How to Find the Best Gas Credit Card for You

Last Updated: June 12, 2024

4 min read

Table of contents

Key points about: gas credit cards with rewards

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 the family chauffeur (read: parents) 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 help you find the best credit card with gas rewards for your needs before you apply for one.

What is a gas credit card?

A gas rewards credit 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. However, some of the cards also offer bonus rewards on non-gas purchases, which can make them a good fit for infrequent drivers as well.

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 X cents per gallon off. Or they may offer X cents per gallon in rewards, which you can 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

There are also gas rewards credit cards, which are similar to traditional credit cards and offer rewards on gas purchases at any station, not just brand-affiliated ones, and may offer rewards for everyday purchases as well.

Gas rewards cards are generally tiered rewards cards with extra cash back or points per dollar you spend at any gas station. For example, 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

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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 figure out which gas card works best for you:

Cards with an annual fee may 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.

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. Discover^® Cards have no annual fee, so every cent of cash back that you earn is a bonus.

It’s also good practice to read the terms and conditions to learn about late fees, cash advance fees, or 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 station you can use to earn rewards, whether you’re usually near one of those stations, and if that station often has low- or competitively priced

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. For credit cards with gas rewards, you can typically apply for the card through the card issuer's website or calling their customer service number.

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

See if you’re pre-approved

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 or cards you're most likely to be approved for that will fit your needs.

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