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Americans’ love affair with the automobile has been going on since the introduction of the Ford Model T during the early 20th century. Easy access to gasoline has fueled our quest for independence and exploration. But for those who drive frequently, gasoline purchases can be a major expense, so it’s not surprising that credit cards that offer rewards when purchasing gas are an attractive option when choosing a card.
We've taken a look at the cards in the market that offer bonus rewards for gasoline purchases to find the best ones to meet your needs. We chose the best gas credit cards that offer additional bonus categories, benefits, and valuable features so that you can use these cards for everyday purchases and not just at the gas station.
Best Gas Credit Cards for October 2021
- Best Overall: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
- Best for Hotels: Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Plus Card
- Best for Rewards Points: PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- Best for Wholesale Clubs: Costco Anywhere Visa®
- Best for Business Gas Rewards: Marriott Bonvoy Business™American Express® Card
- Best for Cash Back: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Best Overall : Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
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Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
| Regular APR (%) | 15.99% - 24.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 for the first year, then $99 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent at gas stations, restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Plus 1 mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros & Cons
The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is our choice for the best overall gas rewards credit card. In addition to its rewards on American Airlines flight purchases, it offers 2 miles per dollar on all gasoline spending and dining. You and your travel companions also receive your first checked bag for free and priority boarding. Your spending can earn a $125 discount on your next flight and the ability to waive spending requirements to earn elite status. All of these benefits make it an excellent primary card to carry if you want to earn award flights on American Airlines.
Generous 50,000-mile one-time bonus after spending $2,500 in the first three months of account opening
Strong 2 miles per dollar rewards on gas, dining, and flight purchases
No annual fee the first year
Maximizing rewards value requires savvy—and probably an international destination
Annual fee of $99 starting in the second year
Best for Hotels : Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Plus Card
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Earn 45,000 bonus points, enough for up to 6 free nights at participating properties after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Free nights can require up to 30,000 points per bedroom at participating properties and are subject to availability. Resort fees may apply and cannot be paid with points.
| Regular APR (%) | 15.74% - 24.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $75 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 6 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham as well as on qualifying gas purchases. Earn 4 points per $1 spent on eligible dining and grocery purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®). Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resorts down payments). That means paying bills, buying home office supplies, car repairs, and more are earning you your next great vacation! |
| INTRO BALANCE TRANSFER APR | 0% for 15 Months |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros & Cons
Our choice for the best gas credit card for hotels is the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card. This card earns a robust 6x points for every dollar spent on gas and at Hotels by Wyndham. Additionally, you'll earn 4x points on dining and grocery purchases and 1x points on everything else. You'll receive 45,000 bonus points, enough for up to 6 free nights at participating properties after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Free nights can require up to 30,000 points per bedroom at participating properties and are subject to availability (resort fees may apply and cannot be paid with points). The card has a $75 annual fee, but you'll receive 7,500 bonus points each year that you renew, which can be redeemed for up to one free night at participating properties.
Excellent points earning on gas purchases
Annual bonus when you renew card
0% for 15 months on balance transfers
$75 annual fee—steep for a budget hotel group
No APR promotions
Best for Rewards Points : PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
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Earn 15,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days.
| Regular APR (%) | 13.49% - 17.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 5x back at gas stations, 3x back on groceries, and 1x back on all other purchases. |
| INTRO BALANCE TRANSFER APR | 0% for 12 Months |
| Balance Transfer Fee | A 3% balance transfer fee applies to each transfer. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros & Cons
The PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Card is our best gas credit card for rewards points because of its rich, ongoing, and unlimited 5x points earnings on all gasoline purchases. The card also provides 3x bonus earnings on grocery purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and 15,000 bonus points after meeting initial spending requirements. A 0% APR promo of 12 months on balance transfers is also available when you first open your account. PenFed Credit Union membership is required for approval.
Excellent rewards on gas and grocery purchases
Low ongoing APR
No foreign transaction fees
Membership is required
Restrictive redemption program
Lackluster one-time offer
Best for No Annual Fee : Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card
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Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months ($200 cash redemption value).
| Regular APR (%) | 14.49% - 24.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 3X points for eating out and ordering in, gas stations, rideshares, transit, for travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals, as well as popular streaming services. Earn 1X points on other purchases. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 12 Months |
| INTRO BALANCE TRANSFER APR | 0% for 12 Months |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $5 or 3% (for 120 days, then 5%) of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros & Cons
Our choice for the best gas credit card with no annual is the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card. It earns 3x points per dollar on the most extensive list of categories of any gas credit card. Bonus categories include gas, dining out or ordering in, transit, flights, hotels, homestays, car rentals, and popular streaming services. New cardholders can earn 20,000 points as a one-time bonus when spending $1,000 in the first three months. There is no annual fee and the Propel card includes cell phone protection (damaged, lost, or stolen) when using it to pay your bill.
