Most Americans regularly fill their gas tanks, whether once a week or once a month. Spending a large chunk of your monthly budget on gas means you should maximize the rewards you receive from the credit card transactions at gas stations.
A gas credit card belongs in the wallet of everyone who spends a lot of time on the road, whether for work, recreation, or errands. Despite the rising price of oil, using a credit card that offers rewards for gas purchases can make filling up your tank a little more bearable. With so many options available, selecting the ideal one for your needs is essential.
So, which credit card works the best at a petrol station? Which of these top gas credit cards is perfect for you? That depends on your specific situation, but we’ve compiled a list to help you narrow down your options.
Why did we choose these as the best gas credit cards this year? Let’s examine the specifics of each card to determine how they stack up against one another.
Chase Freedom Flex
Top choice for the cellphone protection
The Chase Freedom Flex is one of a kind since it allows you to earn additional points on various shopping throughout the year across multiple bonus categories that change periodically. The maximum quarterly cash back you can receive across all qualifying categories is $1,500. While “gas stations” isn’t a bonus subcategory on the Freedom Flex all year long, it is occasionally included at times. For the fourth quarter of 2022, which runs from October 1st to December 31st, 2022, bonus subcategories include Walmart and PayPal.
When petrol stations are a quarterly bonus category, you can receive 5% cash back on all purchases made at gas stations throughout the quarter, up to a maximum of $1,500. Gas stations were included as a category once in 2022, but the 2023 Chase Freedom Flex categories list has yet to be disclosed, so we do not know how often we will see it next year. You must activate the card’s bonus categories each quarter to receive bonus cash back.
The Chase Freedom Flex offers 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining and pharmacy purchases, and 1% cash back on anything else you buy. Be on the lookout for gas station gift cards on the gift card carousel at local pharmacies like Shell and ExxonMobil. Filling up at certain stations is a simple way to get 3% cash back on all your gas purchases all year.
Even though the Chase Freedom Flex is positioned as a cashback card, it can be used in conjunction with another Chase Ultimate Rewards card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, to maximize the value of your rewards and make travel purchases with any of Chase’s airline and hotel partners.
Cell phone insurance is one of the nicest advantages of this no-yearly-fee credit card. You will be reimbursed up to $800 per claim for the loss or damage of your phone, minus a $50 deductible. Claims are limited to a maximum of $1,000 per person per calendar year, with a maximum of two claims allowed per year.
Citi Custom Cash Card
The most flexible option
If your monthly spending patterns fluctuate throughout the year, one of the most versatile credit cards you can get is the Citi Custom Cash Card. Spend up to $500 in your preferred qualifying category each billing cycle, and receive 5% cash back (then 1% cash back after that). You don’t have to pick your category ahead of time; the 5% rebate will be applied to the type you spend the most in that billing cycle.
Thankfully, many purchases, including those made at gas stations, fall into the 5% cashback category. You can earn up to $25 in cash back per billing period or $300 annually if you use this card primarily for gas purchases. The best thing is that you can get 5% cash back on many shopping categories, like restaurants, grocery shops, drugstores, and more, if your spending habits change in a billing cycle or two or if you end up not driving often during a specific month.
Even though the Citi Custom Cash Card’s rewards are technically Citi ThankYou points, you can redeem them for a statement credit at a rate of 1 cent per point. However, if you also have a Citi Premier Card, you can pool every one of your ThankYou points into a single account, where they can be redeemed for travel or transferred to any of Citi’s travel partners.
The card’s drawback is that you’ll only get 1% cash back on purchases not made in the card’s preferred category. The Citi® Double Cash Card is the best option for making these kinds of purchases because it offers 2% cash back on all transactions (1% at the time of sale and another 1% when the balance is paid in total).
The Citi Custom Cash Card is a beautiful alternative for gas purchases if you’re looking for a card without an annual fee, as new cardholders receive a 0% intro APR on purchases and debt transactions for the first 15 months. It’s in your best interest to settle your debt before the initial term ends, as the APR will increase to a variable of 17.74% to 27.74% after that.
Costco Anywhere Visa Card
Top choice for cash backs
Earning a higher percentage on gas purchases is an excellent perk of the Citi Costco Anywhere Visa Card. This credit card offers a 4% cashback bonus on gas purchases made at any gas station (EV charging purchases are extra) for the first $7,000 spent annually (then 1% after that). The additional cash back on this card is not limited to purchases made at Costco gas stations, which often have the lowest prices in the area.
When you use your Costco Anywhere Visa card, you’ll get 3% cash back on dining and travel, 2% cash back on anything else you buy at Costco and Costco.com, and 1% cash back everywhere else.
The Costco Anywhere Visa doesn’t have an annual fee, but you’ll need a Costco membership (which starts at $60 annually) to qualify. For this reason, the card may only be worthwhile if you frequently shop at Costco.
With the Costco Anywhere Visa, you can shop confidently inside and outside of Costco, including things other than gas. If an item you buy with your card is stolen or damaged within 120 days of purchase (90 days for New York locals), you can claim up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 yearly under the card’s purchase protection benefit.
Citi Premier Card
Top choice for travel points accumulation
If your primary objective is to earn free travel through gas station purchases, the Citi Premier card is your best option. The card is highly regarded among our selection of travel credit cards. If you use this card to pay for gas purchases, you will receive three Citi ThankYou points for every dollar you spend, and there is no limit to the total amount of points you can earn.
