When you buy something using these deals, we may earn a small affiliate commission. This content was created by our compare team, not the Los Angeles Times newsroom.
Advertiser Disclosure

On This Page

On This Page

Best Gas Credit Cards of December 2023

  • The best gas credit cards are typically issued by major financial institutions and offer rewards for all purchases, not just at gas stations.
  • Gas credit cards fall into three categories: gas rewards cards, gas loyalty cards, and fleet fuel cards.
  • All gas credit cards, including store-branded ones, help build credit by reporting balances and payments to credit bureaus.
  • The best gas rewards cards were selected based on high rewards rates on gas purchases, bonus category rewards, and other cardholder perks.
Cards by Category
Best credit cards 0% APR cards No annual fee cards Cards for bad credit Secured cards Travel cards Cards for no credit history Balance transfer cards Cash back cards Student cards Rewards cards Business cards Hotel cards Airline cards Gas credit cards Amex credit cards Citi credit cards Chase credit cards Capital One credit cards U.S. Bank credit cards Discover credit cards
Gas credit cards More
Advertiser Disclosure
Best gas credit cards of 2023 Learn more about your credit card options Credit Cards with Mouse Cursor Compare Cards

Our top picks for the best gas credit cards

Advertiser Disclosure
Best for Gas Stations and Supermarkets

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

 Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Learn More on Bankrate's secure site
Rates & Fees Terms Apply
Key Information
Earn 6% back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1% back), 6% back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% back on other purchases. $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 per year.

Why We Like It

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is exceptional due to its rewards percentage for U.S. supermarket spending, U.S. gas station purchases, and transit. Cardholders have the chance to earn up to $360 per year in rewards at U.S. supermarkets each year if they max that category out. Apart from this, $300 in monthly spending at U.S. gas stations each year would net the average person another $108 in rewards.

This card has a 0% intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers during the first 12 months (then 19.24% to 29.99% variable), which can help you save money as you pay down your balance the first year.

Pros
  • Excellent rewards on spending at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, transit and more
  • 0% APR on purchases for a limited time
Cons
  • Rewards can only be redeemed for a statement credit
  • Earns cash back instead of American Express Membership Rewards
  • Charges foreign transaction fees

Earning Rewards

This rewards credit card offers lucrative rewards at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, among other categories. Cardholders earn 6% back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1% back), 6% back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% back on all other purchases.

Best for No Annual Fee

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

 Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Learn More on Bankrate's secure site
Rates & Fees Terms Apply
Key Information
Earn 3% cash back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%), 3% back on up to $6,000 at U.S. gas stations (then 1%), 3% back on up to $6,000 on online retail purchases (then 1%), and 1% back on all other eligible purchases during the first year. No annual fee.

Why We Like It

If you want the perks of an American Express card without having to pay an annual fee, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card is for you. This card offers generous cash back rewards in the following categories:

  • 3% at supermarkets.
  • 3% on online retail purchases.
  • 3% at gas stations.
  • 1% on all other eligible purchases.

These reward rates apply to the first $6,000 per year in purchases within each category, then drop to 1%. While the cash back rates are lower than what you’ll get with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card, you don’t have to worry about paying an annual fee.

Welcome Bonus

New cardholders can earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months.

Pros
  • No annual fee
  • 0% APR on eligible purchases for 15 months
  • Generous rewards at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & online shopping
Cons
  • Rewards cap on spending at supermarkets
  • 2.7% foreign transaction fee
  • Cash back can only be redeemed for statement credits
Best for Costco Members

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Key Information
Earn 4% cash back on up to $7,000 spent at gas stations each year (then 1% back), plus rewards on dining, travel, and shopping at Costco or Costco.com. No annual fee (outside of Costco membership fees).

Why We Like It

We like the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi as a gas rewards card due to the fact you earn a high rate of gas rewards at Costco and all other major gas stations. Other rewards categories, including restaurants and eligible travel purchases, can also help you rack up cash back quickly.

This card doesn't charge an annual fee, which is another major plus, but you do need a Costco membership. Your card also doubles as your membership card for added convenience. If you have the Costco app, you can link your Costco Anywhere Citi Visa® Card to your digital membership which allows for contactless payment in-store. If you’re already a Costco member or plan on signing up for a membership, this could be the card for you.

Pros
  • Earn generous gas rewards, as well as bonus cash back on dining, travel purchases, and more
  • Doubles as your membership card at the gas pump to simplify checkout
  • No foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • No sign-up bonus
  • Higher APR than some other cards

Earning Rewards

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers generous gas rewards at Costco, where gas tends to be cheaper, but you also earn the same 4% rate at other gas stations worldwide. This rate is applied for the first $7,000 per year, then 1% back afterwards. In addition to 4% back in gas rewards, cardholders can earn 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases worldwide, 2% on all other in-club purchases from Costco and Costco.com, and 1% on all other purchases.

