Best Gas Credit Cards for January 2021
This article was last updated Dec 31, 2020. Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
To help offset the cost of fuel, you may want to consider a credit card that offers rewards or discounts on gas purchases. And even better – a gas rewards card that also offers points, miles or cash back in other categories, such as groceries, dining and transit.
Based on our research of cards available through CompareCards, as well as the top cards offered by major issuers, here are our picks for the best gas credit cards for the following categories:
- Best gas credit card for everyday purchases: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Best gas credit card for hotel stays: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- Best gas credit card for Costco members: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- Best gas credit card for Exxon and Mobil stations: ExxonMobil™ Smart Card
- Best gas credit card for Shell stations: Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard®
- Choosing the right gas credit card for you
Comparing gas credit cards
| Rewards rate | Welcome bonus | Annual fee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases. | $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. | $95 |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio. Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. | 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. | $95 |
| Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi | 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 | None | $0 (Costco membership required.) |
| ExxonMobil™ Smart Card | Get 6 cents off every gallon, every day at more than 11,000 Exxon™ and Mobil™ stations. | Get 12 cents off every gallon of Synergy™ fuel for the first 2 months after account open date. | $0 |
| Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® | 10% Shell rebates on your first $1,200 Shell non-fuel purchases (per year), 2% Shell rebates on your first $10,000 Dining and Groceries purchases (per year), 1% Shell rebates on other qualifying purchases. | New accounts only. With this limited time offer, you get 5¢/gal with Fuel Rewards® Gold Status and 25¢/gal with the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Credit Card for a total of 30¢/gal (up to 20 gallons). Apply by 12/31/19. | $0 |
Best gas credit card for everyday purchases: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers a generous cashback rate in several everyday categories, including gas purchases. Cardholders earn 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases. The card also offers 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and 3% Cash Back on transit (e.g., taxis/ride-sharing service, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
Additionally, cardholders earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
What to look out for. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express charges a $95 annual fee. Also, you can only earn the higher cashback rate at gas stations located within the U.S.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please click here.
Read our Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review.
Best gas credit card for hotel stays: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers members a generous amount of rewards on gas, dining, hotel stays and more – which can be redeemed at over 5,700 Hilton properties in 113 countries, including DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton and more.
Cardholders Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio. Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. Plus, earn 130,000 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.
What to look out for. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card charges an annual fee of $95. Also, you can only earn the elevated rewards rates at gas stations, restaurants and supermarkets located inside the U.S.
To see rates & fees for Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card please click here.
Read our Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card review.
Best gas credit card for Costco members: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers 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. Cardholders can earn the elevated rewards rate at gas stations worldwide; however, gas purchased at superstores, supermarkets, convenience stores and warehouse clubs other than Costco will earn the 1% cashback rate.
If you max out the $7,000 spend threshold on gas, you can earn $280 cash back each year on those purchases alone.
While the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi comes with a $0 annual fee, it does require a Costco membership – which costs $60 per year for a Gold Star membership and $120 per year for a Gold Star Executive membership.
What to look out for. There are strict limitations on how you redeem your rewards earned with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. Costco cash rewards can only be redeemed for merchandise or cash back at Costco warehouses located in the U.S., including Puerto Rico. Plus, rewards are only distributed one time per year (after your February billing statement closes) and must be redeemed by Dec. 31 of the year they are issued.
Best gas credit card for ExxonMobil™ Smart Card
If you regularly fill up at Exxon or Mobil gas stations, you can receive savings at the pump with the ExxonMobil™ Smart Card. The $0 annual fee card offers the following discounts:
- Get 6 cents off every gallon, every day at more than 11,000 Exxon™ and Mobil™ stations.
- Get 12 cents off every gallon of Synergy™ fuel for the first 2 months after account open date.
In addition to gas purchases, you can use the ExxonMobil™ Smart Card to buy snacks, beverages and other items inside of ExxonMobil™ convenience stores. Just know, the discounts only apply to fuel purchases.
What to look out for. The ExxonMobil™ Smart Card can only be used at Exxon and Mobil gas stations; however, this is typical for a store-branded credit card.
Read our ExxonMobil™ Smart Card review.
Best gas credit card for Shell stations: Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard®
Similar to the ExxonMobil™ Smart Card, the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® charges a $0 annual fee and offers discounts on gas purchases – but at Shell gas stations.
New accounts only. With this limited time offer, you get 5¢/gal with Fuel Rewards® Gold Status and 25¢/gal with the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Credit Card for a total of 30¢/gal (up to 20 gallons). Apply by 12/31/19.
Plus, the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® offers Shell rebates on a variety of purchases: 10% Shell rebates on your first $1,200 Shell non-fuel purchases (per year), 2% Shell rebates on your first $10,000 Dining and Groceries purchases (per year), 1% Shell rebates on other qualifying purchases.
What to look out for. Because Shell rebates can only be redeemed as statement credits against Shell purchases, this card is not ideal if you don’t frequent Shell gas stations.
Read our Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® review.
Choosing the right gas credit card for you
If you have a long daily commute or a road trip in your near future, gas rewards credit cards offer a great opportunity to save money on gas purchases. Before deciding which card is right for you, be sure to take into account the card’s rewards rate, sign-up bonus and annual fee, as well as where you’ll be shopping for gas the most.
