All About Gas Credit Cards

Gas credit cards can be one option for earning a rebate on gas purchases, either in the form of cash back or other types of credit card rewards. This can make gas purchases help with your budgeting efforts.

There are many different types of gas credit cards, each with their own pros and cons. Some gas credit cards work only at one particular chain of gas stations, while others offer rewards no matter where you buy gas and may even give rewards on some nonfuel purchases. Understanding the different types of gas credit cards can help you choose the best gas credit card for your specific situation.

What Is a Gas Credit Card?

A gas credit card is a term that can refer to a number of different types of credit cards. One might be a standard credit card that earns bonus credit card points on all gas purchases. Another type of gas credit card is one that is co-branded with an actual gas station and gives rewards at that gas station. There are also gas credit cards designed more for companies with large fleets of vehicles.

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How Do Gas Credit Cards Work?

Gas credit cards work much in the same way as other credit cards work. You are extended a line of credit that you can use to make purchases. If you don’t pay what you owe at the end of your billing cycle, you are assessed interest for the privilege of carrying a balance.

Most gas credit cards run on a major credit card processing network such as Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. That means that even if you might think of your card as a gas credit card, it can be used anywhere those types of cards are accepted.

Types of Gas Credit Cards

There are different types of gas credit cards offered by various credit card issuers. Here are a few of the most common types of cards to consider if you want to save money on gas.

General-Purpose Gas Credit Cards

General-purpose gas credit cards are credit cards that earn rewards on a variety of different purchases. They may have gas as one possible bonus category, or they may earn the same high rewards rate on all purchases.

Gas Station Co-Branded Credit Cards

A gas station co-branded credit card is generally marketed and primarily branded for one particular gas station (e.g., BP, Shell, or Marathon). These types of cards are often referred to as “co-branded” because they are branded with both a gas station brand and the brand of the bank that issues it. While these are also usually part of a major credit card processing network such as Visa or Mastercard, the rewards they earn are typically targeted to the main branded gas station chain.

Fleet Gas Cards

A fleet gas card or fleet fuel card is a different type of gas credit card entirely and is targeted more to businesses that manage a large fleet of vehicles. A transportation manager can give fleet cards to individual employees, allowing them to pay for things like fuel, repairs, and maintenance without having to pay out of pocket and get reimbursed. The transportation manager can then track and account for all the various charges centrally.

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How Different Types of Gas Cards Compare

If you’re choosing a rewards credit card, there are a few questions you’ll want to ask yourself:

•   Ease of use: Is this a gas card that can only be used at one particular gas station, or can it be used anywhere?

•   Rewards: Does the reward structure of the card match up with my spending patterns?

•   Fees: What kind of fees does the card have? Avoiding credit card fees is an important part of choosing the right card.

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Which Type of Gas Credit Card Is Right for You?

Trying to determine what’s the best credit card for gas for you? Here’s a look at two of the most popular options among the different types of credit cards for gas.

Who Gas Rewards Cards Are Best For

The following types of people might be best served by a general-purpose gas credit card that also offers rewards on gas purchases:

•   Consumers who frequently shop at multiple different gas stations

•   Infrequent travelers who spend much more in other categories than they do at gas stations

•   People looking to maximize their credit card miles or cash back

Who Gas Station Credit Cards Are Best For

The following people might find that the best gas credit card for them is a gas station credit card:

•   Consumers who spend an above- average amount at gas stations

•   Travelers who frequently fill up at the same gas station chain every time

•   Employees who are given a gas station credit card by their employer and are mandated to use it

Are Gas Credit Cards Generally Worth It?

For many consumers, gas and fuel purchases are one of the biggest spending categories each month. Just like improving gas mileage, earning cash back or other credit card rewards can help offset some of your fuel costs each month. But make sure to compare the different gas card options to find the most suitable gas credit card for your situation.

The Takeaway

There are a variety of different cards that can be considered gas credit cards. Some gas credit cards are more general rewards credit cards that happen to give a bonus on gas purchases. Other gas station cards have rewards targeted to one particular gas station brand. Still other gas cards are used by companies with large fleets to help manage their transportation expenses. Compare options to see which one may suit your needs.

Looking for a new credit card? Consider credit card options that can make your money work for you. See if you're prequalified for a SoFi Credit Card.

FAQ

Is there a credit card only for gas?

There are some gas credit cards that work only at specific gas stations and not for other purchases. Other gas cards are branded with a particular gas station’s color and branding (such as BP, Shell, or Marathon) but are still part of a major credit processing network (like Visa, Mastercard, or American Express). That means you can use the card anywhere those networks are accepted.

What is the best fuel card to get?

The best fuel card to get is the one that maximizes the rewards based on your unique spending patterns. If you always shop at the same gas station, you might be better off with a card that’s specific to that brand. If you shop at different gas stations or want to earn rewards on nonfuel purchases, you may prefer a more generic rewards credit card that also earns rewards on gas purchases.

Do gas cards help build credit?

Whether gas cards help build credit depends on what type of gas credit card it is. If it’s a store-specific card that isn’t part of a major credit card processing network, it likely does not report purchases and credit history to the major credit bureaus. In that case, it probably won’t help you build your credit history.

Photo credit: iStock/kckate16

SoFi Credit Cards are issued by SoFi Bank, N.A. pursuant to license by Mastercard® International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

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