of driving for work should consider a gas rewards card of some kind. Truckers might find these cards useful, as well as Uber and Lyft drivers. Some of these cards are designed for large companies with fleets of drivers.
These cards typically offer fuel discounts, like 5 cents off per gallon. In many cases the rewards are based on your spending: The more gas you buy, the bigger your discount.
But these branded gas cards, unlike the general-use cards above, usually won’t offer rewards for in-store purchases, like food and drinks. You may be able to use the card in the store — you just won’t earn cash back or points for those purchases.
Not every gas station offers a credit card. Keep in mind that some gas cards are issued by smaller companies, rather than the major credit card issuers (like Amex and Chase, for example). That could mean you’ll get sub-par customer support or payment processing systems. If that’s the case, try to pay your bill well before the due date to make sure your payment arrives on time.
Insider tip
Closed-loop refers to co-branded credit cards that can only be used with that particular brand. For example, the ExxonMobil Smart Card below can only be used at ExxonMobil stations. Open-loop refers to cards that can be used anywhere credit cards are accepted, and these will have a logo at the bottom-right (usually Visa or Mastercard).
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best gas credit card?
There are quite a few rewarding gas credit cards, like:
- Discover it® Cash Back (Review): For rotating 5% categories that often include gas (with activation required; up to $1,500 spent per quarter)
- Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card (Review): If you want a card you can use outside the country without extra fees
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Review): If you want one good card for both gas and groceries
- Discover it® Secured (Review): If your credit isn’t in the best shape
- Hilton Honors American Express Card (Review): For anyone who spends a lot of time in Hilton hotels and resorts
How do gas credit cards work?
Gas credit cards work like any other credit card.
They usually offer credit card rewards for making purchases at gas stations. These rewards might be in the form of cash back, points, rebates, or gas discounts.
Some gas credit cards are general rewards cards, which offer rewards for gas and possibly other types of purchases. Others are co-branded with specific brands or gas stations, and they might only be accepted at their associated merchants.
Can gas credit cards help you build credit?
Yes, gas credit cards can help you build up your credit.
You just need to make sure that your card reports activity to the credit bureaus. In most cases this isn’t a concern, because most card issuers — including the major credit card companies — report activity to all three consumer credit bureaus.
You may find that some smaller issuers don’t report to all three credit bureaus, but this is rare. If you have any questions, you can always contact your issuer to ask.
Expert Q&A
Q1) What are the considerations when thinking of applying for a gas credit card?
Answer by: James Philpot, Associate Professor, Director of the Financial Planning Program
I often recommend non-co-branded gas cards as a first credit card for building a credit history. The idea is that you can use the card for regular purchases, and as you pay the full balance each month you are developing a credit history. The fact that the card is accepted only for gas and convenience store items at one chain theoretically limits the amount of overspending that is possible due to having credit.
Q2) What should cardholders look for in gas credit cards?
Answer by: James Philpot
First and obvious is look for a brand at which you will shop. Does the brand have locations where you are and everywhere you want to travel? Are the locations the types of places where you want to shop (clean, variety of products, convenient)? Does this brand tend to have competitive prices on gasoline? If the cash-only gas station across the street is always 10 cents cheaper, there’s little sense in using a 5 cent cash back gas card at the more expensive station.
Next, compare the cash-back and product discounts offered. What is the amount of the cash-back/discount? Is that amount permanent or simply an attractive introductory that gets less attractive after 90 days? Is the gas discount cents per gallon or percent? Is the store product discount different from the gas discount/cash back?
The APR and finance charge information is important if it is likely that you might not pay your balance in full each month. I counsel paying off the balance in full monthly to avoid these charges, so the length of the grace period and billing cycle are important.
Q3) What are the pros and cons of choosing a co-branded gas credit card?
Answer by: James Philpot
Pro: the near-universal acceptance allows you to use the card at any kind of vendor and thus earn cash-back on all other purchases.
Con: the near-universal acceptance also allows you to spend more money and run up higher bills.
Q4) Is it worth applying for a gas card with an annual fee?
Answer by: James Philpot
IF the annual fee card has enough of a higher gas discount over the no-fee card, AND you buy enough gas at that vendor, then an annual fee might make sense. Here’s an example of the math. Texxon Oil offers two versions of its card: one is no-fee with 3 cent discount per gallon, and the other is $100 annual fee with a 8 cent discount. If you buy 100/(0.08 – 0.03) = 2,000 gallons per year (at Texxon), you break even on the annual fee. I tend to counsel against annual fee cards because most people are unlikely to make the break-even.
For rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.
