One of the best way to maximize your credit card rewards is to pick a credit card that offers bonus points in the categories that you spend the most in. In the past I’ve written about the best credit cards for everyday spending, restaurants, supermarkets, for purchases abroad, and more.
In this post I wanted to look at the best credit cards for gas station purchases. Now, admittedly this isn’t as consistent of an expense for everyone. While everyone has to eat, not everyone consistently has to buy gas.
If you have big daily commutes to work that involve driving then this could be a significant source of points, while if you’re someone who relies entirely on public transportation, this bonus category probably has very little value.
There are lots of great credit cards offering bonuses on gas station purchases, whether you want to earn cash back, transferable points, airline miles, or hotel points.
In all cases, I’ll only be looking at cards earning at least 2% back (or the equivalent of that based on my valuation of points).
What Qualifies As Gas Station Spending?
Before talking about the best cards for gas station purchases, I think it’s important to talk a bit about what qualifies as gas station spending:
- Generally credit cards only consider purchases from standalone gas stations as being eligible for bonus points; that’s to say that buying gas from a warehouse club typically won’t earn you bonus points, unless otherwise explicitly stated
- Generally speaking purchases of gas as well as purchases in gas station convenience stores will qualify for bonus points
- This also all comes down to how a particular merchant chooses to categorize themselves
Best Personal Cards For Gas Station Purchases
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to earning rewards for credit card spending. Some people prefer to earn travel rewards that they can use towards their next adventure, while other people prefer to earn cash back, which they can redeem however they want.
So, what are the best personal credit cards for gas station purchases?
1. Citi Premier℠ Card
Reward for gas station spending: 3x ThankYou points (which I value at 5.1%)
Card annual fee: $95
Other things to be aware of: This is one of the most rewarding bonuses for gas station purchases, as earning 3x ThankYou points is awesome
2. Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
Reward for U.S. gas station spending: Up to 3x Membership Rewards points (which I value at 5.1%)
Card annual fee: $95
Other things to be aware of: This card offers bonus points only on U.S. gas station purchases; the card offers 2x points at gas stations, but if you have at least 30 transactions per billing cycle you earn a 50% points bonus, for a total of 3x points
3. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Reward for gas station spending: Earn 4% cash back on the first $7,000 spent every year at gas stations, 1% thereafter
Card annual fee: $0 (with paid Costco membership)
Other things to be aware of: This card offers 4% back on eligible gas purchases globally, including at Costco
4. Citi Rewards+℠ Card
Reward for gas station spending: 2x ThankYou points (which I value at 3.4%)
Card annual fee: $0
Other things to be aware of: Having a no annual fee card earning 2x ThankYou points for gas station and supermarket purchases is great; note that this is limited to the first $6,000 spent per year
5. Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Reward for gas station spending: 3% cash back in your choice of categories, and gas is one of those categories
Card annual fee: $0
Other things to be aware of: You have to specially choose gas as the category in which you want to earn 3% cash back, and you’re capped at $2,500 each quarter
6. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Reward for U.S. gas station spending: Up to 6x Hilton Honors points (which I value at 3%)
Card annual fee: $95 (Rates & Fees)
Other things to be aware of: This is one of the best hotel credit cards for U.S. gas stations, since you can earn bonus points with no limits on these purchases
7. Avianca Vuela Visa® Card
Reward for gas station spending: 2x Avianca LifeMiles (which I value at 2.8%)
Card annual fee: $149
Other things to be aware of: This card offers 2x miles at gas stations and grocery stores
8. Asiana Visa Signature® Credit Card
Reward for gas station spending: 2x Asiana miles (which I value at 2.8%)
Card annual fee: $99
Other things to be aware of: This card offers 2x miles at gas stations and grocery stores
9. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Reward for gas station spending: 1.5x points (which I value at 2.55%)
Card annual fee: $0
Other things to be aware of: This card earns 1.5x points per dollar spent on all purchases, and those points can be converted into Ultimate Rewards points if you have it in conjunction with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, or Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card
10. Venture® from Capital One®
Reward for gas station spending: 2x Venture miles (which 3333333I value at 2.55%)
Card annual fee: $95, waived the first year
Other things to be aware of: This card earns 2x Venture miles on all purchases, which can either each be redeemed towards the cost of a travel purchase, or can be transferred to an airline partner at a ratio of up to 2:1.5
11. Citi® Double Cash Card
Reward for gas station spending: 1% + 1%
Card annual fee: $0
Other things to be aware of: This card doesn’t actually offer bonus points specifically on gas stations, but does offer 1% cash back when you make a purchase, and 1% cash back when you pay for a purchase, making it a very well rounded card
Bonus: Chase Freedom®
Reward for gas station spending: Varies
Card annual fee: $0
Other things to be aware of: This card offers 5x points in rotating quarterly categories, and sometimes the card offers 5x points on gas station spending, so keep an eye on that
Best Business Cards For Gas Station Purchases
As you can see above, there are lots of great personal credit cards for gas station purchases. There’s also huge value in a business card offering bonuses on gas stations, especially if you’re a business that has a lot of those expenses.
What are the best business credit cards for gas station purchases?
1. American Express® Business Gold Card
Reward for U.S. gas station spending: 4x Membership Rewards points (which I value at 6.8%)
Card annual fee: $295 (Rates & Fees)
Other things to be aware of: This card offers 4x points in the two categories you spend most in, up to $150,000 per year, and gas stations is one of those bonus categories
2. Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi
Reward for gas station spending: Earn 4% cash back on the first $7,000 spent every year at gas stations, 1% thereafter
Card annual fee: $0 (with paid Costco membership)
Other things to be aware of: This card offers 4% back on eligible gas purchases globally, including at Costco
3. Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card
Reward for gas station spending: 2x points (which I value at 3.4%)
Card annual fee: $0
Other things to be aware of: This card earns 2x points per dollar spent on gas station purchases (up to $25,000 spent per year), and those points can be converted into Ultimate Rewards points if you have it in conjunction with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, or Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card
4. Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Reward for gas station spending: 2x Membership Rewards points (which I value at 3.4%)
Card annual fee: $0 (Rates & Fees)
Other things to be aware of: While there’s no bonus category specifically for gas stations, the card offers 2x Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 spent every calendar year, which is excellent
5. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Reward for U.S. gas station spending: 3%
Card annual fee: $95 (Rates & Fees)
Other things to be aware of: This card offers 3% cash back only on U.S. gas station purchases
6. Marriott Bonvoy BusinessTM American Express® Card
Reward for U.S. gas station spending: 4x Marriott Bonvoy points (which I value at 2.8%)
Card annual fee: $125 (Rates & Fees)
Other things to be aware of: This is one of the best hotel cards for U.S. gas station purchases
7. CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®
Reward for gas station spending: 2x American AAdvantage miles (which I value at 2.8%)
Card annual fee: $99, waived the first year
Other things to be aware of: This is one of the better airline cards for gas station purchases
8. United℠ Explorer Business Card
Reward for gas station spending: 2x United MileagePlus miles (which I value at 2.8%)
Card annual fee: $95
Other things to be aware of: This is one of the better airline cards for gas station purchases
Best Gas Station Credit Card Summary
As you can see, there are lots of great credit card options for maximizing gas station rewards. That’s true whether you’re looking for a personal or business card, whether you’re looking to earn cash back or travel rewards, or whether you’re looking for a no annual fee or premium card.
What’s your go-to card for gas station purchases?
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: American Express® Business Gold Card (Rates & Fees), Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Business Card From American Express (Rates & Fees), and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees).
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