Best Gas Credit Cards of 2020
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any credit card issuer.
Citi is an advertising partner.
What Is a Gas Credit Card?
Pros
- Gas credit cards provide bonus rewards when used to pay at gas stations.
- Money spent through the card converts into either redeemable points or cash.
- There is a huge variety of options for different needs and backgrounds.
Cons
- Cardholders may need to pay annual fees to access better benefits and reward rates
- Most co-branded gas station cards provide little to no rewards when used at the competition
- Cardholders typically pay high interest costs when the bill isn't paid in full.
If your goal is to save money, the importance of using a credit card tailored for your specific expenses cannot be stressed enough. If you are someone who drives often, then you should be using a rewarding gas credit card to maximize the value on your spending.
Whether it's from road trips or from your daily commute to work, the cost of refilling your gas tank can—and will—quickly add up. This is even more apparent for families who often have more than one car and need to drive frequently to meet their needs. If you find yourself relating to any of these situations, whether as an individual or as a family unit, it may be time for you to take a look at gas credit cards: credit cards designed to optimize your value on gas expenses.
These cards come in a variety of options but can mostly be divided into either rewards cards or cashback cards. Reward credit cards are the ones that give you redeemable points in exchange for using the card to complete purchases. On the other hand, cashback credit cards add a percentage of the money you spend back to your bank account. There is no clearly better option between the two, because each is rewarding in different ways. You should take a look at your needs and current credit cards to see which of these types would best help you specifically.
1. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.
- On American Express' Secure Website
Credit Card Details
- Annual fee: $0 (See Rates & Fees)
- Regular APR: 12.99%-23.99% Variable
- Welcome Offer: Earn a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
- Credit needed: Good to excellent
Why we like it: The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express provides 3% cash back when used at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and 1% cash back for all other purchases. This credit card features no annual fee but still promotes a strong welcome offer. Cardholders can Earn a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a well-rounded credit card and serves as a baseline for a good cashback credit card for gas purchases.
Things to watch out for: Although this credit card provides above-average cash back for U.S. supermarkets and at U.S. gas stations, all other purchases are only 1% cash back. There are other credit cards with annual fees that are able to provide a higher, consistent cash back across all categories. Additionally, you will need to have good to excellent credit to apply for and successfully obtain this credit card.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.
2. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.
- On American Express' Secure Website
Credit Card Details
- Annual fee: $95 (See Rates & Fees)
- Regular APR: 12.99%-23.99% Variable
- Welcome Offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
- Credit needed: Excellent/Good
Why we like it: The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express shares many similarities with Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, but there are noteworthy differences that may result in you preferring one over its counterpart. The most obvious difference is that the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express features an annual fee whereas the other does not. However, this annual fee correlates to better rewards rates across the board: 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express also has a solid welcome offer that most consumers will appreciate. Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. This statement credit is large enough to completely cover the cost of the annual fee of this credit card for the first two years.
Things to watch out for: This credit card, unlike the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, charges cardholders an annual fee. Make sure that you can afford to pay the annual fee before applying. However, even if you cannot pay the annual fee initially, it would still be worth applying for this credit card because the welcome offer is large enough to pay for the annual fee in full for the first two years. Nevertheless, you may not be inclined to pay an annual fee on a secondary credit card that you are planning to use exclusively for purchasing gas.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here.
3. Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
- On Citi's Secure Website
Credit Card Details
- Annual fee: $0
- Regular APR: 13.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
- Sign-up bonus: None.
- Credit needed: Excellent/Good
Why we like it: Most cashback credit cards without an annual fee typically provide a cashback rate that ranges from 1%-1.5%. The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer, on the other hand, offers Earn 2% cash back on purchases: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay. This credit card is extremely simple to use, because there are no special categories or other ways of spending that offer greater cashback rates than normal. Unlike many of the credit cards on this list that only provide competitive cash back when it comes to purchasing gas, the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer provides a solid rate all around and would therefore work great as a primary cashback credit card.
Things to watch out for: The biggest issue that people have with the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer is the fact that it features no sign-up bonus. There is no special cashback lump sum that is given once cardholders spend a certain amount of money within a specified period of time. If that is one of your priorities when selecting a credit card for gas, then this is not the appropriate credit card for your needs. If you don't particularly want a sign-up bonus, then the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer would be a great fit.
4. Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
Why we like it: The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card is one of the best gas credit cards for a variety of reasons that appeal to most demographics. To begin, there is absolutely no annual fee associated with this card, which is surprising, given its high rewards rate. The card featuresEarn 3X points on eating out, ordering in and popular streaming services, 3X points on gas stations, rideshares and transit, and 3X points on travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals. Earn 1X points on other purchases.
Despite being a no-annual-fee card, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card still offers a great sign-up bonus in addition to its high points rates. Cardholders will receive 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of account opening; these points are worth $200 when redeemed for cash. If you meet the requirements for the sign-up bonus, you would end up actually getting substantial money from a no-annual-fee credit card.
Things to watch out for: To qualify for this credit card, good to excellent credit is needed, which is a score that not everyone has. The sign-up bonus may also be difficult for some individuals to achieve if this credit card is not their primary card.
5. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.
- On American Express' Secure Website
Credit Card Details
- Annual fee: $95 (See Rates & Fees)
- Regular APR: 15.74%-24.74% Variable
- Welcome Offer: Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card after you use your new Card to make $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Credit needed: Excellent/Good
Why we like it: The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a luxury credit card that features a below-average annual fee with above-average benefits. Although designed to maximize benefits from Hilton hotels, the credit card does a great job in providing rewards for supermarket and gas spending. Cardholders are able to earn 6X points when using this card for transactions at U.S. gas stations, which is the most points earned per dollar among any card in this list.
Cardholders also have the opportunity to earn one of the best welcome offers currently available within the market: Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card after you use your new Card to make $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. These points can then be redeemed for an array of benefits, most notably free nights at Hilton hotels. Furthermore, for simply owning the credit card, you are also given membership to Priority Pass, which is access to over 900 airport lounges around the world at a value of $295 per year. The benefits of this credit card are unmatched by any other on this list.
Things to watch out for: As a credit card with an annual fee, a large amount of money will need to be spent annually to gain enough value to offset the annual fee. Therefore, this credit card is best for big spenders and those who frequently travel, because it is only these two groups of people who can truly appreciate the luxuries provided by the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please click here.
6. Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card
Credit Card Details
- Annual fee: No Annual Fee
- Regular APR: 16.24% - 26.24% Variable
- Sign-up bonus: $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
- Credit needed: Good to excellent
Why we like it: The Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card is a straightforward and solid cash rewards credit card. The card has a sign-up bonus of $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.. The sign-up bonus seems average at first glance, but it's actually extraordinary since this credit card has a No Annual Fee annual fee.
Furthermore, cardholders will be able to select in which cashback category they would like to receive the most cash back. You can select one category from among gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement. By selecting gas as your choice category, you will receive 3% cash back every time you purchase gas at a gas station, regardless of which gas station it may be. You will also receive 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and an unlimited 1% on all other purchases. (You’ll earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%.)
Cardholders also have the option of switching their choice category once a month. If there is a particular month where you don't see yourself driving often, then you can change the 3% cashback category to a different product or service that you will be using more often. The flexibility of the Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card is its greatest strength.
Things to watch out for: This credit card requires excellent credit, which is a credit score that not many people can confidently claim to have and limits the number of people who can qualify. Although cardholders will receive 3% cash back in a category of their choice, all other categories—besides supermarkets and groceries— will feature only a 1% cash back. There are other credit cards without any annual fees that are able to provide better rewards rates for a broader array of categories.
7. Chase Freedom®
- On Chase's Secure Website
Credit Card Details
- Annual fee: $0
- Regular APR: 16.49% - 25.24% Variable
- Sign-up bonus: Earn a $150 Bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- Credit needed: Excellent/Good
Why we like it: The Chase Freedom® uses a rotating categories structure for its cashback rewards. In other words, there is a bonus applied to certain spending categories that change every quarter of the year. From January to March of 2020, the bonus category was gas, and cardholders received a 5% cashback rate on all their spending at gas stations up to $1,500 within the quarter. This is one of the highest possible cashback rates available. When using this credit card for any purchases outside of the bonus category, it offers a flat cashback rate of 1%.
The Chase Freedom® also offers one of the better and more easily attainable sign-up bonuses of the credit cards featured on this list:Earn a $150 Bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. The combination of the rotating categories, sign-up bonus and no annual fee all position the Chase Freedom® to be a great secondary credit card.