High points earning rates in a variety of popular spending categories
Decent bonus for a no-annual-fee card
Introductory 0% APR offer
Cell phone protection
Wells-Fargo customer satisfaction for credit cards is below average
Rewards have minimum redemption thresholds
Best for Wholesale Clubs : Costco Anywhere Visa®
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| Regular APR (%) | 15.24% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 with your paid Costco membership |
| Rewards Earning Rate | 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year; 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com; 1% on all other purchases. |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros & Cons
The Costco Anywhere Visa tops our list among wholesale club credit cards that offer gasoline rewards. With its 4% cashback rewards on gasoline up to $7,000 per year, cardholders can earn and apply significant rewards to apply to future Costco purchases. Plus, you'll earn 3% on restaurants and travel and 2% from in-store and online purchases at Costco. The Costco Anywhere Visa is available at no annual fee for existing Costco members, otherwise, a $60 annual Costco membership fee is charged upon approval.
Outstanding rewards on gas
Comparable restaurant and travel rewards to top travel rewards cards
Rewards not limited to Costco spending
No annual fee with a paid Costco membership
Limited cash back redemption options
Card membership linked to a paid Costco membership
Cap on gas rewards
Best for Business Gas Rewards : Marriott Bonvoy Business™American Express® Card
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Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points & 2 bonus Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months. Each bonus Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50K points. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/3/2021.
| Regular APR (%) | 15.74% - 24.74% variable |
| Annual Fee | $125 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy(TM) program. Earn 4x points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. 2x points on all other eligible purchases. |
| Cash Advance APR (%) | 25.24% |
| Cash Advance Fee | Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros & Cons
We chose the Marriott Bonvoy Business™American Express® Card as the best business gas rewards card due to its ongoing and unlimited 4x points earnings at U.S. gas stations and the excellent per-point value of Marriott Bonvoy points when redeemed toward hotel stays. This card can be a good pick for small-business owners who spend a significant amount on gas each month and can further augment their earnings through Marriott stays, which earn 6x points. Business owners can also turn employee spending into additional points with complimentary employee cards.
Outstanding rewards on Marriott stays and select spending
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
Bonus night on card anniversary
Annual free night is capped at 35,000 points
Dismal rates on non-Marriott redemptions
Best for Cash Back : Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
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Earn a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
| Regular APR (%) | 13.99% - 23.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 for the first year, then $95 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 6% back at US supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases), 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back on eligible transit and US gas stations, and 1% back on other purchases. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 12 Months |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 2.7% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros & Cons
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is our choice for the best gas card offering cashback rewards due to its unlimited 3% earnings at U.S. gas stations–allowing you to fuel up at the retailer of your choice. Many rewards credit cards cap their bonus points or cash back on gasoline purchases so this is a good option for those that want to maximize earnings in this category. The $95 annual fee is waived the first year, but it can be easily justified in following years based on regular spending across its bonus categories.
Outstanding 6% cash-back rewards at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in spending and on select U.S. streaming services
Generous welcome bonus worth up to $300
0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases initiated within the first 60 days of account opening
$95 annual fee
2.7% foreign transaction fee
Cashback rewards on groceries are capped, and some wholesale and superstore chains excepted
American Express isn't as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard outside of the U.S.
Final Verdict
The best gas credit card does more than offer rewards on gasoline purchases. It should provide additional perks and rewards so that you can also use it for everyday spending. Our choice for the best gas credit card is the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard. This airline credit card earns valuable miles on gas, dining, and American Airlines purchases. It offers travel benefits to avoid checked bag fees, provides priority boarding, and discounts on in-flight purchases. Plus, you can earn 50,000 miles when you spend $2,500 in the first three months after opening your account.
Compare the Best Gas Credit Cards
| Credit Card | Intro Offer | Rewards | Annual Fee | Regular APR | Minimum Credit Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Best Overall |
50,000 miles after $2,500 in 3 months | 2x AA, dining, and gas 1x all else | $99 (first year waived) | 15.99% to 24.99% | 670 |
| Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Plus Card
Best for Hotels |
Earn 45,000 bonus points, enough for up to 6 free nights at participating properties after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. | 6x Wyndham and gas 4x dining and groceries 1x all else | $75 | 15.74%, 19.99%, or 24.99% | 670 |
| PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Best for Rewards Points |
$15,000 points after $1,500 in 90 days | 5x gas 3x groceries 1x all else | $0 | 13.49% to 17.99% | 800 |
| Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card Best for No Annual Fee |
20,000 points after $1,000 in 3 months | 3x points dining, gas, transit, flights, hotels, car rentals, streaming 1x all else | $0 | 14.49% to 24.99% | 670 |
| Costco Anywhere Visa®
Best for Wholesale Clubs |
None | 4% gas 3% dining and travel 2% at Costco 1% all else | $0 | 15.24% | 800 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business™American Express® Card
Best for Business Gas Rewards |
100,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months; Up to $150 credit on all purchases within 3 months | 6x Marriott 4x dining, gas, cellular, and shipping 2x all else | $125 | 15.74% to 24.74% | 670 |
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Best for Cash Back |
$300 after $3,000 in 6 months | 6% groceries and streaming 3% transit and gas | $95 (first year waived) | 13.99% to 23.99% | 670 |
Editorial Picks for Best Gas Credit Cards
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Best Overall
In addition to earning bonus miles on gas purchases, this card also waives checked bag fees and provides priority boarding. The first year's annual fee is waived so you can try its benefits free for 12 months.
