Introduction to the Best Credit Cards for Gas
With fuel prices as high as they are, it makes more sense than ever to use one of the best credit cards that include gas stations as a bonus category. The very best credit cards for gas also earn extra points, miles, or cash back in other popular categories, like travel or dining.
Choosing the best gas credit card for you boils down to the rewards you like to earn and your overall spending habits. A handful of credit cards include EV charging stations in the gas station category — so if you drive an electric vehicle, there are still options for you to earn bonus rewards.
Here are our top credit card picks to maximize your spending at the pump.
Best Credit Card for Gas and EV Charging
- Best for gas and EV charging as a 3% bonus category: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Best for Costco gas: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- Best flexible rewards including on EV charging: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
- Best if gas is your biggest expense: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
- Best Citi gas card: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Best Amex gas card: Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
- Best Amex cash-back card: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Best gas card for PenFed Credit Union members: PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Compare the Top Gas Credit Cards
$0
0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and on any balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening
19.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus
Good to Excellent
- No annual fee
- Broad 2% and 3% cash-back categories
- Earn 2% and 3% cash-back categories capped at $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter.
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is worth considering if you're looking for a no-annual-fee cash-back credit card that lets you choose your highest rewards category.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
$0
N/A
19.49% - 27.49% Variable
N/A
Excellent
- Generous cash-back categories, especially for gas purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
- You can only receive rewards once per year
- You need to visit a Costco location to redeem rewards for cash back instead of merchandise
If you're a Costco member and you spend a lot of money on gas or EV charging, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi card can a great option. Just remember that your rewards will only become available to you once per year, and that you'll have to visit a brick-and-mortar Costco store to get your cash back or to cash in your rewards for merchandise.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
$0
18.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn 20,000 bonus points
Excellent/Good
- Great earning rate on travel and at gas stations
- Bonus points on streaming services plus $30 yearly streaming credit can save you money
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit is worth up to $100
- Annual fee after the first year
- No airline or hotel transfer partners
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a good choice if you're looking for a card that earns a substantial welcome bonus along with strong bonus categories for a moderate annual fee. It also offers excellent perks like Priority Pass airport lounge access, SmartDelay protection, cell phone protection, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit, and an annual streaming credit.
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature
$0
0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months
18.24% - 28.24% Variable
Earn $200 cash back (fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points)
Excellent, Good, Fair
- Flexibility to customize rewards by earning 5% cash back on up to $500 per billing cycle in your top spending category (from a list)
- Generous welcome offer for a no-annual-fee card
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for or track
- Redeem for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more
- Only earns 1% back outside of $500 in top spending category each billing cycle
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers a solid welcome bonus and 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases in your top spending category every billing cycle. There's no annual fee and you won't need to keep track of rotating bonus categories, but keep in mind it only earns 1% back outside of your highest spend category each month.
Citi Custom Cash Card
$95
N/A
20.24% - 28.24% Variable
Earn 75,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Earn 3x points on most travel, restaurants, gas/EV charging, and supermarkets
- Earn 10x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked via Citi Travel
- $100 annual hotel credit on a single stay of $500 or more
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip delay/interruption benefits and lost/damaged baggage coverage
- Has an annual fee
- Citi Travel rates often are higher than retail cost of travel
$95
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (made in the first 60 days) for 12 months from the date of account opening
15.99% - 25.99% Variable
Earn 15,000 points
Excellent
- Strong rewards at US supermarkets
- You can earn a 50% points bonus each billing period when you make at least 30 purchases
- Annual cap on earning bonus rewards at US supermarkets
- Not the best option for earning rewards outside of US supermarkets and US gas stations — especially if you don't make at least 30 purchases per billing statement to earn the bonus
The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card is worth considering if you want to earn valuable Amex Membership Rewards points — especially if you spend a lot on groceries, gas, or travel — without incurring a high annual fee. But you'll need to use the card at least 30 times a month to make it worthwhile.
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening
18.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn a $250 statement credit
Good to Excellent
- Generous bonus rewards, especially at U.S. supermarkets
- One of a small handful of credit cards that offer bonus rewards on select streaming services
- Intro APR offer
- Unlike many other cash-back cards, it charges an annual fee
- If you spend more than $6,000 at US supermarkets each year, you'll want to use another card once you reach that cap
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is one of the best cash-back cards, particularly for consumers who spend a lot of money at U.S. supermarkets, use streaming services, or have lots of commuting and gas expenses. The annual fee is worth it if your typical spending lines up with the card's bonus categories.
Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.24% - 29.24%.
- 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.
- 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
$0
0% balance transfers promo APR for 12 months made in the first 90 days after account opening, 3% fee applies to each transaction
17.99% APR on balance transfers, 17.99% Variable APR on purchases
Good to Excellent
- Strong rewards on gas and groceries
- Intro APR offer on balance transfers
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Must join PenFed credit union to apply for the card
- PenFed points aren't as valuable as some other bank rewards points
- No airline or hotel transfer partners
If you bank with PenFed credit union or are willing to join, this no-annual-fee card could be a great addition to your wallet. With up to 5x points earning in popular bonus categories, it's easy to earn lots of rewards fast — but keep in mind, points are often worth less than 1 cent apiece depending on how you redeem them.
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card- Get Rewarded on Everyday Purchases
- 5x Points on gas paid at the pump and EV charging stations
- 3x Points at the supermarket (including most Target and Walmart locations), restaurants, and TV, radio, cable, streaming services
- 1x Points on all other purchases
- 15,000 Bonus Points when you spend $1,500 in first 90 days
- 0% Balance Transfers Promo APR for 12 months, 3% fee applies to each transaction. Subject to credit approval. 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 90 days after account opening. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. A 3% balance transfer fee applies to each transfer. This transaction is subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
- Annual Fee: $0
- Purchase Variable APR: 17.99%
- Refer to PenFed.org for Terms/Conditions
Gas Credit Card Reviews
A good credit card for gas and EV charging should earn more than 1% back on all eligible purchases. The best ones earn bonus points on other categories and come with bonus travel or purchase protections.
Every card reviewed here was specifically chosen as one of our best credit cards for gas right now, by one of Business Insider's team of personal finance and credit card experts.
Best for Gas or EV Charging as a 3% Bonus Category: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
$0
0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and on any balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening
19.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus
Good to Excellent
- No annual fee
- Broad 2% and 3% cash-back categories
- Earn 2% and 3% cash-back categories capped at $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter.
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is worth considering if you're looking for a no-annual-fee cash-back credit card that lets you choose your highest rewards category.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
If your spending habits change from time to time, having a card that allows you to customize your bonus categories can be a real plus. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card gives you the option to choose one 3% bonus category each month, from a list:
- Gas/EV charging
- Online shopping
- Dining
- Travel
- Drug stores
- Home improvement/furnishings
Along with earning 3% back in the category you choose, you'll also earn 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, up to a combined maximum of $2,500 in spending each quarter between the 3% and 2% categories (then you'll earn 1%).
If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer, the card gets even more compelling. Depending on how much you have on deposit with Bank of America and/or Merrill, you could earn 25% to 75% more rewards — that means you could earn 3.75% to 5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
Read our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card review.
Best Gas Card for Costco: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
$0
N/A
19.49% - 27.49% Variable
N/A
Excellent
- Generous cash-back categories, especially for gas purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
- You can only receive rewards once per year
- You need to visit a Costco location to redeem rewards for cash back instead of merchandise
If you're a Costco member and you spend a lot of money on gas or EV charging, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi card can a great option. Just remember that your rewards will only become available to you once per year, and that you'll have to visit a brick-and-mortar Costco store to get your cash back or to cash in your rewards for merchandise.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases worldwide (not just at Costco gas stations) on up to $7,000 in purchases per year (then 1%). Plus, you'll earn 3% back on restaurant and eligible travel purchases worldwide, 2% back on all other purchases from Costco and costco.com, and 1% back on everything else.
There's no annual fee, but you need a Costco membership to earn rewards. While gas station earnings on the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is excellent, the card doesn't issue cash-back the same way other cards do. You'll only receive your rewards once per year, in the form of a certificate you can redeem for cash back or merchandise at Costco. However, if your annual reward amount is greater than $10,000 you'll receive an alternative form of payment such as a check or electronic transfer.
Read our Costco Anywhere Visa card review.
