Gas Station Credit Cards vs. Gas Rewards Cards

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Gas Station Cards vs. Gas Rewards Cards

With no end sight to rising gas prices, consumers are starting to pay more attention to how they pay for their gas and whether they are getting the most from the money they spend on it. For instance, paying for gas with a high interest credit card can only exacerbate the pinch at the gas pump if balances are left unpaid.

Now, more than ever, many consumers are starting look at their cash back rewards as a way to squeeze more out of the fuel pump. So, it’s not surprising that consumers are starting to take another look at their gas credit cards as they seek out ways to maximize their fuel purchase while saving where ever they can.

Gas Station Credit Cards vs. Gas Rewards Cards

If you’re considering getting a gas credit card, you need to be aware that there is a variety of cards that cater specifically or in large part to gas purchases. As with any type of credit card, there are two ways to save money – lower interest charges and fees and bigger cash rewards.

In many cases, the card that offers the lowest interest rate either doesn’t offer a rewards program or it is scaled back. It’s good to note that the cards with the bigger cash back rewards are likely to charge a higher interest rate. Consequently, depending on your buying habits and other preferences, you will have to evaluate your choices accordingly.

Editors Choice Gas Card - Discover® More Card

Pure Gas Credit Cards

Gas credit cards that are offered directly from the gas company have been around for ages, and with some exceptions, they really haven’t changed much. They are a revolving credit card that usually charges interest at the higher end of the range, typically 18.99% to 20.99%.

While most of them are starting to incorporate cash back on fuel purchases, their biggest limitation is that they only work at the gas stations owned by the issuing gas company.

For instance, BP offers a gas card with a 20.99% interest rate, but it’s 2% cash back is only awarded on purchases of its premium gas brand.

The interest rate on Chevron/Texaco is lower at 21.49%, but it only offers 10 cents per gallon rebate on fuel purchased in the first 60 days of a new account.

The Shell basic and Membership cards have the lowest rate at 19.99% but its basic card offers no cash back, and its Membership card only offers cash back on hotels and car rentals.

Gas Rewards Cards

More recently, the credit card companies have stepped into the mix with their own versions of gas cards, generally with more competitive interest rates and usually stocked with big cash back rewards.

Names that you’re familiar with, such as Discover Card, VISA and American Express have come up with cards that are geared towards road travelers. Issued under their own brand, they can be used anywhere, including all gas stations that accept credit cards.

Their interest rates are where you would expect them to be from top tier companies, in the range of 10.99% to 19.99% depending on your credit standing.

However, your real savings are going to come from their rich cash rewards paid on fuel purchases. Plus, with these cards, you’ll receive all of the travel benefits of emergency roadside protection, lost card and fraud protection, and travel insurance among others. These are among the top cash back rewards programs we have found:

Discover® More Card 5% Cashback Bonus® in categories that change like gas, restaurants, department stores and more. Limitations apply* 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%* Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee

Discover® Open Road Card 2% on all gas purchases at any time with no limits No annual fee No redemption limitations 0% introductory rate on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (10.99% to 19.99% thereafter)

Chase Freedom MasterCard - $100 Bonus Cash Back 5% cash back on gas purchases during the spending category period (3 months of the year) 5% cash back on other purchases in revolving (3 month) spending categories 0% introductory rate for 12 months on transfers; 6 months on purchases $100 Bonus Cash Back after $500 in purchases within first 3 months

