Best of
Best Gas Credit Cards of October 2020
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Gas isn’t a huge part of the typical household budget. So for most people, the trick to choosing a great gas credit card is picking one that rewards you well not just on gas station purchases, but also for other spending. Still, especially for heavy drivers, getting outsized rewards on gas can be key. Aim to earn at least 3% back on every dollar spent at the pump.
Gas-station-branded cards might be tempting, but you’re likely to get more value overall with a general rewards credit card — and you won’t be tied to a single brand of service station.
Gas isn’t a huge part of the typical household budget. So for most people, the trick to choosing a great gas credit card is picking one that rewards you well not just on gas station purchases, but also for other spending. Still, especially for heavy drivers, getting outsized rewards on gas can be key. Aim to earn at least 3% back on every dollar spent at the pump.
Gas-station-branded cards might be tempting, but you’re likely to get more value overall with a general rewards credit card — and you won’t be tied to a single brand of service station.
Best Gas Credit Cards From Our Partners
Our pick for
Families
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards Rate
1%-6%
Cashback
Intro offer
$300
Recommended Credit Score
The rewards structure of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is unusually generous to people who spend a lot on gas, transit and groceries, such as those with families and long commutes. No cap on gas rewards means that even if you’re a salesperson with a multistate territory, you'll be able to fill your tank all year long without getting bumped to a lower rewards rate.
The rewards structure of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is unusually generous to people who spend a lot on gas, transit and groceries, such as those with families and long commutes. No cap on gas rewards means that even if you’re a salesperson with a multistate territory, you'll be able to fill your tank all year long without getting bumped to a lower rewards rate.
Pros
Earning 3% back on U.S. gas station purchases year-round is excellent when there are other lucrative bonus categories, too. Large households especially will appreciate what the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express can earn on other expenses: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 a year in spending (then 1%); 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% cash back on transit (including such things as taxis, rideshares, parking, tolls, trains and buses); and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Terms apply.
Cons
Make sure what you'll earn in rewards will outstrip the card's $0 intro for the first year, then $95 annual fee — grocery shopping can likely get you there faster than gas guzzling.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Offer Expires 12/10/2020
- Limited Time Offer: $0 introductory annual fee for one year, then $95. Offer Expires 12/10/2020
- 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 and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Plan It® gives the option to select purchases of $100 or more to split up into monthly payments with a fixed fee and no interest.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Terms Apply.
- View Rates and Fees
Our picks for
Strategic quarterly use
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score
Chase has traditionally offered gas purchases as a bonus category at least one quarter a year (and two quarters in some years). Earning 5% back at the pump with an annual fee of $0 is hard to beat. Still, this card does require some maintenance.
Chase has traditionally offered gas purchases as a bonus category at least one quarter a year (and two quarters in some years). Earning 5% back at the pump with an annual fee of $0 is hard to beat. Still, this card does require some maintenance.
Pros
You earn 5% back on rotating bonus categories that you activate, on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter. Gas is usually among the 5% categories one or two quarters per year. This card also earns 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores, and 1% on everything else. There's a terrific offer for new cardholders, too, including a cash bonus and big cash back at grocery stores in the first year.
Cons
The card is great for bonus-category spending but earns a low 1% back outside those categories. You have to keep track of the 5% categories and activate them each quarter, which some consider a hassle.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (not including Target® or Walmart® purchases) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.
- Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
- No annual fee.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a variable APR of 14.99 - 23.74%.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open.
See if you qualify for a better offer with Chase:
on Discover's website, or call (800) 347-0264
on Discover's website, or call (800) 347-0264
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
Cashback Match™
Recommended Credit Score
The Discover it® Cash Back pays 5% cash back in rotating categories that you activate, on up to $1,500 per quarter in spending, and 1% cash back on other purchases. Every year going back to at least 2014, gas stations have been among the 5% categories.
The Discover it® Cash Back pays 5% cash back in rotating categories that you activate, on up to $1,500 per quarter in spending, and 1% cash back on other purchases. Every year going back to at least 2014, gas stations have been among the 5% categories.
Pros
Bonus categories in recent years have included not just gas stations but also grocery stores, restaurants and Amazon.com (among other merchants), making this a card worth carrying year-round. You also get Discover's signature cash-back match bonus and an annual fee of $0.
Cons
The rewards rate is low outside the bonus categories. You have to keep track of the categories and activate them each quarter, which some consider a hassle. Bonus earnings are capped.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
- Redeem cash back in any amount, any time. Rewards never expire.
