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Best gas credit cards for March 2023

Updated March 01, 2023

Commuters, road-trippers and travelers know that fuel expenses can add up, but more people are cushioning the blow with gas credit cards to earn either cash back or points to fund their next trip. Since gas is a popular category on credit cards, finding the best gas credit card can be tough. Comparing credit cards for gas from our partners can help you decide how you want to earn more credit card rewards at the pumps in 2023.

Image of Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Credit Card Best Choose your 3% category

Best for sign-up bonus

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

$200
Info

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Info
Image of Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
chance of approval
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4 Bankrate review
Info
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
See if you're pre‐approved for this card with Approval Odds

Intro offer

$250
Info

Annual fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Regular APR

18.49%-29.49% Variable

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
chance of approval
Info
Info
Image of Sam's Club® Mastercard®

Best wholesale club card

Sam's Club® Mastercard®

Apply now Lock
on Synchrony Bank's secure site
Rating: 3.2 stars out of 5
3.2 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

No Annual Fee

Regular APR

15.65% or 23.65% Variable

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Image of My GM Rewards Card™

BEST FOR GM CAR OWNERS

My GM Rewards Card™

Apply now Lock
on Goldman Sachs Bank USA's secure site
Rating: 3.9 stars out of 5
3.9 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

15,000 points
Info

Annual fee

$0*

Regular APR

19.49% to 29.49% variable purchase APR based on creditworthiness. Rates as of 3/1/2023

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Info
Image of Citi Rewards+® Card

Best for everyday spending

Citi Rewards+® Card

chance of approval
Info
Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

20,000 points
Info

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

17.99% - 27.99% (Variable)

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
chance of approval
Info
Info
Image of Discover it® chrome

Best for first-year cash back match

Discover it® chrome

Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4.0 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Cashback Match™
Info

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

16.49% - 27.49% Variable APR

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Info
Image of Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
chance of approval
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6 Bankrate review
Info
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
See if you're pre‐approved for this card with Approval Odds

Intro offer

$200
Info

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

18.49%-29.49% Variable

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
chance of approval
Info
Info

Compare Bankrate's top gas credit cards

Card Name Earns Best for Bankrate Review Score
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card 3 percent cash back on select category purchases of choice; 2 percent cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 of combined 3 and 2 percent category purchases each quarter, then 1 percent), plus 1 percent on all other purchases Sign-up bonus 4.1 / 5
(Read full card review)
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express 6 percent cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $6,000 per year, then 1 percent); 6 percent back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3 percent back on U.S. gas station purchases; 3 percent cash back on transit; 1 percent back on all other purchases Gas and groceries 4.0 / 5
(Read full card review)
Sam's Club Mastercard 5 percent cash back on gas (up to $6,000 per year, then 1 percent), 3 percent back on dining ($5,000 cash rewards maximum per year), and 1 percent cash back on all other eligible purchases. Wholesale club card 2.7 / 5
(Read full card review)
My GM Rewards Card 7X points on eligible GM purchases, 4X points on all other purchases GM car owners 4.1 / 5
(Read full card review)
Citi Rewards+ Card 2X points at supermarkets and gas stations (on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points); 1X points on all other purchases Everyday spending 4.0 / 5
(Read full card review)
Discover it® chrome 2 percent cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1 percent) and 1 percent on all other purchases First-year cash back match 3.5 / 5
(Read full card review)
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express 3 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per calendar year in purchases in each category (then 1 percent), and 1 percent cash back on other purchases No annual fees 3.3 / 5
(Read full card review)
Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card 5X points on gas at the pump and electric vehicle charging stations; 3x points on supermarket, restaurants, TV, radio, cable and streaming services Credit union rewards N/A
Review Coming Soon

A closer look at our best gas credit cards

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for sign-up bonus

  • What we love about the Customized Cash Rewards: The ability to choose and change your bonus cash back category allows for a flexible rewards strategy and room for your credit card portfolio to grow.
  • Who this card is good for: Cash back strategists who want high rewards rates in more than one category.
  • Alternatives: Spending caps are common on a card like this, but if you’re looking to avoid limits on the amount of cash back or points you can earn, consider a card with a fixed, flat rate rewards model like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card or another flat-rate cash back card. These cards earn flexibly across all of your spending and don’t require the same category enrollment the Customized Cash Rewards does to earn its best rate.

Read our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card review.
Jump back to offer details.

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express: Best for gas and groceries

  • What we love about the Blue Cash Preferred: Pairing 3 percent back at U.S. gas stations with 6 percent back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in spending per year, then 1 percent) makes it one of the best cards for everyday purchases available.
  • Who this card is good for: People with a moderate to large grocery budget who spend a lot of time on the road.
  • Alternatives: Maybe your grocery budget is not substantial enough to offset the card’s recurring $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year) but you still want to earn generously for purchases made at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations. The card’s predecessor, the Blue Cash Everyday, also earns modestly at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. While rewards rates are not as high as those on the Blue Cash Preferred, the Everyday has the added advantage of no annual fee.