Things to watch out for: This credit card is only great when it is being used to make transactions within the current bonus category, because all other spending categories have a cashback rate of only 1%. Furthermore, the 5% cashback rate is only available for three months at a time. In the situation of purchasing gas, the Chase Freedom® will provide great cash back for the first quarter of the year, but its cash back will be only 1% for the other 9 months. The Chase Freedom® is great as a secondary credit card, but it is too inconsistent to serve you well as your primary card.
8. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- On Citi's Secure Website
Credit Card Details
- Annual fee: $0
- Regular APR: 15.24% (Variable)
- Sign-up bonus: None.
- Credit needed: Excellent
Why we like it: The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is another impressive credit card that features no annual fee but does still offer a stellar rewards rate. The card allows users to earn 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases If you do a decent portion of your shopping at Costco, and particularly if you fill up your gas tank there, then this card will be a great fit for your spending.
Things to watch out for: This card only reaches its full potential when it is being used at Costco locations. When it is used elsewhere, its rewards rates plummet down to 1%. In addition, you must already be a Costco member to apply and qualify for this credit card. Lastly, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi does not feature or offer any form of a sign-up bonus. Users will not be able to gain statement credits or other benefits from spending a certain amount of money within account opening. If your only concern is getting cash back and you are a frequent customer of Costco's gas station, then this would be an ideal choice.
9. BP Visa® Credit Card
Credit Card Details
- Annual fee: No Annual Fee
- Regular APR: 27.24%
- Sign-up bonus: For first 30 days: 25¢ off per gallon every time you fuel up with your BP Visa® Credit Card or BP Credit Card at participating BP and Amoco stations, plus an additional 5¢ off per gallon2 after loading your BP credit card into the BPme app and using it for fuel purchases.
- Credit needed: Good to excellent
Why we like it: If your primary gas station is BP, then the BP Visa® Credit Card was designed for you. This credit card offers a tremendous cashback rate of 5% whenever it is used to purchase gas at BP gas stations. It also provides 3% cash back when used for dining out and travel, and 1% cash back for all other purchases. This credit card features no annual fee and no sign-up bonus. Although this credit card should not be anyone's primary cashback credit card, it would still be great to have if you believe that you spend enough money at BP to appreciate the 5% cash back.
Things to watch out for: Although this credit card offers great rewards when it's used to purchase gas from BP stations, it offers no cash back whatsoever when used to purchase gas from any other gas station. In other words, you will need to be exclusively purchasing gas at BP to access the better benefits of this card. We imagine this may become a problem when you are traveling on the road and need gas immediately, whether that be from a BP station or not. This credit card is only worth applying for if you have confidence that you will only be purchasing gas at BP stations. If you can imagine yourself often purchasing gas elsewhere, then you should definitely choose an all-around credit card that offers you cash back across any gas station.
The information related to the BP Visa® Credit Card has been collected by ValuePenguin and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.
10. Discover it® Student chrome
- See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.
- On Discover's Secure Website
Credit Card Details
- Annual fee: $0
- Regular APR: 14.49% - 23.49% Variable
- Sign-up bonus: Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year from account opening.
- Credit needed: Fair
Why we like it: The Discover it® Student chrome is an inclusive credit card designed for college students and young professionals. This credit card offers 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases. At the end of your first year of account opening, Discover will match all the cash back earned, therefore doubling all the rewards you earned in that period.
The card is also forgiving because it was created for a demographic that does not have much experience dealing with credit cards. For example, the first late fee is waived and there is no penalty APR applied to any late fee. This credit card will serve well as a starter card to teach you the ropes of how to use a credit card properly, as well as provide you with a solid cash back rate on gas. After developing your credit history, you can then apply for more exclusive cards with better benefits.
Things to watch out for: The Discover it® Student chrome is best used by individuals who are new to credit cards and want to develop a credit history. If you already have a credit history, you should apply for other credit cards that provide more benefits and better cashback rates.
These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Advertiser Disclosure: The products that appear on this site may be from companies from which ValuePenguin receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). ValuePenguin does not include all financial institutions or all products offered available in the marketplace.
How We Calculate Rewards: ValuePenguin calculates the value of rewards by estimating the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using the card less any associated annual fees. These estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone, not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.
Example of how we calculate the rewards rates: When redeemed for travel through Ultimate Rewards, Chase Sapphire Preferred points are worth $0.0125 each. The card awards 2 points on travel and dining and 1 point on everything else. Therefore, we say the card has a 2.5% rewards rate on dining and travel (2 x $0.0125) and a 1.25% rewards rate on everything else (1 x $0.0125).