- Use your rewards at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free.
- No annual fee.
- Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
- View Rates and Fees
Our pick for
Credit union fans
on Pentagon Federal Credit Union's website
on Pentagon Federal Credit Union's website
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1x-5x
Points
Intro offer
100
Points
Recommended Credit Score
For some, the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card won’t be an easy card to apply for, and redeeming points might be a hassle. But if you need a sky-high return on your gas spending, it may be the card for you.
For some, the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card won’t be an easy card to apply for, and redeeming points might be a hassle. But if you need a sky-high return on your gas spending, it may be the card for you.
Pros
If you’re willing to endure a little hassle in joining this credit union and using its points, it’s hard to beat the return in points on the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card, which has an annual fee of $0. Each $1 spent on gas earns the equivalent of 4.25 cents when redeemed for gift cards, which is a superb return. It also helps at the supermarket. The card is also our only choice that isn’t issued by a megabank, if that appeals to you.
Cons
To apply, you need to become a member of Pentagon Federal Credit Union, an organization that caters to military and government employees. Everyone is eligible to join. There is no cash-back option; just merchandise, gift cards and travel. Also, points aren’t worth the traditional penny per point. You'll typically get a value of 0.85 cents each, although they can be worth more than a penny when used for travel. Finally, gas rewards are for pay-at-the-pump purchases only, so snacks, wiper fluid and car washes bought at the service station checkout counter won’t count for bonus rewards.
- $100 statement credit after spending $1,500 in purchase transactions within the first 90 days of account opening.
- 0% promotional rate for 12 months on balance transfers made between now and March 31, 2021. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. 3% balance transfer fee per transaction. 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.
- Rate and offers current as of October 1, 2020 and subject to change.
- Earn 5 points on gas purchases at the pump. Fuel purchases for airplanes and boats receive 1 point per dollar spent.
- Earn 3 points on supermarket purchases (3 points/dollar spent)
- Earn 1 point on all other purchases (1 point/dollar spent)
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- No cash advance fee
- Chip and Contactless ‘Tap to Pay’ enabled for added security, ease and convenience at the point of sale
- Click and Pay eligible, via Secure Remote Commerce, so you can enjoy easy and secure online buying checkout
- Purchase variable rate as low As 13.49% APR -17.99%
Want to compare more options? Here are our other top picks:
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST GAS CREDIT CARDS
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for: Overall spending
The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories — restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, streaming and more. Read our review.
Our pick for: Families
If your household spends a lot on groceries, gas, transit and streaming services, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is for you. The rewards it pays in those categories — particularly at U.S. supermarkets and on select streaming services — are among the richest of any card. There's a nice bonus offer for new cardholders and an introductory 0% APR period, too. The generous benefits come at a cost, though: Unlike most cash-back cards, this one charges an annual fee. Read our review.
Our pick for: Smaller spenders
The Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card gives you a little more control over your credit card rewards by letting you choose which category earns the highest cash-back rate, from a list that includes gas stations, restaurants, travel and others. You also get bonus rewards at grocery stores and supermarkets, plus a great new-cardholder bonus offer. Read our review.
Our pick for: Strategic quarterly use
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers bonus cash back in quarterly categories that you activate, as well as on travel booked through Chase, at restaurants and at drugstores. Category activation can be a hassle, but if your spending matches the categories — and for a lot of people, it will — you can rack up hundreds of dollars a year. There's a fantastic bonus offer for new cardholders and a 0% intro APR period, too. Read our review.
Our pick for: Strategic quarterly use
The Discover it® Cash Back earns bonus cash back in quarterly categories that you activate. In past years, those categories have included common spending areas like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and Amazon.com. Category activation can be a hassle, but if your spending aligns with those categories (and for most households, it probably will), you can rake in serious rewards. You also get the issuer's signature "cash-back match" bonus in your first year. Read our review.
Our pick for: Wholesale club members
The Sam's Club® Mastercard® delivers terrific cash back on gas, restaurant dining and travel, but you earn only the base rewards rate at Sam's Club itself. So think of it less as a card to use at Sam's and more as a card that turns other spending into rewards you redeem at Sam's. There's no annual fee for the card, but you have to be a Sam's Club member, and that does involve a fee. Read our review.
Our pick for: Credit union fans
For some, the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card won’t be an easy card to apply for, and redeeming points might be a hassle. But if you need a sky-high return on your gas spending, it may be the card for you. Read our review.
To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please visit this page.
Last updated on October 21, 2020
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen in multiple categories.