Read the Full Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard Review.
Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Plus Card
Best for Hotels
Cardholders receive automatic Platinum elite status and exclusive discounts when booking reservations with Wyndham. A bonus of 7,500 points each year that you renew the card.
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Best for Rewards Points
Offers one of the highest rewards on gas purchases with no annual fee. Includes a 0% APR promotion on balance transfers for 12 months with a low standard rate after the promo expires.
Read the full PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Card Review.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card
Best for No Annual Fee
Earn 3x points on a variety of spending categories with no caps on spending. Your cell phone is protected against damage or theft when you pay your bill with the card.
Read the full Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card Review.
Costco Anywhere Visa®
Best for Wholesale Clubs
Costco members have exclusive access to this gas credit card that offers generous rewards at any gas station. You'll also receive bonus cash back on dining and travel without any foreign transaction fees.
Read the full Costco Anywhere Visa Review.
Marriott Bonvoy Business™American Express® Card
Best for Business Gas Rewards
Includes automatic elite status and the ability to earn higher status based on spending. Additional cards are available for employees at no extra charge.
Read the full Marriott Bonvoy Business™American Express® Card Review.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Best for Cash Back
Try the card's benefits free for 12 months with the first year's annual fee waived. You'll receive 6% cash back on an average of $500 per month in grocery purchases in the form of a statement credit.
Read the full Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Review.
How Gas Credit Cards Work
Gas credit cards work just like any other credit card in your wallet, except that they offer additional rewards when making purchases from a gas station. These cards typically have a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express logo on them and can be used anywhere those cards are accepted. The rewards earned are typically cash back, airline miles, or hotel points and can be redeemed in a variety of ways.
These are the differences between points, cash back, and discounts that you may earn with your gas credit card:
- Points: Points are often flexible rewards that can be redeemed in a variety of ways, such as hotel rooms, products, or cash back.
- Cash back: When your card earns cash back, it can be spent however you choose. Redemptions typically are credits to your statement, deposits to your bank account, or a check that is mailed to your billing address.
- Discounts: Some rewards are limited in scope and may only be redeemed towards future purchases. Discounts may require that you spend a certain amount per transaction before the discount becomes eligible.
The best credit cards for gas include:
- Bonuses for spending on gas
- Additional rewards for other categories that matter to you
- No annual fee or benefits that justify the fee
- 0% APR promotional offer
- Reasonable standard APR on purchases
Types of Gas Credit Cards
Gas credit cards come in two main types: co-branded cards that are offered by partnering banks and oil companies and general rewards cards from the major card issuers. Co-branded gasoline credit cards offer rewards or per-gallon discounts on gas purchases from specific chains, such as BP or ExxonMobil. By contrast, general rewards credit cards with a gasoline rewards component allow cardholders to earn points or cash back wherever they buy gas. In addition to gasoline-related rewards, general rewards credit cards typically offer bonus rewards on other purchase categories or at least pay a base rate on all other purchases, making them a better all-around deal for the consumer.
Compelling rewards for gas purchases
Often provide bonus rewards for other spending categories
Interest rates can be higher
Per gallon discounts may mean less return if gas prices increase
The Best Way to Compare Gas Credit Cards
Most major gasoline retailers have signs or even take-one applications in their stations for their co-branded credit cards, and credit card issuers often send out or advertise promotions for their own gas rewards cards. So you're likely to have any number of cards to choose from.
To know whether you might qualify for a particular card, it's useful to know your credit score, and there are free resources online where you can obtain it. Most rewards credit cards require good or excellent credit, but there are options for those with fair or even bad credit.
Once you have an idea of which cards you could probably qualify for, consider your buying habits. Do you patronize a particular gas station brand more than the others? If so, that company's co-branded card could make sense for you. That's especially true with major companies like ExxonMobil or Shell, which have large national footprints and are likely to have stations wherever you travel. But compare your potential savings with that card to what you might get with a general rewards card that's less restrictive in where you can use it. Bear in mind, though, that some general rewards cards that offer generous bonus cash back or points exclude gasoline sold at big box warehouse stores like BJ’s, Costco, or Sam’s Club. Others restrict their bonus rewards to U.S. gas stations only.