Best Flexible Earning Rate, Including EV Charging Stations: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
$0
18.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn 20,000 bonus points
Excellent/Good
- Great earning rate on travel and at gas stations
- Bonus points on streaming services plus $30 yearly streaming credit can save you money
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit is worth up to $100
- Annual fee after the first year
- No airline or hotel transfer partners
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a good choice if you're looking for a card that earns a substantial welcome bonus along with strong bonus categories for a moderate annual fee. It also offers excellent perks like Priority Pass airport lounge access, SmartDelay protection, cell phone protection, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit, and an annual streaming credit.
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has a great 4x earning rate at gas stations and on travel, and it's not capped like on some other cards. The gas station category includes EV charging stations, so this is card a good choice for all types of vehicle owners.
Cardholders also earn 2x points at grocery stores and on grocery delivery, dining, and streaming services, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Each point is worth 1 cent toward cash back, travel, gift cards, or merchandise, so the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card effectively earns 4% back at gas stations. The annual fee is $0, and you'll get other perks like a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® application fee credit, streaming credits, cellphone protection, Priority Pass airport lounge access with four free visits per year, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay insurance, and SmartDelay coverage that gets you airport lounge access when your flight is delayed.
Read our U.S. Bank Altitude Connect card review.
Pro tip: Other U.S. Bank cards that offer a bonus on gas and EV charging include the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card (2x points), U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card (2% cash back when you choose gas and EV charging as your everyday category), and the business-focused U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® (3% cash back).
Best if Gas is Your Top Spending Category: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
$0
0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months
18.24% - 28.24% Variable
Earn $200 cash back (fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points)
Excellent, Good, Fair
- Flexibility to customize rewards by earning 5% cash back on up to $500 per billing cycle in your top spending category (from a list)
- Generous welcome offer for a no-annual-fee card
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for or track
- Redeem for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more
- Only earns 1% back outside of $500 in top spending category each billing cycle
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers a solid welcome bonus and 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases in your top spending category every billing cycle. There's no annual fee and you won't need to keep track of rotating bonus categories, but keep in mind it only earns 1% back outside of your highest spend category each month.
Citi Custom Cash Card
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is unique because cardholders earn 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases in the eligible category they spend the most in each billing cycle (then 1%), and 1% on all other purchases.
Gas stations are one of the eligible categories — along with restaurants, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment. If gas is a big expense for you, using the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card for your purchases could earn you up to $25 in bonus cash back per month ($500 x 5% back).
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is also offering a welcome bonus of $200 cash back, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. For a card with a $0 annual fee, this is a solid deal. Just remember it only earns 1% back outside of your highest spending category each month, so other cards — like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card — may be a better fit if you want to earn strong rewards in multiple categories.
Read our Citi Custom Cash card review.
Best for Earning Citi Points: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
$95
N/A
20.24% - 28.24% Variable
Earn 75,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Earn 3x points on most travel, restaurants, gas/EV charging, and supermarkets
- Earn 10x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked via Citi Travel
- $100 annual hotel credit on a single stay of $500 or more
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip delay/interruption benefits and lost/damaged baggage coverage
- Has an annual fee
- Citi Travel rates often are higher than retail cost of travel
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a terrific all-around pick if you like earning flexible Citi ThankYou points and spend a lot in popular everyday categories. You'll earn 3x points at gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, and on air travel, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. And, as of May 2024, this card also earns 3x on EV charging.
New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening, and you can use points for travel through the Citi ThankYou portal, transfer them to airline and hotel partners, or redeem them for gift cards, merchandise, cash back, and more. Citi ThankYou points are worth 1.6 cents each, on average, based on Business Insider's points and miles valuations.
Read our Citi Premier card review.
Pro tip: If you want to earn the most Citi ThankYou points on your spending, consider opening the Citi Trifecta to earn maximum ThankYou points. With the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, Citi® Double Cash Card , and Citi Custom Cash℠ Card in your wallet, you'll earn at least 2x points on every purchase.
Best for Earning Amex Points: Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
$95
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (made in the first 60 days) for 12 months from the date of account opening
15.99% - 25.99% Variable
Earn 15,000 points
Excellent
- Strong rewards at US supermarkets
- You can earn a 50% points bonus each billing period when you make at least 30 purchases
- Annual cap on earning bonus rewards at US supermarkets
- Not the best option for earning rewards outside of US supermarkets and US gas stations — especially if you don't make at least 30 purchases per billing statement to earn the bonus
The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card is worth considering if you want to earn valuable Amex Membership Rewards points — especially if you spend a lot on groceries, gas, or travel — without incurring a high annual fee. But you'll need to use the card at least 30 times a month to make it worthwhile.
