One of the best ways to maximize your credit card rewards is to pick a card that offers bonus points in the categories that you spend the most in, whether that’s restaurants, supermarkets, or non-bonused categories.
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 a gas car then this could be a significant source of points. Meanwhile if you’re someone who relies entirely on public transportation, ridesharing, or has an electric car, then this bonus category probably has less 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).
In this post:
What’s the best credit card for gas purchases?
While I’ll go into a lot more detail below, let me try to provide the simplest advice possible for figuring out which credit card is best to use at gas stations:
- For personal cards, it’s hard to beat the Citi Premier® Card, which is an incredibly well-rounded card that offers 3x points on gas station purchases globally; there’s so much to love about this card, and it even has a phenomenal welcome bonus
- For business cards, the American Express® Business Gold Card potentially offers up to 4x points on U.S. gas station purchases, or alternatively the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers 2x points on gas station purchases (on the first $25,000 spent per cardmember year)
I’d say those are among the best, most widely useful cards for this category. However, below I’ll cover lots of other good options.
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 stations March 2024
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: The Citi Premier has phenomenal bonus categories, and being able to earn 3x points on gas stations globally with no foreign transaction fees is awesome
Read a review of the Citi Premier, apply for the Citi Premier.
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
Read a review of the Amex EveryDay Preferred, apply for the Amex EveryDay Preferred.
The information and associated card details on this page for the Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card has been collected independently by OMAAT and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
3. Wyndham Rewards Earner+ Card
Reward for gas station spending: 6x Wyndham Rewards points (which I value at 4.2%)
Card annual fee: $75
Other things to be aware of: This is a fantastic return on spending at gas stations, though the catch is that Wyndham Rewards points definitely are more of a niche points currency
Read a review of the Wyndham Rewards Earner+, apply for the Wyndham Rewards Earner+.
4. 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
Apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa Card.
5. 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: This is an excellent no annual fee card option, though you’re limited to this return on the first $6,000 spent per year (you’ll earn 1x points thereafter); in conjunction with other cards earning Citi ThankYou points, these rewards can be transferred to airline & hotel partners
Read a review of the Citi Rewards+, apply for the Citi Rewards+.
6. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Reward for U.S. gas station spending: 6x Hilton Honors points (which I value at 3%)
Card annual fee: $150 (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
Read a review of the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass, apply for the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass.
7. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Reward for gas station spending: 2x miles (which I value at 3.4%)
Card annual fee: $95
Other things to be aware of: This card earns 2x miles on all purchases, which can either each be redeemed towards the cost of a travel purchase, or can be transferred to an airline or hotel partner at a ratio of up to 1:1
Read a review of the Capital One Venture, apply for the Capital One Venture (Rates & Fees).
8. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Reward for gas station spending: 2x miles (which I value at 3.4%)
Card annual fee: $395
Other things to be aware of: This card has the same rewards structure as the Venture Card, though don’t be alarmed by the annual fee, as the card offers a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit plus 10,000 bonus anniversary miles
Read a review of the Capital One Venture X, apply for the Capital One Venture X (Rates & Fees).
9. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Reward for gas station spending: 2x American AAdvantage miles (which I value at 3%)
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
Read a review of the Citi AAdvantage Platinum, apply for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum.
10. 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
Read a review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited, apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
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 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; best of all, rewards earned on the card come in the form of Citi ThankYou points.
Read a review of the Citi Double Cash, apply for the Citi Double Cash.
12. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Reward for U.S. gas station spending: 3%
Card annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. (Rates & Fees)
Other things to be aware of: This card offers 3% cash back only on U.S. gas station purchases
Read a review of the Blue Cash Preferred, apply for the Blue Cash Preferred.
13. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Reward for U.S. gas station spending: 3%
Card annual fee: $0 (Rates & Fees)
Other things to be aware of: This card offers 3% cash back only on U.S. gas station purchases, on the first $6,000 spent every calendar year (and then 1%)
Read a review of the Blue Cash Everyday, apply for the Blue Cash Everyday.
