For most of us, filling up the gas tank is a necessary and frequent expense. With fluctuating fuel prices, every cent you can save at the pump matters. The good news is, a smart credit card strategy can turn this mundane chore into a rewarding experience, putting money back in your pocket with every gallon you buy.
The key to choosing the best gas credit card is understanding that "gas cards" aren't just one type of product. They come in different flavors, each designed for a different kind of driver. Let's break down the top options and help you find the perfect card to fuel your savings.
Card bonuses are driven by merchant category codes (MCCs). Traditional gas pumps are usually MCC 5541/5542, and many issuers now treat EV charging as MCC 5552. If a purchase rings up as a convenience store or warehouse club, your “gas” bonus may not fire—even if you bought fuel on the same lot. (Many banks terms explicitly list MCC 5542 & 5552 for its gas/EV bonus.)
General Rewards Cards: These are the most flexible and often the most valuable. They are not tied to a specific gas station brand. Instead, they offer a high cash back percentage or bonus points on gas station purchases as a reward category, along with other popular spending categories.
Wholesale Club Cards: If you're a member of a warehouse club like Costco or Sam's Club, their co-branded credit cards can offer some of the highest rewards rates on gas, both at their own stations and sometimes at others.
Specific Gas Station Cards: These cards are co-branded with a particular gas station chain (e.g., Shell, ExxonMobil). They often provide a flat discount per gallon but are only usable at that brand's locations.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card — 2% cash back at gas stations & restaurants on the first $25,000 per account year (then 1%); great if fuel is meaningful but not your largest line item.
U.S. Bank Business Altitude® Connect — 4X on travel, gas & EV charging on the first $150,000 combined annually; strong if fuel and travel both sit high on your P&L.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card — 4X points at gas stations & EV charging, with the page noting the first $1,000 each quarter; also 4X on travel and 5X via the issuer’s portal. The card page currently shows $0 annual fee (always check the latest).
Wells Fargo Autograph® Card — 3X on gas stations (plus restaurants, travel, transit, streaming, phone plans), $0 annual fee, and no foreign transaction fee—handy if you rent a car or fuel up across the border.
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card — 5% on your top eligible category each billing cycle up to $500 (then 1%); “gas stations” is one of the built-in categories. Set gas as your largest monthly spend and you’ll pull 5% automatically.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi — 5% back on gas purchased at Costco warehouses and 4% on other eligible gas & EV charging worldwide on the first $7,000 per year in combined Costco + other gas/EV spend (1% after). Requires paid Costco membership.
Sam’s Club® Mastercard® (Synchrony) — 5% back on fuel anywhere (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), plus 3% on dining. Terms reference the long-running 5% fuel structure for cardholders.
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® — 5X points on gas paid at the pump & EV charging (MCC 5542/5552), 3X on supermarkets and restaurants. No annual fee (membership required).
If you always use a single brand, a per-gallon discount can beat straight cash back—especially on premium fuel.
Exxon Mobil Smart Card+™ — 10¢/gal off most fuels or 12¢/gal off premium; plus 5% back on in-store purchases & car washes (capped to $1,200/yr in non-fuel). Discount shows right at the pump.
BPme Rewards Visa® — Ongoing 15¢/gal off at bp/Amoco after intro window; also 5% back on non-fuel in-store purchases, 3% back on grocery and dining.
Shell credit cards — Periodic promos such as 30¢/gal off on first fills for new accounts, then program-level per-gallon savings via Fuel Rewards®/S Pay. Offers vary by time and region.
When these win: If your station’s credit price is close to the cash price, or you buy premium where a fixed ¢/gal discount scales faster than a % reward.
Mixed driving + some road trips: Altitude Connect for 4X gas/EV (watch the $1,000/quarter cap), then fall back to a 2% card.
One-card, no-fee simplicity: Autograph at 3X gas + no FTF.
You hit ~$400–$500/month at the pump: Custom Cash will often clock the full 5% each month within its cap.
You basically live at Costco/Sam’s: Use the warehouse card for their pumps (Costco: 5% Costco gas / 4% other gas & EV up to $7k; Sam’s: 5% fuel to $6k).
Business with steady fuel spend: Ink Business Cash gives a predictable 2% up to $25k/yr; heavy travelers consider Business Altitude Connect for 4X.
Caps & quarters: Watch the $1,000/quarter on Altitude Connect gas/EV, $500/month on Custom Cash’s 5%, $7,000/year Costco gas/EV, and $6,000/year Sam’s fuel. After that, rewards drop hard.
Coding weirdness: Warehouse clubs, supercenters, and some in-store purchases often don’t code as gas. Your statement category is the truth.
Foreign transaction fees: If you’ll fuel up abroad, Autograph has no FTF; several station-branded cards are U.S.-only plays. Always check the fee table.
Holds at the pump: Large temporary authorizations are common on pay-at-pump transactions; if that’s a cash-flow issue, pay inside.
To determine the best card for you, consider these three questions:
Where do you fill up? If you're loyal to a specific brand or a warehouse club, a co-branded card may be your best bet. If you shop at a variety of stations, a general rewards card will give you more flexibility.
How much do you spend on gas? Most cards have a cap on how much you can earn at their top-tier reward rate. For example, some cards cap bonus rewards at $6,000 per year. If you spend more than that, you'll need a secondary card to use for gas to continue earning rewards.
What other spending categories are important to you? The best gas cards often have high rewards in other areas like dining, groceries, or travel. Choose a card that complements your overall spending habits to maximize your total rewards.
By choosing the right credit card, you can turn a tedious necessity into a smart financial move. Whether you're a road trip enthusiast, a daily commuter, or just trying to save a few dollars at the pump, there's a card out there that's perfectly suited to your needs.
“Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.”