Best Gas Credit Cards of 2023

All information about the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Credit cards for gas compared

Editor’s picks: Gas credit card details

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for family spending

Why we picked it: The Blue Cash Preferred Card is one of the most lucrative cards on the market thanks to its exceptional cash back program. With so many high-earning spending categories, it makes the daily grocery runs, the gas station visits and even the family binge-watching sessions that much more rewarding.

Pros: The Blue Cash Preferred offers a competitive 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and transit. You can also earn 6% back in two categories: U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 a year, then 1%) and select U.S. streaming subscriptions. There’s also a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership. No other card offers such high earnings at U.S. supermarkets, and the earnings on U.S. gas stations are more than competitive.

Cons: This card’s ongoing annual fee is $95 ($0 intro annual fee for the first year). Also, the heightened cash back rewards are only available in the U.S.

Who should apply? Family shoppers who often spend at grocery stores and gas stations might want to start bringing this card along on their errands thanks to its built-in cash back discounts.

Who should skip? Someone who spends time on the road but isn’t a supermarket shopper should explore their other options here – there may be a more fitting rewards structure for less of an ongoing annual fee.

Read our Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review.

Discover it® chrome: Best for no annual fee

Why we picked it: Ideal for the cardholder with good or excellent credit, this card offers a decent rewards rate. Also, the lack of annual fee means you won’t have to worry about it potentially cutting into your cash back earnings.

Pros: The Discover it chrome gives you all the benefits of the Discover it Secured Credit Card – 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 in combined purchases quarterly, then 1%) – but without the need for a security deposit on your line of credit. This card also gives you the opportunity for a lower ongoing interest rate (16.24% to 27.24%, variable).

Cons: Like many Discover cards, this card offers a Cashback Match at the end of the first year instead of a traditional sign-up bonus. Consider another card if you want gas rewards and a sign-up bonus.

Who should apply? If you spend a lot of time on the road or dining out, this card offers several ways to capitalize without having to pay an annual fee.

Who should skip? Credit builders who don’t yet have the credit score for the Discover it chrome are better off getting started with the Discover it Secured Credit Card and growing their score over time.

Read our Discover it® chrome review.

Discover it® Student chrome: Best for students

Why we picked it: It can be difficult to find a student credit card that offers a rewards structure as high as this card. This card charges no annual fee and offers 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants for up to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter (then 1%) and 1% on all other purchases. Plus, all the cash back you earn is matched at the end of your first year thanks to Discover.

Pros: This card comes with several benefits: no credit history required, access to your FICO score, no APR changes for late payments and a six-month introductory 0% APR on purchases (then 17.24% to 26.24%, variable).

Cons: While ideal for a consumer just starting out, this is a card you will outgrow rather quickly. There is no penalty APR for late payments, but a late payment fee of up to $41 will apply after the first time you pay late.

Who should apply? This card is a great choice for anyone building credit. Thanks to high-traffic categories, useful perks and matched first-year cash back, the Discover it Student chrome might be the best student card out there.

Who should skip? Being a student card, this option isn’t one of the best cash back cards for people with a good or excellent credit score.

Read our Discover it Student chrome review.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi: Best for gas stations

Why we picked it: The Costco Anywhere Visa can help you earn extra cash back through everyday purchases. Plus, it has an extraordinary cash back rate on gas.

Pros: This may just be your best shot at finding a gas card most worthy of your wallet – earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases (that’s for the first $7,000 per year, then it’s 1% back after that). There are other great rewards, including 3% back at restaurants and eligible travel purchases, as well as a solid 2% back for Costco purchases.

Cons: There’s no annual bonus, as well as no sign-up bonus, and you’ll need to pay the $60 annual Costco membership fee to avoid an annual fee with this card.

Who should apply? Costco members and those who spend a lot of time on the road can benefit greatly from this card.

Who should skip? Anyone opposed to becoming a Costco member won’t be able to utilize this card. On top of the membership requirement to be a cardholder, your cash back certificate must be redeemed at Costco and you get 2% back when spending in the superstore.

Read our Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi review.

Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa®: Best for credit-builders

Why we picked it: This Credit One Bank credit card offers an impressive rewards program for a card that’s available to people with fair credit: You can earn 5% cash back on eligible gas, groceries, cellphone services, internet, and cable or satellite TV service purchases (on first $5,000 in spending per year, then 1%), and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Pros: While the bonus categories are capped to 5% cash back on $5,000 in spending per year (then 1%), there’s no cap on the amount of 1% cash back you can earn. The card also comes with access to free online credit monitoring.