You may quickly spend ThankYou points for vacation in two distinct manners. First, Citi has a travel platform comparable to Expedia or Orbitz, through which you may book travel and pay with ThankYou points instead of cash. As a general rule, each point is worth one cent when redeemed in this manner.
The second possibility is to exchange your ThankYou points for travel rewards with one of Citi’s 16 airline and hotel providers at a rate of one point for one ThankYou point. You will need more time and flexibility when you book in this manner, but you will get a lot more potential for your points. This is especially true if you plan to fly in business or first class.
There’s a learning curve when booking trips using these airline and hotel schemes, and most of Citi’s partner airlines are international companies. However, JetBlue is also a Citi airline member, making it easier to spend ThankYou points for travel inside the U.S. on JetBlue.
Suppose you frequently use your credit card for airfare, lodging, grocery shopping, and dining out (including takeaway). In that case, the Citi Premier Card is a wonderful option because you’ll get 3 points per dollar spent in each of these categories.
In addition to covering purchases made abroad, the Citi Premier card also offers an extended warranty, insurance against damage and theft, and the elimination of international transaction fees. No travel insurance is on the card, so you won’t be covered for things like car rental damage, trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, or lost/delayed luggage.
Citi Premier has a $95 yearly fee. Still, cardholders receive a $100 hotel credit each year for bookings of $500 or more made through ThankYou.com, a $5 discount on up to three monthly Lyft rides, three months of Door Dash’s DashPass food delivery membership, and access to Mastercard’s Luxury Hotels and Resorts.
Discover it Cash Back
The top choice for revolving categories
Bonus categories on the Discover it Cash Back card change throughout the year, like those on the Chase Freedom Flex, and for the year 2022, the second quarter will be dedicated to purchases made at gas stations. All gas station purchases made with this card during April, May, and June will earn 5% cash back, up to a quarterly maximum of $1,500.
During the remaining two-thirds of the year, you can earn bonuses at grocery stores, health spas, gym memberships, restaurants, online marketplaces like PayPal and Amazon, and digital wallet services like Apple Pay. You must select the bonus categories at the beginning of each quarter to receive the extra cashback.
All the cash back you earn with your new Discover it Cash Back card in your first year is doubled by Discover. In other words, in the first year you have the card, you can earn up to $150 cash back quarterly only from the rotating bonus areas.
In addition, the Discover it Cash Back card offers a 0% initial APR for the first 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers, which can be a lifesaver if money is tight. After that, the APR ranges from 12.74 percent to 23.74 percent. Despite the card’s interest-free financing and extended warranty options, it does not offer any purchase protection for your purchases.
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature
The best option is to have no limit at all
When it comes to making petrol purchases, the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature card is among the best options. There is no limit to the number of points you earn, and you get 5 points for each dollar spent on gas. On top of that, you’ll receive three bonus points for every dollar spent in restaurants and on streaming services for television, radio, and cable television. This applies to most Target and Walmart stores as well.
The PenFed Platinum Visa does not allow for cashback redemptions and does not have any transfer partners for hotels or airlines. PenFed enables you to exchange points for products, gift cards, and travel. Travel redemptions often provide the best value, but there is no defined exchange rate.
The PenFed Platinum Visa is lower on our ranking because of the limited redemption choices. Although there is no yearly cost, you will need to become a PenFed’s credit union member to be issued the card. But if you’re prepared to use your PenFed points for travel, you can usually get more than 1 cent per point, making the card attractive.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card
Top choice if you’re building a credit score
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card is an excellent choice if you are trying to build your credit and earn cash back at the same time, despite offering somewhat less cashback for gas station purchases than other cards on the list.
You’ll need to deposit at least $300 and no more than $4,900 before being approved for this secured credit card. Bank of America will evaluate your account regularly, and depending on your credit history, you may get your security deposit back (although not everyone can qualify).
Earn 3% cash back on one category of your choice and 2% cash back at grocery shops and wholesale groups, up to $2,500 in combined 3% and 2% category purchases each quarter with the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured card. Gas stations, internet retailers, restaurants, hotels, airlines, pharmacies, and home goods stores all fall under the 3% cap. The 3% cash back category is predetermined, but you can switch it up every month if you use your car sparingly.
A secured credit card is an excellent way to start building credit, and this one has no annual fee.
Hilton Amex Surpass
Top choice for hotel points
You can rack up more hotel points with the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass Card than any other hotel credit card by simply using it to buy gas. Using this card at U.S. petrol stations will earn you 6 points for every $1 spent. According to the frequent flyer website The Points Guy, Hilton Honors points are worth 0.6 cents each, so using them to pay for gas is like getting a 3.6% return.
The Hilton AmEx Surpass has an annual fee of $95; however, cardholders can earn 12 points per dollar spent at Hilton hotels, 6 points at U.S. restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and 3 points on all other transactions. In addition, you’ll be upgraded to the Hilton Gold elite level without having to do anything.
You’ll also receive free access to ten different Priority Pass airport lounges each year and no costs for making international purchases. As a Hilton Honors member with Gold status, you’ll receive benefits such as complimentary breakfast or a meal and beverage credit (depending on the Hilton property), room upgrades based on availability, bonus points for paid stays, and a free night after every five paid nights when you book with points.
However, the Hilton Amex Surpass card is only worthwhile if you frequently use the Hilton brand of hotels (including Hampton Inn, Conrad, Waldorf Astoria, DoubleTree, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites, and others). You may choose a superb Hilton location for your next holiday anywhere in the world; there are more than 6,000 of them.
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