Read our Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express review.
Jump back to offer details.

Sam’s Club Mastercard: Best wholesale club card

  • What we love about the Sam’s Club Mastercard: This card not only rewards Sam’s Club members for purchases at Sam’s Club, but also offers all cardholders (including non-members) a solid rewards rate on everyday purchases like gas and restaurants. Indeed, its gas rewards rate is one of the best on the market.
  • Who this card is good for: While Sam’s Club members may get the most value from this card, anyone eager to fill a hole in their rewards strategy with a card that earns cash back on gas purchases anywhere can benefit.
  • Alternatives: If you aren’t—or don’t plan on becoming—a Sam’s Club member, then this card isn’t for you. However, if earning rewards on gas is your priority and you still want to earn rewards on Sam’s Club purchases, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card could be a great option. It has elevated rewards in categories like supermarkets, gas stations and wholesale clubs.

Read our Sam’s Club Mastercard review.
Jump back to offer details.

My GM Rewards Card: Best for GM car owners

  • What we love about the My GM Rewards Card: You can earn up to $100 back in statement credits on $1,500 in gas station fuel purchases per year — about a 6.7 percent return on spend. Even the best credit cards for gas earn a maximum of 5 percent back on gas, making this card a top pick for commuters.
  • Who this card is good for: GM car owners and lessees who don’t mind visiting a GM dealership for car parts, service and maintenance will get the most value out of this card. If you want the flexibility to redeem points for anything other than GM expenses, though, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
  • Alternatives: If you’re looking for a more flexible card that earns rewards on road travel, consider the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card. This card not only carries one of the most versatile and generous rewards rates out there on everyday travel (including 3X points at gas stations and on transit and travel), but also gives you the freedom to redeem points for travel bookings, cash back, online shopping and more without sacrificing point value.

Read our full My GM Rewards Card review or jump back to offer details.

Citi Rewards+ Card: Best for everyday spending

  • What we love about the Citi Rewards+ Card: The rewards earned from every purchase will be rounded up to the nearest 10 points. So, a $12 lunch order would earn 20 ThankYou points. Plus, the card earns an annual 10 percent bonus points on the first 100,000 points you redeem.
  • Who this card is good for: Everyday shoppers who want to earn points for purchases they make that are redeemable for purchases, gift cards, statement credits, direct deposits or on Amazon.com.
  • Alternatives: Going with a card that earns a higher point value for the purchases you make the most could be more to your advantage. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards and the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card cards provide the flexibility to plan a spending strategy that earns more across everyday spending.

Read our Citi Rewards+ Card review.
Jump back to offer details.

Discover it® chrome: Best for first-year cash back match

  • What we love about the Discover it® chrome: Discover will automatically match all of the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
  • Who this card is good for: Someone who wants to earn rewards on both restaurant and gas station purchases.
  • Alternatives: Other no-annual-fee credit cards earn better rewards rates for gas, but if the cash back match is something that you’re heavily invested in, consider the Discover it® Cash Back. While the rewards program on the Cash Back card will require more legwork on your end, you could come out on top at the end of the year depending on how much you spend in the card’s rotating categories.

Read our Discover it® chrome review.
Jump back to offer details.

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express: Best for no annual fee

  • What we love about the Blue Cash Everyday: In addition to U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, there’s a more rare bonus category: U.S. online retail purchases. For families, this trio of bonus categories can be valuable—all for no annual fee.
  • Who this card is good for: Home and family shoppers who want to stick to a budget and not worry about recouping an annual fee.
  • Alternatives: It’s tough to find a solid replacement for the Blue Cash Everyday because it costs nothing to hold and earns decent rewards in key categories. However, if you are looking to boost your rewards earning potential for gas specifically, a customized option like the Citi Custom Cash card boasts a phenomenal 5 percent cash back rate in your top spending category, including gas station purchases (on up to $500 per billing cycle, then 1 percent).

Read our Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express review.

Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Card: Best credit union rewards card

  • What we love about the PenFed Platinum Rewards card: In addition to gas purchases, this card also offers bonus points at electric vehicle charging stations. Additionally, rewards are unlimited, and in the gas-at-the-pump category alone, spending $200 a month would earn 1,000 monthly reward points.
  • Who this card is good for: Frugal spenders who want to be rewarded for budget staples like gas, dining out and supermarket purchases.
  • Alternatives: Joining a credit union may push you away from a card like this despite its great rewards potential. If that’s the case, consider attempting to cover the rewards you would earn with the card with a spending strategy that includes multiple cards and earns at least 5 percent back on everything you purchase.

In the news: How to combat high gas prices with a gas credit card

Gas prices reached record highs in 2022, which prompted some savvy cardholders to find creative ways to use gas credit cards. For example, consider using a gas app.