Cons: The card does have the common costs associated with credit cards for fair credit, including a $95 annual fee, which can eat into your rewards earnings. There’s also a variable 28.24% APR, which you can avoid by not carrying a balance. Plus, you’ll start with a low credit limit: $500 minus the annual fee. (You may qualify for credit limit increases with consistent good credit behavior.)

Who should apply? People with fair-to-good credit who may not qualify for a top-tier rewards credit card may enjoy this card’s blend of rewards and credit-building features.

Who should skip? If your annual budget in this card’s bonus-rate categories easily exceeds the $5,000 annual spending cap, you should look for one that can consistently reward your purchases.

Read our Credit One Bank Platinum X5 Visa review.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best flat-rate rewards for fair credit

Why we picked it: This card could be an ideal option if you don’t want to keep track of rotating categories and would rather earn a flat-rate cash back on all purchases.

Pros: You’ll earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases, no matter the category. Also, the QuicksilverOne typically accepts consumers with fair credit, which is handy if you are trying to improve your credit and you also want to earn rewards.

Cons: This cash back card has an annual fee ($39), which lowers your overall rewards. That means to benefit from the 1.5% back, you’ll need to spend at least $2,700 each year to break even. Also, the card’s APR is high (29.74%, variable), so carrying a balance could be costly.

Who should apply? Those with fair credit who still want to earn cash back rewards are a good fit for this card.

Who should skip? Shoppers who spend most of their money in one or two categories might have more to earn with a rotating categories card or one that heightens rewards in a particular field.

Read our Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review.

Sam’s Club® Mastercard®: Best for supersized gas rewards

Why we picked it: This card offers a whopping 5% cash back on gas purchases (up to the first $6,000 per year) anywhere, meaning you’re not limited to only filling up at Sam’s Club fuel stations. Cardholders also earn 3% cash back on dining and 1% cash back on other purchases, with a maximum of $5,000 cash back per year.

Pros: You’ll also receive a small account opening offer: a $30 statement credit if you spend $30 in Sam’s Club purchases within 30 days of account opening. There’s no annual fee, though a $45 Sam’s Club membership is required. Plus, as a nice surprise, there are no foreign transaction fees, a benefit highly uncommon among store-branded credit cards.

Cons: You can only put rewards toward Sam’s Club expenses or statement credits, unless you redeem for cash back at the wholesale retailer. Moreover, you only receive rewards once a year in February, and those rewards expire if you don’t redeem them by Dec. 31 of that same year. You’ll also lose rewards if your Sam’s Club membership lapses before February.

Who should apply? Sam’s Club shoppers can take advantage of a best-in-class return on gas purchases without restrictions on where they fill up.

Who should skip? Although you don’t have to fill up at a Sam’s Club to get rewarded, you’ll want to be in the vicinity of one if you’re a carrier of this card. Rewards can only be used for Sam’s Club expenses or statement credits unless you redeem for cash at a physical Sam’s Club location.

Read our Sam’s Club Mastercard review.

Citi Rewards+® Card: Best for bonus points

Why we picked it: The Citi Rewards Card offers a unique rewards rate that makes it easy to rack up those bonus points. With the Citi ThankYou points rate, even the smallest everyday purchases, like a cup of coffee or a tank of gas have the potential to be very rewarding.

Pros: Not only do you get 2X points at gas stations and supermarkets (on up to $6,000 each year, 1X thereafter), but the sign-up bonus you’ll get is top-notch. You’ll earn a 20,000 point bonus after a $1,500 spend in the first three months (redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com). Plus, your rewards are always rounded up to the nearest 10 points – meaning a $1.29 pack of gum is worth a full 10 points. Also, you’ll get 10% of your points back on the ThankYou points you redeem for up to 100,000 points per year.

Cons: The intro balance transfer fee is 3% or $5 (whichever is greater) for balance transfers completed within the first four months of account opening, and there is a foreign transaction fee of 3%. Also, your travel redemption is limited to only the ThankYou Travel Portal.

Who should apply? Those looking for a straightforward rewards program for their everyday purchases might want to consider the Citi Rewards+. Also, if you find yourself making lots of small purchases, the round up feature might be for you.

Who should skip? If you’re someone who’s shy about using your card, this probably isn’t the right choice for you. The unique rewards structure of the Citi Rewards+ is designed to help shoppers capitalize on every purchase, no matter how small.

Read our Citi Rewards+® Card review.

Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best for limited credit history

Why we picked it: The Discover it Secured Credit Card offers high rewards and generous benefits. It also gives you tools that can help you stay on track financially, all the while maximizing your savings.

