Gas Station Rewards Programs
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How to Find the Best Gas Credit Card for You
6 min read
Last Updated: April 8, 2025
Key Takeaways
- There are two main types of gas credit cards: gas station-branded credit cards and general credit cards that offer rewards on gas and other purchases.
- The best gas credit card for you will depend on your purchase habits.
- When choosing a gas card, you should consider fees, rewards program details, and introductory offers.
What do commuters, long-distance road trippers, and family chauffeurs all have in common? They fill up their tanks a lot—and they all might benefit from a gas rewards credit card.
But not all gas credit cards work the same. Let's review what you need to know to find the best credit card with gas rewards for your needs before you apply.
What is a gas credit card?
A gas rewards credit card (also known as a “fuel card”) can give you discounts or rewards whenever you buy gas. These cards tend to appeal most to people who have a regular commute but can also be beneficial to someone planning a long-distance road trip. Some gas cards offer bonus rewards on non-gas purchases, which can make them good everyday card options for infrequent drivers as well.
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Types of gas credit cards
There are generally two types of credit cards that offer gas rewards: gas station-affiliated credit cards and credit cards issued by a credit card company that offer rewards on gas purchases. The best gas credit card for you depends on both your geographic location and spending habits.
Co-branded or gas station credit cards
Co-branded or station-affiliated gas credit cards are offered by fuel companies to give cardholders discounts, rewards, or other perks at the company’s brand-affiliated gas stations. Sometimes you can only use these co-branded gas cards at the company’s stations. Others work like regular credit cards and offer bonuses on non-gas purchases, but the reward redemptions may still be tied to buying fuel from an affiliated station.
Co-branded gas cards may give you a discount when you use the card to pay for gas, such as 10 cents per gallon off. Or they may offer rewards per gas purchase, like 10 cents per gallon that you can only apply toward a future purchase at the station.
This type of gas credit card may be a good fit if you only buy gas from a specific gas station or if you could easily start going to one particular station without significantly changing your fill-up habits.
Gas rewards credit cards
Gas rewards credit cards offer rewards on gas purchases at any station, not just brand-affiliated ones. They may offer rewards for other everyday purchases as well.
Many gas cards are cash back credit cards, though some earn points instead. You may be able to redeem rewards as a statement credit, gift card, or cash, depending on your card issuer’s guidelines.
Gas cards are generally tiered rewards cards that earn extra cash back at any gas station. With the Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurant Credit Card, you earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.2
How to compare gas credit cards
There’s a lot to consider when you’re comparing gas credit cards, including where you generally purchase gas, how much you spend on gas, and the cards’ other benefits and drawbacks.
Here are some of the major factors that you can review to find the best credit cards for you:
A card with an annual fee may sometimes offer a higher rewards rate on gas purchases and additional perks. Consider how much you expect to earn from the benefits and how that compares to the fee to determine if that card will be a good fit.
For example, if your card has an annual fee of $25, and you earn 1% cash back, you’d have to spend more than $2,500 a year on the card in order to earn the same amount of rewards that you spend on your annual fee.
It’s also good practice to read the terms and conditions to learn about late fees, cash advance fees, balance transfer fees, and foreign transaction fees. You don’t want to get caught off-guard with fees that you didn’t know your card included.
Review which gas stations you can use to earn rewards. Be sure to check the gas stations’ locations. A fuel card with great rewards won’t serve you well if the participating gas stations are all in another town. You may also want to research gas prices at those stations.
It’s important to make sure your gas card’s eligible purchases align with your shopping habits. Some credit cards may offer rewards for all gas station purchases, while others only reward actual fuel purchases.
If you pay your credit card off in full each month, its interest rate may not affect you. However, if you tend to carry a balance, you may want to consider your card’s APR, which determines the interest you pay. Some credit cards offer a low intro APR for a set period after account opening. During that timeframe, your balance won’t accrue interest. But any amount you still owe after the intro APR period begins accruing interest at the standard rate.
How to apply for a gas credit card
You can typically apply for a station-affiliated gas rewards credit card at gas stations or online, with the eligibility requirements varying by card. You can typically apply for credit cards with gas rewards through the card issuer's website or by calling their customer service number.
What credit score do you need to get a gas credit card?
Every card issuer is different. There’s no single credit score requirement you must meet to get a gas credit card. But a higher credit score often improves your chances of qualifying for a gas rewards card, as is the case for most other cash back credit cards.
Did you know?
Discover also gives you the chance to see if you’re pre-approved for a credit card, including the Discover it® Chrome Gas and Restaurant Credit Card. Checking to see if you’re pre-approved is fast, easy and won’t impact your credit score.1
Which gas credit card is right for you?
Before applying, consider which rewards card best fits your lifestyle and how you typically buy gas. Also keep in mind fees, eligibility requirements, and any bonus rewards you may earn using the card. And, as with other types of credit cards, applying could lead to a hard credit check, which may impact your credit scores. So, be sure to only apply for the card you're most likely to be approved for that will fit your needs.
The bottom line
A gas rewards credit card can be a great everyday card for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road, from busy parents to gig workers to travel aficionados. While a co-branded card may be a good fit if you tend to be brand-loyal or live near a specific gas station, a gas rewards credit card can help you earn more at a wider variety of locations and everyday purchases.
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Any pre-approved offers you receive may have offer terms that vary from other offers you see elsewhere. Some card products are not eligible for pre-approval.
2% Cash Back at gas and restaurants: You will earn 2% cash back on your first $1000 in combined purchases at gas stations (stand-alone) and restaurants each calendar quarter. Calendar quarters begin January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. Purchases at gas stations and restaurants over the quarterly cap, and all other purchases, except as noted below, earn 1% cash back. Gas station purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station, and some public electric vehicle charging stations. Gas stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Restaurants located inside of or affiliated with another business, such as hotels or retails stores and establishments classified as a bakery, may not qualify. Purchases must be made with merchants in the U.S. To qualify for 2%, the purchase transaction date must be before or on the last day of the offer or promotion. For online purchases, the transaction date from the merchant may be the date when the item ships. Rewards are added to your account within two billing periods. Capital One uses merchant category codes to determine if a purchase is in one of the additional cash back categories. This means that sometimes a purchase may not earn additional cash back. For example, some food trucks or food carts may use a merchandise code and restaurants in department stores or hotels may use a merchandise or hotel code instead of a dining code. Certain third-party payment accounts and digital wallet transactions may not earn additional cash back if the technology does not provide sufficient transaction details or a qualifying MCC. Capital One is not responsible for merchant category codes used by merchants. Applies to all rewards: Earnings will apply to net purchases (purchases minus any credits or returns). Cash advances, balance transfers, transfers from Discover or Capital One checking or other deposit accounts, and checks used to access your account are not considered purchases and will not earn rewards. Portions of purchases paid with rewards, transactions that do not comply with our policies and/or applicable laws, or any cash you receive in connection with a purchase at the point of sale through Discover's Cash at Checkout feature will not earn rewards. See Your Rewards Program Terms & Conditions and your online account for more details.
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