Best for Earning Cash Back

Citi Custom Cash® Card
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Key Information
Earns 5% back on up to $500 in spending in whatever category you spend the most in each billing cycle (like gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, etc.). This card has no annual fee.

Why We Like It

We like the Citi Custom Cash® Card due to the fact it lets you earn 5% back in a number of popular categories every billing cycle, including gas stations. That makes this card incredibly advantageous for someone who spends a lot on gas each month and wants to maximize their rewards.

This card’s introductory APR and lack of annual fee also help it stand out. Also note that you can redeem your rewards for a statement credit, direct deposit, a check, gift cards, travel, Amazon.com purchases, and more.

Pros
  • Earn 5% back in your highest spending category each billing cycle
  • Earn a generous bonus offer of $200
  • No annual fee
Cons
  • Only earns 1% back on all other purchases
  • Charges foreign transaction fees

Earning Rewards

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is unique because it lets you earn 5% back on up to $500 in spending in whatever category you spend the most in each billing cycle, then 1% back on all other purchases. Eligible categories that qualify for 5% back include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.

Advertiser Disclosure
Compare the best gas credit cards Learn about earning rewards on fuel Credit Cards with Mouse Cursor COMPARE NOW

How do gas credit cards work?

Gas rewards credit cards work like other credit cards in the fact they let you charge purchases and repay the money you borrow later on.

While you can carry a balance on your gas credit card if you prefer, you’ll be charged credit card interest if you do.

The best credit card for gas offers generous rewards on gas as well as non-gas purchases you make, and some offer consumer protections and perks that make them even more valuable.

Note that some gas credit cards are affiliated with gas stations or global gas brands, but that these gas cards are generally limited in scope and overall value. If you want to earn rewards on gas and all your other bills, your best bet is to pick a gas card from a major issuer.

Types of gas credit cards

There are several types of gas credit cards, but they don’t all work the same.

Cards in this niche tend to fall into one of three categories:

Gas rewards cards

Gas rewards cards include the type of cards we recommend in this ranking. With this type of card, you can earn rewards on gas and everything else you buy.

Gas loyalty cards

Gas loyalty cards are affiliated with specific gas brands, and they may offer per-gallon discounts on gas as well as in-store perks. Note that these cards are typically store-branded, so you can’t use them for regular spending and bills.

Fleet fuel cards

Fleet fuel cards are for businesses that spend a lot of money on gas. These cards are often store-branded, meaning you can only use them within a brand of gas stations nationwide. Some fleet fuel cards are for gas only, but others let users charge on other items as well.

Pros and cons of gas credit cards

Pros

Cons

Choosing the best gas credit card for you

As you compare gas cards, you’ll want to look at all the factors that matter the most to you.

The following tips can help you pick the best credit card for your needs:

Does a gas credit card help build credit?

All gas credit cards help you build credit, even store-branded credit cards. This is due to the fact that they report your balances and payments to the three credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

How we selected the best gas rewards cards

The best gas rewards cards that made our ranking offer exceptional bonus rewards on gas as well as other types of spending. We looked for cards with the highest rewards rate on gas purchases specifically, but we also compared hundreds of cards to look for bonus category rewards, intro APR offers, and other cardholder perks.

Best gas credit cards FAQ

Which gas credit card has the best rewards?

Several gas credit cards that made our ranking offer 5% back on gas purchases up to limits. These include the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card, and the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®. Several other cards offer 4% back in gas rewards with other additional perks, like extra cash back when paying at Costco with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, so make sure to compare all the best options.

Can I get a gas credit card with bad credit?

The best gas credit cards typically require good or excellent credit. If you have a poor credit score, you may want to consider a store-branded gas card instead.

Will a gas credit card give me a discount on fuel?

Store-branded gas cards frequently offer discounts or bonus rewards on fuel purchases. Make sure to compare different cards’ earning rates as well as any in-store discounts they offer.

Are gas cards easy to get?

Gas cards typically require good credit, but store-branded gas rewards cards are easier to qualify for. Our advice? Check your credit score to see where you stand before you apply.

Holly D. Johnson
Holly D. Johnson Finance Expert

Holly D. Johnson is an award-winning personal finance writer who covers topics like insurance, investing, credit and family finance. As a leading voice in the travel and loyalty space, Johnson has traveled with her family to more than 50 countries over the last decade.

The author has also written extensively on the power of household budgeting, and she even co-authored a book on the topic. Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love was originally published in 2017, and it teaches families how to use zero-sum budgeting to reach their financial goals. She is also the co-owner and founder of the family finance and travel website, ClubThrifty.com.

Johnson’s 10+ years of writing have focused on helping families make important financial decisions at each stage of their lives. The author also applies the financial principles she teaches to her own life, and she is currently on track to retire in her late 40’s with her partner. She currently lives in Central Indiana with her husband and children, and she is a regular contributor for Bankrate, CNN, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report Travel and many other notable publications.

* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.

All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.

BACK TO TOP