Are Gas Credit Cards Worth It and How to Choose

Gas credit cards can be a convenient option for frequent drivers, offering rewards and benefits that might offset the costs of interest and fees. Some gas credit cards offer a sign-up bonus, which can be a significant amount of money.

To maximize the benefits of a gas credit card, it's essential to understand how the rewards program works. For example, the article explains that some gas credit cards offer 3% cash back on gas purchases, while others offer 1-2% cash back on all purchases.

If you're a heavy gas user, a gas credit card might be a good choice. However, if you're not a frequent driver, it might not be worth the annual fee.

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If you don't qualify for rewards cards that offer more value on fuel purchases, a gas card might be worth it, especially if it has less strict credit requirements for approval.

Some savings is better than no savings, and using a gas credit card responsibly can help improve your credit score to open up more opportunities down the road.

A gas card likely wouldn't be worth it if you're able to qualify for a credit card that offers bonus rewards on gas, especially if gas prices are high.

With gas cards that offer flat savings on each gallon of gas, your savings percentage goes down as the price of gas goes up.

If you drive a lot and find yourself at the gas station often, using a credit card is totally worth it and can help you save money at the pump.

Most gas credit cards will offer rewards for other types of purchases as well, making them a great option for frequent drivers.

You're at risk for gas station scams if you swipe your card at the pump, but you can pay via credit card inside for additional security.

Here are some of the best gas rewards credit cards, depending on what you're most interested in getting back:

Drivers are feeling the pinch of high gas prices, but there are many approaches to lessen the hit on your wallet, including opening a credit card from your preferred gas station.

If you're considering a gas credit card, you're in luck because there are many options available. The ExxonMobil Smart Card offers 25 cents off per gallon of Synergy gas for the first two months, then 6 cents off per gallon, with no annual fee.

Some gas credit cards also offer rotating categories, such as the Citi Custom Cash, which earns 5% cash back on your highest spending category each month. This card is a great option if you don't fill up much in a given month, as you can earn 5% back on another category like grocery stores or live entertainment.

The Citi Double Cash earns 2% cash back with no annual fee, making it a solid choice for those who want a simple rewards credit card. Another option is the Amex Blue Cash Everyday, which earns 3% cash back on gas, groceries, and online retail, up to $6,000/year.

If you're looking for a co-branded gas rewards credit card, the ExxonMobil Smart Card is a top choice, earning solid gas rewards exclusively at ExxonMobil. It also comes with no annual fee, making it a low-risk option.

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If you're considering a credit card that offers cash back on gas, you may want to consider a general rewards card instead. Some of these cards offer bonus rewards in certain categories, including gas stations, and can offer higher rewards rates than gas-specific cards. For example, the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card offers 5 percent cash back on up to $3,000 spent per year on gas.

Here are some of the best gas credit cards available:

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 3% cash back on eligible purchases made at U.S. gas stations and on transit. You'll also earn 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in annual U.S. supermarket purchases, after which your cash back rate will drop to 1%. Beyond that, you'll get 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. All eligible purchases not in these categories earn 1% cash back. Cash back comes in the form of statement credits.

The annual fee for this card is $95, which may be a drawback for some. However, new cardholders can earn a $350 statement credit bonus after spending $3,000 on their card during their first six months with it.

Using a rewards credit card, like the Blue Cash Preferred Card, can save you money on gas purchases. For example, if you have a card that offers 5% cash back on gas, you could save about $2.74 on a 12-gallon tank of gas that costs $54.84. This translates to a final price of $52.10.

Rewards credit cards often offer bonus rewards in certain categories, including gas station purchases. This means you might receive between 3% to 5% cash back on gas depending on which card you use. Some of the best cashback credit cards offer this type of reward.

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Gas station credit cards can offer some enticing benefits, but let's take a closer look.

The CITGO Rewards Card offers a sign-up bonus of 10 cents per gallon in fuel statement credits during the first three months of card membership. This can add up quickly if you regularly fill up at Citgo stations.

The Sunoco Rewards Credit Card also has a sign-up bonus, saving you 25 cents per gallon in the first 60 days after account opening. However, this is split into a 20-cent statement credit and a 5-cent discount at the pump.

Both cards have ongoing gas discounts for cardmembers, with the CITGO Rewards Card offering 5 cents per gallon in fuel statement credits, and the Sunoco Rewards Credit Card offering 5 cents per gallon, with an additional 3 cents per gallon in discounts for meeting certain fuel purchase requirements.

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The CITGO Rewards Card is a great option for frequent Citgo station visitors. It offers a sign-up bonus of 10 cents per gallon in fuel statement credits during the first three months of card membership.

One of the standout features of this card is the gas discount for cardmembers, which is 5 cents per gallon in fuel statement credits. This can add up quickly, especially for heavy drivers.

Cardmembers also enjoy $0 fraud liability, which provides peace of mind when making purchases. Additionally, you can get free authorized user cards, which is convenient for family members or roommates.

Six months of promotional financing on purchases of $199 or more at auto merchants, excluding gas purchases, is another perk of this card. However, keep in mind that this card can only be used at Citgo stations, which may limit its usefulness for those who don't frequently visit these locations.

The Sunoco Rewards Credit Card offers a sign-up bonus of saving 25 cents per gallon in the first 60 days after account opening.

You can earn a gas discount of 5 cents per gallon as a cardmember, and an additional 3 cents per gallon in discounts by purchasing at least five gallons of fuel on two separate occasions each month.

One notable feature of the Sunoco Rewards card is that it cannot be used at any merchants other than Sunoco.

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