How to Find the Best Gas Credit Card for You

6 min read

Last Updated: April 8, 2025

Table of contents

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.

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

Learn More

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. 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, 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

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 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.

Important Information >