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card is a good option to consider if you prefer earning transferable Amex Membership Rewards points, particularly if you frequently use your credit card.
The card earns 2x points at U.S. gas stations and 3x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%) — But if you make 30 or more purchases in a billing cycle, you'll receive 50% more points on purchases that period. Thus, you could earn 3x points per fuel-up if you can meet or exceed the usage threshold each month.
Read our Amex Everyday Preferred card review.
Best Amex Card for Cash Back on Gas Purchases: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening
18.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn a $250 statement credit
Good to Excellent
- Generous bonus rewards, especially at U.S. supermarkets
- One of a small handful of credit cards that offer bonus rewards on select streaming services
- Intro APR offer
- Unlike many other cash-back cards, it charges an annual fee
- If you spend more than $6,000 at US supermarkets each year, you'll want to use another card once you reach that cap
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is one of the best cash-back cards, particularly for consumers who spend a lot of money at U.S. supermarkets, use streaming services, or have lots of commuting and gas expenses. The annual fee is worth it if your typical spending lines up with the card's bonus categories.
Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.24% - 29.24%.
- 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.
- 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a great card for those who spend a lot on gas, groceries, and commuting. Right now, it's offering a great welcome bonus too — $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within the first six months from account opening.
It earns 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis, rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, and buses), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, 6% back on the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year, then 1%, and 1% back on all other eligible purchases (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout).
Read our American Express Blue Cash Preferred review.
Best for Gas and EV Charging for PenFed Credit Union Members: PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
$0
0% balance transfers promo APR for 12 months made in the first 90 days after account opening, 3% fee applies to each transaction
17.99% APR on balance transfers, 17.99% Variable APR on purchases
Good to Excellent
- Strong rewards on gas and groceries
- Intro APR offer on balance transfers
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Must join PenFed credit union to apply for the card
- PenFed points aren't as valuable as some other bank rewards points
- No airline or hotel transfer partners
If you bank with PenFed credit union or are willing to join, this no-annual-fee card could be a great addition to your wallet. With up to 5x points earning in popular bonus categories, it's easy to earn lots of rewards fast — but keep in mind, points are often worth less than 1 cent apiece depending on how you redeem them.
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card- Get Rewarded on Everyday Purchases
- 5x Points on gas paid at the pump and EV charging stations
- 3x Points at the supermarket (including most Target and Walmart locations), restaurants, and TV, radio, cable, streaming services
- 1x Points on all other purchases
- 15,000 Bonus Points when you spend $1,500 in first 90 days
- 0% Balance Transfers Promo APR for 12 months, 3% fee applies to each transaction. Subject to credit approval. 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 90 days after account opening. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. A 3% balance transfer fee applies to each transfer. This transaction is subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
- Annual Fee: $0
- Purchase Variable APR: 17.99%
- Refer to PenFed.org for Terms/Conditions
To qualify for the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card, you'll need to be a member of the PenFed (Pentagon Federal) Credit Union. You don't need a military affiliation to join — you just need to fund a savings account with a minimum of $5, which you can do so when you apply for the card.
The PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card earns a whopping 5x points on gas purchases at the pump and at EV charging stations. It also earns 3x points at supermarkets, restaurants, and TV, radio, cable, and streaming services, and 1 point per dollar on everything else with no caps. Keep in mind redeeming rewards isn't straightforward — the value of your points varies depending on what you use them for (travel, gift cards, or merchandise) and there's no option to use points for cash back.
Read our PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature card review.
Gas Credit Cards vs. General-Use Credit Cards
When shopping for a good credit card for gas purchases, focus on options that earn bonus rewards across a number of household expenses. This allows you to maximize your potential earnings across a diverse range of spending.
Most credit cards that are great for gas and EV charging are general-use credit cards that offer rewards on several categories of everyday spend. Common examples can include groceries, household goods, drugstores, and transit.