Pros: Earn 2% back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 in combined purchases quarterly, then 1%) and 1% on all other purchases. To cap it off, your cash back is matched at the end of your first year of card membership. That means if you spend $200 a month on gas and dining out, that comes to $48 for the year, plus another $48 matched at the end of your first year. Also, your credit may grow thanks to benefits like credit report alerts and automatic reviews starting at seven months to see if you can transition to an unsecured line of credit and have your deposit returned.

Cons: There is a minimum security deposit of $200 to open this account.

Who should apply? The Discover it Secured Credit Card might be the best of its kind, offering easy access, generous rewards and tools to build your credit score. Those with limited credit looking for a secured option to get started should look no further.

Who should skip? If you can’t afford the $200 minimum security deposit, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card might be a better fit for you. Depending on creditworthiness, you may be able to get a card with a starting limit of $200 with as little as $49 down.

Read our Discover it® Secured Credit Card review.

My GM Rewards Card™: Best for GM rewards

Why we picked it: General Motors is sure to grow its loyal fanbase with this card. The My GM Rewards Card earns an incredible amount of points: 7X points per on eligible purchases made at GM and 4X points on all other purchases. These points get the greatest value when you put them toward the purchase or lease of a GM vehicle or buy GM products and services.

Pros: On top of the high rewards, this card has no annual fee and comes with quite a few nice perks. These include a sign-up bonus of 15,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months of account opening and a $50 allowance per calendar year for vehicle detailing services at participating GM dealers.

Cons: This card offers very little flexibility when it comes to redemption options. One point is worth one cent when redeeming for GM products and services (100,000 points = $1,000). Beyond that, points can be redeemed for gift cards, but the redemption value drops significantly, and one point is only worth $0.0025 (100,000 points = $250).

Who should apply? Loyal GM fans and anyone thinking about buying a car in the near future will want to consider adding this card to their wallet so they can begin saving up points.

Who should skip? You won’t get a lot of value out of this card if you’re not in the market for a car and willing to stick with a GM vehicle.

Read our My GM Rewards Card™ review.

What is a gas credit card?

Gas credit cards offer special rewards for purchases on gas. Putting it simply, you’ll earn points, cash back or miles when spending at the pump. The best gas rewards cards offer cash back (usually 1% to 3%) or points on gas, as well as on purchases in other categories. You can find even higher bonus rates in some circumstances, but many gas cards allow for cardholders with lower-end credit scores while still giving solid rewards.

Thanks to so many gas cards approving cardholders with fair or worse credit scores, these cards open lanes to earnings for all types of consumers – there’s even specific gas cards for bad credit. If you spend lots of time with your foot on the pedal, why not cut the cost of fueling up?

How do gas credit cards work?

Gas credit cards are often easy to apply for online, although credit requirements can vary depending on the type of gas card you’re considering. Your score will impact the available cards in your pool, but nearly anyone can find a way to earn rewards with a gas card.

Depending on the card you carry, there may be some slight differences in how you earn rewards. Some gas cards let you earn points or cash back for each dollar you spend on gas and other purchases, yet closed-loop gas cards that only work with a specific gas brand may offer a discount for each gallon of gas you buy instead.

At the end of the day, the benefits of picking up a gas card depend largely on the card you get approved for and their specific rewards program. Just remember that, like all credit cards, gas cards charge interest when you carry a balance, so you’ll want to pay your gas card bill in full each month you use it. Getting familiar with the various types of gas credit cards available will help you make an informed choice.

Types of gas reward cards

There are three types of gas credit cards:

1. General-purpose credit cards with gas rewards programs
2. Co-branded gas credit cards
3. Private label gas credit cards

General-purpose credit cards with gas rewards programs

General rewards credit cards come from traditional issuers like American Express and Capital One. These cards either offer rewards in specific categories (like supermarkets and gas stations) or a certain flat-rate cash back on all eligible purchases – including gas bought at any gas station you visit.

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express has specific categories you can earn rewards: U.S. Supermarkets (6% on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%), select U.S. streaming services (6%), as well as U.S. gas stations (3%) and transit (3%).

On the other hand, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a flat-rate cash back (1.5%) in every category of spending.

Co-branded gas credit cards

Co-branded gas credit cards are offered by specific gas stations (like Shell or BP) that team up with traditional credit card networks like Mastercard and Visa. These types of gas cards can generally be used at any gas station. But they may only earn discounts or rewards when used at gas stations owned by the specific brand. They are a way to encourage customers to stay loyal to one brand of gas.

