If you’re an average American, you make $171.28 a day and spend 1.52% of that—$2.60—for gasoline.1 That doesn’t seem like a lot, but like any expense, it adds up. And with all that money you spend at the gas pump, why not get something in return—other than just gas. Buying that gas with a rewards credit card that pays you rewards for your purchase is an easy way to get something for yourself.
And you can be getting more for the money you spend to get to work, drop the kids at school and take fun summer road trips. How with a credit card that lets you earn rewards for the money you spend.
With that in mind, let’s look at some of the Credit.com editorial team’s picks for gas credit cards for 2019. There’s a wealth of options out there, and it can be hard to figure out which one is right for you. And while there’s no one ideal card for everyone, these picks will hopefully help you wade through some options. The right card for you is the one that meets your needs and your spending habits.
Here’s a quick snapshot overview of our picks for gas credit cards for 2019 and what features place them on the Credit.com list. A hint, they’re all cash-back cards.
This is just a brief overview of what places these gas rewards credit cards on our list. In addition to the features above, these cards all come with other great benefits. They all feature an ongoing variable APR, so you’ll pay more or less interest depending on your credit score. Most also offer an introductory APR. Check them out to see what which one is the right option for you and your unique financial situation.
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Benefits: The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express pays you more cash-back for your gas purchases—a whopping 3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations—than for everyday purchases. On top of that, you earn a massive 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services and 6% on the first $6,000 you spend at U.S. supermarkets—1% after that and on all other purchases.
When you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first three months, you also get a $250 statement credit. And with an —you can use the card for a year without paying interest on your purchases. After 12 months, you’ll pay an ongoing APR of , which is right in line with the other cards featured here.
The excellent rates for cash back on both gas and supermarket purchases make this a great card for people with families. Buying groceries to feed the family as well as driving the kids around means gas stations and supermarkets eat up a large portion of your expenses. And with this card, they’ll pay you the most cash-back on those expenses.
Drawbacks: The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express has two drawbacks. One—it charges a annual fee. If you use it enough to earn rewards, those rewards offset that, but. It is an American Express, which sometimes instead accepted depending on where you are. But American Express cards are accepted at 3 million more places in the U.S. as of 2017 and 2018, so.
Another potential drawback to this and any of the cards featured here is that you’ll need a good credit score or excellent credit score to qualify. There are some cash rewards credit cards for those with poorer credit though, including the Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card.
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Benefits: The Chase Freedom Unlimited card pays you unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. And earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. And with a and balance transfers—you earn rewards without paying a drop of interest if you carry a balance each month.
Like the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, this card comes with no annual fee—ever.
In addition to being a great card for unlimited cash back rewards on everything you charge with the card, including all fuel purchases, this is a great card for those who carry a large balance on another card and are looking to transfer that balance.
Drawbacks: It’s hard to find much of a drawback for this card. It doesn’t match the cash-back potential of the two American Express cards, but the 1.5% on everyday purchases is solid and higher than 1% with the American Express cards.
Before you sign up for a gas credit card, know your options. There isn’t one type of gas rewards credit card—there are actually a few different kinds of credit cards you can use to earn rewards or discounts for your fuel spending.
A handful of gas credit cards are offered by major American gas station chains (Shell, Valero, BP, Chevron, Texaco, etc.) that can be a good option if you’re loyal to a particular brand. These cards generally offer fuel points or a discount that may be higher than a standard rewards credit card.
However, some of the station-branded cards can’t be used for purchases at other retailers and/or won’t earn rewards for other purchases. Because you’re trying to rack up rewards at one chain, you may end up failing to shop around for the best overall gas price and pay more just to earn rewards.
Many grocery store chains and big-box retailers, like Costco, offer gas at a discount to their customers, and gas rewards credit cards generally limit their rewards to “standalone” stations that don’t include these retailer-tied spots. If you only fill up at non-standalone stations, these cards may not be a fit for you.
You can maximize your rewards by getting a rewards credit card—like one of those mentioned here— that offers good gas rewards in addition to rewards for other purchases. With rewards cards, you want to pick a card that has a high cash-back reward for gas purchases and others if possible.
Know though that rewards cards often require good or excellent credit scores to qualify. If your credit isn’t so good, you might consider the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® with Cash Back Rewards. If you’ don’t know your credit score, you can get it for free here on Credit.com.
By figuring out which is the right gas credit card for you for 2019, the next time you fill up the tank in your car, you won’t feel the sting of the bills quite so much. You can even tell yourself that higher gas prices mean higher rewards.
1 https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/gas-prices/#20184:United-States:USD:g
Editorial disclosure: Reviews are as determined solely by Credit.com staff. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewers and aren’t reviewed or approved by any advertiser. Information presented is accurate as of the date of the review, including information on card rates, rewards and fees. Check the issuer’s website for the most current information on each card listed.