Gas Station Credit Cards vs. Gas Rewards Cards


Gas credit card	Where accepted	Annual fee	APR**	Rewards
BP Card	11,000 BP and Amoco stations nationwide; 390,000 PLUS ATMs worldwide	None	20.99 percent	2 percent cash back on all Amoco Ultimate fuel purchases
BP MultiCard	11,000 BP and Amoco stations nationwide; 390,000 PLUS ATMs worldwide	$29.95	20.99 percent	Discounts at restaurants, hotel chains and other merchants; 2 percent rebate on Amoco Ultimate fuel purchases
Chevron/Texaco Card	Chevron and Texaco stations in 25 states plus any ATM with Cirrus logo	None (Basic, Business); $25 (Premium)	21.49 percent	Rebated 10 cents per gallon for first 60 days on new accounts up to 200 miles per billing cycle
Chevron/Texaco Visa Card	Anywhere Visa is accepted	None	13.49 percent to 20.49 percent	10 cents per gallon in fuel credits on fuel purchases made at Chevron and Texaco; 3 percent in fuel credits on nonfuel purchases at Chevron and Texaco; 1 percent in fuel credits on all other nonfuel purchases
Citgo MasterCard	Anywhere MasterCard is accepted	None	12.99 percent (platinum) to 16.99 percent (standard)	0 percent APR on balance transfers for 6 months
Citgo Plus Card	7,000 Citgo stations nationwide	None	19.99 percent	$5 credit for each of the first five purchases of at least $15 made during the first 60 days
Discover Open Road	Anywhere Discover cards are accepted	None	Zero percent for six months; 10.99 percent to 18.99 percent afterward	5 percent cash back automatically on the first $100 in combined gas and auto maintenance purchases each month; up to 1 percent cash back on all other purchases after total purchases exceed $3,000
ExxonMobil Personal	11,000 Exxon and Mobil stations nationwide	None	21 percent	No rewards
ExxonMobil Preferred	11,000 Exxon and Mobil stations nationwide	$29	21 percent	10 percent cash back on hotel, motel stays and cruises; 5 percent cash back on airline travel and car rentals; dining and entertainment discounts
ExxonMobil MasterCard	Anywhere MasterCard is accepted	None	Zero percent for six months; 12.99 percent (platinum) to 16.99 percent (standard) afterward	15 cents-per-gallon rebate on gas purchases; each year, earn up to 2 percent rebate on the first $10,000 spent on eligible purchases and 1 percent on eligible purchases over $10,000
Gulf Platinum MasterCard	Anywhere MasterCard is accepted	None	12.99 percent to 18.99 percent	For first 60 days, 6 percent rebates at Gulf stations, 2 percent in rebates on utility and grocery purchases, 1 percent everywhere else; afterward, 3 percent rebate at Gulf stations, 1 percent everywhere else
Hess Visa Platinum Card	Anywhere Visa is accepted	None	Zero percent for six months; 14.99 percent to 16.99 percent (elite & premium) or 19.99 percent (standard) afterward	10 percent rebate on all Hess gas purchases for first 90 days; 5 percent afterward; 1 percent back on other retail store, online and restaurant purchases
Marathon Platinum MasterCard	Anywhere MasterCard is accepted	None	Zero percent for six months; 14.99 percent to 16.99 percent (elite, premium) or 19.99 percent (standard) afterward	10 percent rebate on Marathon purchases and 2 percent on all other purchases for first 60 days; 5 percent rebate on all Marathon purchases and 1 percent rebate on all other eligible purchases thereafter
Phillips 66 Conoco 76 Personal Credit Card	8,600 stations nationwide	None (personal); $29 (premium)	19.99 percent	No rewards
Phillips 66 - Conoco 76 MasterCard	Anywhere MasterCard is accepted	None	12.99 percent (Platinum) to 16.99 percent (Classic)	4 percent rebate on Phillips and Conoco station purchases up to $50 per month; up to 1 percent rebate on all other qualified purchases
Shell Card	14,000 Shell stations and over 250,000 ATMs nationwide	None	19.99 percent	No rewards
Shell Select Member Card	14,000 Shell stations and over 250,000 ATMs nationwide	$25	19.99 percent	10 percent cash back on hotels and motels; 5 percent cash back on airlines and car rentals; half-price discounts at more than 5,000 hotels
Sinclair Card	2,600 Sinclair stations	None	10 percent to 21 percent	No rewards
Sinclair Platinum MasterCard	Anywhere MasterCard is accepted	None	15.49 percent to 20.49 percent	7 percent rebate on Sinclair purchases and 2 percent elsewhere for the first 60 days; afterward, 5 percent rebate at Sinclair and 1 percent elsewhere
Speedway SuperAmerica Platinum MasterCard	Anywhere MasterCard is accepted	None	14.99 percent to 16.99 percent (elite and premium) or 19.99 percent (standard)	40 Speedy points for every $1 spent at Speedway and SuperAmerica locations; 10 points for every $1 spent everywhere else; 10,000 points on first use
Sunoco Card	4,600 Sunoco stations nationwide	None	19.99 percent	No rewards
Sunoco MasterCard	Anywhere MasterCard is accepted	None	12.99 percent (platinum) to 16.99 percent (standard)	4 percent rebate on all Sunoco purchases; up to 1 percent rebate on all other (nonSunoco) purchases
Valero	5,800 stations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean	None	16.99 percent	10 cents-per-gallon rebate for first three billing cycles on new accounts through Sept. 30, 2008
Wawa Visa	Anywhere Visa is accepted	None	Zero percent for six months; 14.99 percent (elite & premium) to 20.99 percent (standard)	10 percent rebate on net purchases at Wawa stations and 2 percent rebate everywhere else for the first 60 days; afterward, 3 percent rebate on Wawa purchases and 1 percent rebate on purchases elsewhere

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