Gas apps can help you find the best price for gas in your area or earn additional cash back on gas purchases. Pairing the right gas credit card with a gas app can go a long way in saving you money at the pump, while potentially giving you two opportunities to earn cash back or rewards on the same purchase. Upside tops the list for best gas apps and lets cardholders “double-dip on rewards” to earn $0.25 for every gallon of gas you purchase when you use a qualifying gas station (terms apply). 


What is a gas credit card?

A gas credit card is a rewards card that earns points, cash back or miles when you spend at the pump. Just like other credit cards, these can either earn rewards at a flat-rate or have rotating bonus categories with elevated rewards rates.

Along with cards dedicated to gas rewards, some of the best grocery cards and travel cards also earn rewards for spending at the pump, so any card that offers customized rewards or includes gas purchases in a bonus category can be used as your “gas card.”

Cards with customizable rewards rates can be especially flexible. For example, the Citi Custom Cash earns 5 percent back in your top spending category, with gas being just one of many eligible categories (on up to $500 in spending per billing cycle, then 1 percent back). This flexibility could be helpful if you’re juggling multiple cards or your gas spend varies from month to month.

Picking the card that’s best for you means determining where you spend the majority of your money and how exactly you want your gas credit card to fit into your rewards strategy.

Types of gas credit cards

The two main types of gas credit cards are co-branded and general-purpose. They both have their benefits, but general-purpose cards that include gas as a rewards category can be more versatile.

General-purpose gas credit cards

General-purpose gas cards are simply credit cards that offer bonus rewards at gas stations. These may come with rewards programs that offer cash back or points earned per dollar spent. Typically the best general-purpose credit cards include a range of rewards categories and give you the flexibility to maintain your spending habits without thinking about how to maximize your rewards strategy.

A great general-purpose gas credit card might also earn generously at U.S. supermarkets or at wholesale clubs. However, it’s rare that gas will be included in the highest rewards tier. If you want the flexibility to maximize your rewards at the pump while not missing any rewards at wholesale clubs or on groceries, you may opt for a card like the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card. With this customizable category card you can earn 3 percent back in a category of your choice, like gas (on up to $2,500 of combined 3 and 2 percent category purchases each quarter, then 1 percent).

Loyalty gas cards

Loyalty gas cards, or cards distributed by specific gas stations to promote loyalty (such as BP, Speedway or Chevron), allow cardholders to earn credits for gas and receive discounts on fuel. While these cards can provide benefits in the form of discounts on gas, typically a certain number of cents off per gallon, they typically don’t offer rewards for purchases outside of those made at the gas stations they’re tied to. Even so, some of these options and the gas loyalty rewards programs they’re a part of can bring in a nice chunk of savings.

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Bankrate Insight

The average American spends $2,094 annually on gasoline, other fuels and motor oil, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent Consumer Expenditures Report. Charged on a credit card that earns 3 percent cash back on gas, those expenses equal an annual rewards haul of $62.82. While that’s not a staggering sum, think of it as a free fill-up or two.

Pros and cons of gas rewards cards

Like any type of rewards credit card, gas cards have their perks and drawbacks. Consider the following before you apply:

Pros

  • Checkmark

    Affordability: There are plenty of gas cards on the market that do not charge annual fees.

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    Additional rewards: Most gas cards offer rewards in other valuable categories like dining or groceries.

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    Accessibility: Gas cards are available to people with a wide range of credit scores, so you can find a gas credit card with bad credit.

Cons

  • Loyalty cards lack flexibility: Gas rewards cards tied to a particular brand may be inconvenient if that gas station isn’t available everywhere you travel.

  • Not optimized for electric vehicles: There are few gas cards that earn rewards on electric vehicle charging.

  • Less utilized budget expense: Gas isn’t the largest component of most budgets, so getting a card solely for gas expenses could be pointless.

 

Who should get a gas credit card?

You might already have a good idea what type of spender you are and it may come as no surprise that gas credit cards are best suited for people who spend significantly at the pump. But not everyone can benefit from them—many people who work from home or don’t drive often might not find value in earning cash back for gas station purchases. However, the following people are most likely to earn the best bang for their buck with a gas card:

If you aren’t sure what type of spender you are, our Credit Card Spender Type Tool gives you personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

How we selected our list of top gas cards

Credit cards featured on Bankrate.com receive a score based on a 5-point scoring system. With individual categories such as gas credit cards, the analysis focuses on specific features relevant to that type of card, including:
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    Rewards rate
    The highest-rated credit cards for gas purchases typically earn cash back or rewards points at a rate of 2 percent, 3 percent or even 4 percent for every dollar you spend on fuel purchases.
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    Versatility
    The best gas cards offer rewards not just for filling up your vehicle but also for other types of everyday purchases, such as groceries.
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    Affordability
    A truly outstanding gas credit card puts value front and center, meaning that it charges no annual fee (or a minimal fee).

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

Frequently asked questions about gas credit cards