Ultimately, the best way to compare cards is to run the numbers on how much you could earn based on each card's rewards program and the amount of money you typically spend on gas each year.
What Is a Gas Credit Card?
A gas credit card allows a cardholder to earn points, cash back, or discounts on gasoline purchases—either with specific gasoline retailers or at any gas station, depending on the type of card.
Are Gas Credit Cards a Good Idea?
Having a credit card that offers bonus rewards on gasoline purchases is a good idea for people who drive a lot. Rather than getting a gas card that is limited to one gas station brand, having a gas credit card that rewards you no matter where you buy gas is the better choice. When the card offers additional benefits and bonus rewards for other categories, you can maximize your spending to earn valuable cash back, points, or miles.
What Credit Score Do You Need for a Gas Credit Card?
The credit score required to get approved for a gas credit card varies based on the bank and which card you choose. Each of the cards on this list requires at least a good credit score (670+), while some require excellent credit (800+). None of the best gas credit cards on our list are geared towards those with bad or fair credit. If your credit needs work, it is best to focus on improving your credit score before applying for one of these gas credit cards.
How Should You Use a Gas Credit Card?
Whether you're using a general rewards card with a gas rewards bonus or a co-branded gas credit card, it's important to put all your eligible gasoline purchases on that card. It’s also imperative to pay your balance in full each month, as the interest rates these cards charge can often dwarf any rewards you'll earn.
For the average American, gasoline purchases account for more than 3% of annual household spending, or slightly more than $2,000 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. With the right rewards card, this spending can be leveraged to potentially save hundreds of dollars a year. Gas prices tend to rise and fall with supply and demand and geopolitical forces, but commuting costs are always an unwelcome part of most people’s monthly expenses. Gas credit cards can help offset part of the pain of getting to and from work or add to the pleasure of vacation road trips.
So, whether your gas rewards credit card gives you a discount of a certain number of cents off per gallon, a fixed percentage in cash back, or bonus points on the total when you fill up your tank, remembering to use it consistently at the pump will yield the most value. And, if your rewards card provides bonus earnings on other categories of spending (like groceries or travel), it could work as your primary card for all transactions. To maximize the value of a gas card or any rewards credit card, it’s important to shift as much spending as possible from cash, check, and debit card transactions to the rewards credit card. That way you can earn some level of cash back or points on every transaction.
Some co-branded gas rewards credit cards offer per-gallon discounts, such as 10 cents off each gallon. While those kinds of discounts may seem attractive when gas prices are low, they are worth less on a percentage basis when gas prices rise. For that reason, a card with a fixed percentage of cash back or points based on the dollars you spend could be a better deal.
How Can You Maximize Gas Rewards Earnings?
The best way to maximize your earnings on a gas rewards card is to always use it when you buy gasoline or any other related purchases that qualify for bonus rewards. If you're using a co-branded gas card that provides rewards only at a specific retailer, try to patronize that retailer as often as possible.
If you have a general rewards card that provides bonus cash back or points on gasoline category purchases, you're free to fill up anywhere—but make sure you know if the card excludes the gas pumps at certain major retailers, such as Walmart or Costco. General rewards cards typically make a good primary card to use for all your purchases and often include bonus rewards for other spending categories like groceries or dining. So, beyond maximizing rewards on gas purchases, a general rewards card can optimize earnings across multiple spending categories, resulting in greater rewards in total.
Carrying a balance on any credit card can be expensive, and that's especially true with gas rewards credit cards, which often have high interest rates. Interest charges can quickly offset any rewards you earn, so it's important to pay your balance in full each month.
Who Is Best Suited for a Gas Credit Card?
Gas credit cards are best suited for people who spend a fair amount of money each month on gas, such as anyone with a long daily commute. Because gas credit cards often have other rewards with them, consumers will want to find a card that provides maximum benefits between gas and other spending categories that they use most.
Methodology
We reviewed the credit card options across the industry to identify those that offer additional perks and rewards when purchasing gas. Each card was analyzed to gather data points on annual fees, interest rates, earnings power, one-time bonuses, benefits, and more. These data points were then assigned a score so that we could compare different cards to select the best gas credit cards for each type of customer. We continuously monitor credit card websites for changes so we can update our rankings and provide the best advice for our readers.
Meet Out Credit Cards Expert
Ben Woolsey is Investopedia's Associate Editorial Director of Financial Products and Services, including credit cards. He has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, including marketing for banking and financial institutions such as Associates First Capital and Bank One. Prior to Investopedia, he managed credit card content for CreditCards.com and Bankrate.com.