If you make a habit of only buying your gas from one particular brand, a co-branded gas credit card may be enough for you. But for anyone else, it makes more sense to stick with a general-purpose gas card. That way, you can always be assured you’ll earn rewards at any gas station you visit.

Private label gas credit cards

This type of gas credit card isn’t a part of any credit card network. It’s a store-branded card that can only be used at the gas stations owned by the specific brand offering the card.

Private label gas credit cards are a good option for people with bad or fair credit, as they are easier to qualify for. But most will not have as many perks as a traditional rewards card. So people with good or excellent credit should look to co-branded or general-purpose gas credit cards.

Pros and cons of gas credit cards

How to choose a gas credit card

How to make the most of a gas rewards card

• Know your terms. Some cards limit your bonus spending to a specified amount each quarter, so you may want to mark your calendar to make sure you fill up at the end of each period if you haven’t hit the threshold. Plus, if your card is a rebate card, there may be certain incentives for spending in the first 30-, 60- or 90-day window. If there’s bonus savings available, planning your card around a road trip or move could be a great way to take advantage.
• Don’t forget the additional rewards. Top gas cards give rewards in other categories, so diversifying your spending might be an essential to taking full advantage of your card. You shouldn’t spend just to spend, but knowing where your card earns a little extra can save you in the long run.
• Make timely payments. Getting your balance paid on-time and in full is one of the essentials of any credit card, but especially with gas cards. Some cards come with high APRs that can put you in the fast lane to expensive bills.
• Secure your sign-up bonus. Some gas cards feature sign-up bonuses or first-year cash back incentives. Being certain to hit the spending requirement or purposefully maximizing your first-year cash back are great ways to squeeze value out of your card.
• Map out your routes. If your card limits you to particular gas stations, plan out your stops ahead of time. GPS apps on your phone can make this easy, plus apps like GasBuddy can help you sort through locations, brands and prices as you search.

How we picked the best credit cards for gas

Research methodology: Our team of experts have sifted through hundreds of gas rewards cards to help you maximize your potential earnings on everyday purchases. A number of factors went into our search, but the following were the most important in choosing the top gas rewards credit cards:

• Rewards rate: Some gas cards have earnings as high as 4% and 5% in select categories, competing with top rates on the market. With worthwhile rewards available, we made sure to include the most valuable options.
• Annual fee: Many gas cards are affordable, coming with no annual fee. We selected options that weren’t costly up front, and if a card here does have an annual fee, we believe it is worthwhile.
• Supplemental rewards categories: Gas cards oftentimes provide rewards in other areas, adding versatility to where you can get big savings. We included the top options that let cardholders earn at a high rate in all different kinds of places.
• Availability: Gas credit cards are designed for all different ranges of credit scores, so we included choices for a variety of consumers.

Our full criteria include: Integration with loyalty programs, redemption options, redemption flexibility, sign-up bonus, other benefits, customer service, rates and fees, ease of application.

More information on gas credit cards

For more information on spending and saving with gas credit cards, continue reading content from our credit card experts:

• Best gas rewards programs
• How Google Pay can help you save on gas
• Card-linked gas offers

About the Author

Joey Robinson

Joey Robinson is a credit cards writer for CreditCards.com and has worked at a “Big Four” (Ernst & Young) accounting firm before exploring the world of credit cards. After learning proper professional and financial practices through federal audits, he moved on to his second job, where he was introduced to CreditCards.com/Bankrate as a data analyst. As time passed, his interests drifted away from data analysis and into the communication of credit card essentials. Over the past two years, he’s shared his expertise and has brought understanding to complex topics as a writer and editor for sites like CreditCards.com, Bankrate.com and NextAdvisor. His advice on avoiding common credit card fees, top balance transfer tactics and more financial tips have been featured on MSN Money and other various news publications.

About the Editor

Tracy Stewart

Tracy Stewart is a personal finance writer specializing in credit card loyalty programs, travel benefits, and consumer protections. He previously covered travel rewards credit cards, budget travel, and aviation news at SmarterTravel Media. His money-saving tips have appeared in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports, MarketWatch, Vice, People, the Zoe Report and elsewhere.

About the Reviewer

Jason Steele

Jason Steele is a professional journalist and credit card expert who has been contributing to online publications since 2008. He was one of the original contributors to The Points Guy, and his work has been appearing there since 2011. He has also contributed to over 100 of the leading personal finance and travel outlets. He’s frequently interviewed and quoted by mainstream outlets on the subjects of credit cards and travel. Jason is passionate about travel rewards credit cards, which he uses to earn rewards that he can redeem for him and his family to travel around the world. Jason is also the founder and producer of CardCon, a conference for credit and credit card journalists that’s held annually.