We recommend avoiding co-branded credit cards offered by gas stations such as Shell or Chevron, because gas comprises such a relatively small portion of most people's budgets. Instead, focus on a card that earns between 2% to 5% back per dollar spent on gas, because you'll likely earn the same rate no matter which gas station you frequent.
Pay-at-the-Pump vs. Gas Station Purchases
It may surprise you to know that not all gas station expenses code equally. Merchants have different category codes, and the code for a transaction completed beside a gas pump may not be the same as the code for a transaction that takes place within the gas station itself, even if you're pre-paying for fuel within the store.
Merchant category codes (MCCs) define the type of transaction that you completed via credit card, and they can be hyper specific depending on the purchase. This can be particularly helpful if you drive an electric or a hybrid vehicle, because some EV charging stations do not share the same merchant codes as traditional gas station pumps. If you aren't sure if your local charging station codes the same way as a gas purchase, focus your attention on credit cards that earn bonus rewards for both gas and EV charging.
Cents Off Per Gallon vs. Percentage Rewards
Does it matter if you get 5 cents off per gallon, or 5% back per gallon? Absolutely. Gas station co-branded credit cards often offer discounts per gallon, while credit card rewards often come in the form of a certain percentage back per dollar spent. Both options are great, but make sure you do the math to see how much you save or spend as prices rise and fall. For example, 12 cents off per gallon sounds great, but if gas is $3 per gallon and you get 5% cash back per dollar spent, you'll get more money from your cash back benefits.
Discounts on Gas at Costco and Sam's Club
Many credit cards do not earn bonus rewards on purchases made at wholesale centers like Costco and Sam's Club. If you exclusively fuel up at one of these places, make sure you find a credit card that still earns bonus points here. For example, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi earns 4% back on gas and EV charging on the first $7,000 per year
Best Gas Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
The two primary types of gas credit cards are co-branded cards offered by companies like Shell and Chevron, and general-use credit cards issued by banks such as Chase and Amex. Co-branded credit cards are often closed-loop, which means they can only be used at brands owned by the company that issues the card.
The best credit cards for gas earn up to 5% cash back per dollar spent. Rewards can usually be redeemed as cash back in the form of a statement credit, or can be used to pay for travel or other common expenses.
No, there are no major drawbacks to using a credit card that earns bonus points on gas as long as you pay off your statement balance in full each month. In fact, responsibly using a credit card to pay for gas can earn you significant rewards.
You need between a good credit score and an excellent credit score to be eligible to apply for most gas credit cards on our list. This translates to a FICO score of at least 670. However, some gas station chains have their own proprietary gas cards that you can use only at gas stations. These cards tend to be easier to get approved for, but keep in mind that you'll have very little flexibility in how you earn and redeem rewards.
Gas credit cards are easily worth it for those who drive a lot — especially now that gas prices are extra unsavory. Earning rewards for these purchases can make the price increases a little easier to bear. It's even better if you pick a card that also earns bonus rewards in other categories where you spend a lot of money. For instance, road warriors who spend a lot of overnights away from home might consider a card like the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card, which earns 4x on gas and travel (including hotels).
The best gas credit card with no annual fee depends on what other categories you spend in and the rewards you prefer to earn. If you're a Costco member, it's hard to beat the earning rate on the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. Otherwise, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, and U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card are all solid options.
Costco takes credit cards — but it only accepts Visa credit cards at U.S. Costco gas stations (like the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card, and the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card).
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Credit Cards for Gas
Business Insider's credit cards division works independently of our company's business division to scrutinize and compare credit cards that are targeted for various demographics. We will tell you honestly which credit card is most likely to suit your financial goals — and the pitfalls you may encounter.
We considered rewards cards that are currently available to new applicants in deciding on the top credit cards for gas purchases, along with these factors:
- Simplicity — Does the card make it easy to redeem rewards, and have a program that's easy to understand?
- Earning potential — Does the card earn generous rewards on gas, and are there other bonus categories that line up with everyday spending habits?
- Welcome bonus — Credit cards that offer a sign-up bonus or other incentives are more appealing, especially if they don't charge an annual fee.
- Options for different types of consumers — We included cards that are geared to all kinds of users, from products that earn travel points and cash-back to credit cards that earn rewards for electric vehicle charging.
View our page on how we rate credit cards to learn more about how we rate and review products.
