Gas is an everyday expense for everyone. Popular gas station service providers partner with Banks and Credit card services to issue these credit cards. These co-branded credit cards provide discounts at gas pumps, marts, or convenience stores in gas stations.
The USA is one of the most gas-guzzling countries. Road transportation on our highways is the preferred means of transportation. Motor gasoline is one of the major fuel consumed in the USA. A lot of people in the USA prefer road trips and they keep on consuming gasoline. As per an estimate by the US Energy Information Administration, US travelers spent 135 billion gallons of gasoline in 2021. This amount to 369 million gallons of gasoline per day. Light duty vehicles such as personal trucks, cars, and sport utility vehicles consume 91% of this gasoline.
Shell is the major fuel station service provider in the USA currently. They have more than 12,400 locations all across the USA. Exxon Mobil is a close second with almost 11,900 locations. Next, comes Chevron with 6,990 locations across the USA.
How do Gas stations make money?
Gas stations make most of their profits in the convenience stores next to the gas pumps. They keep the gas price competitive with razor-thin margins to cover the cost of rent, labor, and utilities. Gas stations make the most money off food and drinks including alcohol sales. They sell food and drinks at a premium as customers usually buy food and drinks on their trips from them. They can also make money offering insurance, cleaning services, car repairs, and other associated services.
Here we will review some of the co-branded gas station credit cards for our readers.
#1. Shell Fuel Rewards Mastercard
Joining Rewards: Customers can save 30¢/gallon up to a total of 35 gallons. This saving is valid on the first five fuel station purchases for new customers.
Rewards: Members save 10¢/gallon on all purchases at Shell gas pumps. Cardmembers can also earn 10% Shell rebates on their first $1,200 Shell non-fuel purchases per year. They can also earn special rewards on other marked products in Shell convenience stores in the stations.
Further, cardmembers can earn 2% Shell rebates on their first $10,000 Dining and Grocery purchases per year. They can also earn 10¢/gal for every $50 spent at participating restaurants with a linked credit or debit card. Members can select the participating restaurants and keep earning rewards. Additionally, members earn 1% Shell rebates on all other purchases. Members can also earn rewards for every $50 spent shopping their favorite brands at fuelrewards.com/shopping.
In a nutshell: Though it may appear that the savings are 30¢/gallon and may amount much, it is just $10 for 35 gallons of purchase. Again the 10¢/gallon is just 2% of the total savings if gasoline is priced at $5/gallon. Cardmembers can get better overall rewards with a Rewards credit card.
#2 Exxon Mobil+ Credit Card
Joining Rewards: Cardmembers earn up to 42¢/gallon for the first two months. Further, members earn 30¢/gallon as a bonus statement credit on fuel for their first two months after the account open date.
Rewards: Members can get 12¢/gallon in instant savings on every gallon of premium gasoline. They will receive 10¢/gal on other grades of fuel every time. Additionally, cardmembers receive 5% statement credit for all in-store purchases and car washes. Though, this reward has a limit of the first $1,200 in non-fuel purchases per year.
In a nutshell: Exxon also provides 2% rewards on their credit card. Additional statement credit is also limited to $1,200 per year. This amounts to 5% of $100 per month, which is a measly $5. Though this is free money, a member needs to spend $100 in the gas station store every month. It is better to fuel oneself at a better food restaurant or a supermarket.
#3 BPMe Rewards Visa Signature Card
Joining Rewards: Members get 30¢/gallon for the first 60 days of opening a new BPMe Rewards Visa Signature credit card.
Rewards: Once the 60 days period is over, members get 15¢/gallon. This credit card also provides 3% cash back on dining in restaurants, takeout, or delivery. Further, they also get 3% cash back on groceries. Cardmembers also get 5% cash back on all non-fuel purchases at BP and Amoco fuel stations. For the rest of the purchases earn 1% cash back rewards.
Members also receive other Visa Signature benefits. These include Purchase Protection on qualified purchases. Zero liability for a stolen or lost credit card. Contactless, tap-and-go credit cards.
Cardmembers can redeem their rewards for statement credit, gift cards from major retailers, travel experiences, and more.
In a nutshell: BPMe Rewards card offers better rewards at 3%. These rewards are useful and even better than other rewards credit cards. To know more about rewards cards, do read our take on the best rewards credit card.
Another advantage of this card is that the rewards can be redeemed for statement credits or gift cards. Usually, other gas station cards will make you use the rewards only for fuel purchases. Here, flexibility is better.
#4 Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
Joining Rewards: There are no special joining rewards on this credit card as of now.
Rewards: Card members earn 4% rewards on the gas and EV charging up to $7,000 per year. In addition, they can earn 3% rewards on restaurants and travel. Further, 2% rewards on eligible purchases in Costco stores and Costco.com and 1% rewards on all other purchases.
Costco offers members exclusive discounts for credit card holders. Card members can add more family members to these cards, and they can earn cashback on their purchases as well. Finally, Card members can redeem cashback against an annual certificate for redeeming merchandise at US Costco stores.
In a nutshell: This credit card costs $0 in fees with an existing paying Costco membership. Further, card members do not need a separate membership to Costco. The credit card works as a Costco membership card. This credit card makes sense for all purchases on Costco, not only the fuel. Members earn 4% rewards on fuel limited to $7,000 purchases. This comes to $280 in a year.