14. Citi Custom Cash® Card
Reward for gas station spending: Varies
Card annual fee: $0
Other things to be aware of: This card offers 5x points in the category in which you spend the most each billing cycle, for up to $500 of spending; gas stations is one of those categories, meaning you could earn 5x points on gas station purchases, and you can pool this with Citi ThankYou points earned on other cards
Read a review of the Citi Custom Cash, apply for the Citi Custom Cash.
15. 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
Read a review of the Bank of America Cash Rewards, apply for the Bank of America Cash Rewards.
16. Chase Freedom FlexSM
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
Read a review of the Chase Freedom Flex, apply for the Chase Freedom Flex.
Best business cards for gas stations March 2024
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: $375 (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 U.S. gas stations is one of those bonus categories. After $150,000, you’ll earn 1x.
Read a review of the Amex Business Gold, apply for the Amex Business Gold.
2. Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card
Reward for U.S. gas station spending: 8x Wyndham Rewards points (which I value at 5.6%)
Card annual fee: $95
Other things to be aware of: This is a fantastic return on spending at gas stations, though the catch is that Wyndham Rewards points definitely are more of a niche points currency
Read a review of the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business, apply for the Wyndham Rewards Business.
3. 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
Apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa Business.
4. 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
Read a review of the Ink Business Cash, apply for the Ink Business Cash.
5. The 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 (and then 1x), which is excellent
Read a review of the Amex Blue Business Plus, apply for the Amex Blue Business Plus.
6. Marriott Bonvoy Business® 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
Read a review of the Marriott Bonvoy Business, apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Business.
7. CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Reward for gas station spending: 2x American AAdvantage miles (which I value at 3%)
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
Read a review of the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum, apply for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum.
8. United℠ Business Card
Reward for gas station spending: 2x United MileagePlus miles (which I value at 2.8%)
Card annual fee: $99
Other things to be aware of: This is one of the better airline cards for gas station purchases
Read a review of the United Business, apply for the United Business.
Bottom line
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 Everyday® Card from American Express (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® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees).
I have the Amex business gold, but prefer my Wyndham Business Earner because you and I value Wyndham Rewards differently. They're certainly not as good as Amex MR, but I'd say they're more than half as good (thus my belief that 8x Wyndham Rewards >4x Amex MR). Also the Amex business gold takes a lot of spend to be worth holding onto, while the Business Earner is worthwhile to hold onto even if you don't spend a dime.
If your goal is simply cash back on gas purchases and not earning points or anything else, then you can't go wrong with the GasBuddy card. It's not a credit card, but is linked to your checking account and is PIN protected. You can get up to 25 cents off per gallon from participating gas stations.
Note that The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card offers as a new benefit 5% cash back for the first year. For a no-annual fee card, that’s as good as you can do right now in terms of cash back for gas purchases.
I’m using Hilton AMEX surpass at the gas pumps. There’s a Walmart close by and Murphy oil gas is the lowest price in town. As a Walmart + member you get an additional 10 cents off per gallon. AMEX Gold has a $30 off Walmart + annual membership but it takes up to 3 months to post and I’m closing my AMEX Gold this summer. I just can’t part ways with American. I hear sams clubs are good too.
Citi Shop your way MasterCard is 5% for gas! Can convert easily to a number of gift cards (Amazon, Walmart). Best gas card I have
My United Mileage Plus Gateway card is currently paying 5X UA miles during the 90 day Chase bonus period. Otherwise, it’s 2X.
Citi Custom is the best for gas under $500 per month
When is the rest of the Dubai trip going live?
@ David McDonough -- The next installment is coming very shortly (today). Thanks for the interest!
@Ben
I can’t wait to go to Dubai. Fly emirates first again. I downgraded my hotel to Doubletree M square but I’ve met a lot of Emiratis here in Houston and have a lot of touristy things planned.