Fleet cards — also called fuel cards — are specialized business cards designed to cut fuel costs and control spending. They're best for businesses with multiple vehicles and employees on the road.
Most fuel cards offer volume-based discounts of 2 to 12 cents per gallon. The more gallons you buy, the bigger the discount. Others, like Coast and AtoB, offer location-based discounts that vary by truck stop and gas station. That's useful if your drivers frequent the same stations.
Fleet cards also include proactive controls that stop misuse before it happens — owners can restrict spending by gallon, time of day and location.
How do fleet cards work?
Fleet cards generally work like business charge cards: employees use them to purchase fuel, and the business owner pays the full balance each billing cycle. Most fleet cards are fuel-only, but some also cover maintenance, car washes, tolls and tires.
Applying for a fleet card is straightforward. Registered businesses can apply with their EIN. There's no personal credit check or personal guarantee. You may also need bank statements to verify revenue.
Once approved, owners and fleet managers control spending from a central dashboard. You can set what each card is used for — by time of day, location or fuel type — and pull expense reports for the whole fleet. Some cards also include telematics tools that show each vehicle's location and fuel level in real time.
Fleet fuel cards: benefits and drawbacks
Where can you use a fleet card?
Fleet card usage depends on the card’s issuer and partner network. Here are some examples:
Examples | Where you can use them | |
Branded fuel cards | Shell, Exxon, Circle K Fleet Card | Only at that brand’s gas stations. |
Fleet cards that run on a major issuer network | Coast and AtoB | Any gas station where their partner network, Visa or Mastercard, is accepted. |
Widely accepted fleet cards | WEX, Fuelman, Circle K Universal Card | Tens of thousands of gas stations, depending on the card issuer's partnerships. |
Who should use a fleet card program?
Good candidates for fuel cards include:
Businesses that operate five or more vehicles. A fleet card can be a great tool to save money and manage expenses across your company.
Companies whose employees are often on the road. If your team members usually fill up their own vehicles, a fleet card can save you the trouble of dealing with reimbursements.
If neither applies, a business gas credit card may be a better fit.
Fuel cards vs. business gas credit cards
If you operate a smaller business or mostly fill up your own tank, consider a business credit card with gas rewards instead of a fleet card. They often offer bigger rebates — up to 3% back on gas, depending on the card. But the reporting and spending controls are not nearly as robust as most fleet cards.
Business credit cards are available to sole proprietors and unincorporated businesses. But they do require a credit check and personal guarantee.
Fuel cards vs. corporate cards
If employee purchases extend beyond fuel and maintenance, consider a corporate credit card program.
Like fuel cards, corporate cards let you monitor and control employee spending from a central dashboard. But you can use them for virtually any expense, from travel to restaurants to office supplies.
Some corporate cards can be used essentially as fleet cards. Ramp, for instance, markets its corporate card as a fleet card option. That card offers at least 1% cash back on all spending, plus spend controls comparable to a dedicated fleet card.
Best options for fleet cards
These are our top picks for fuel and fleet card programs.
AtoB Fuel Cards
Fees: For AtoB Flex, $15 per month for up to 5 cards plus $3 for each additional card. For AtoB Unlimited, $3 per active card for month.
Rewards:
Unleaded: Up to 12 cents per gallon.
Diesel: Average discount of 45 cents per gallon.
Gas station network: Anywhere that Mastercard is accepted.
Pros and cons
Pros
Potential for high fuel discount.
Cash back on select services when you use the AtoB app.
Can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Cons
Need to use app to find discounts.
Account setup fee.
Balance must be paid in full every month.
Coast Fleet Card
Fees: $4 per user per month.
Rewards: Up to 9 cents per gallon at gas stations; 1% cash back on all other spending.
Gas station network: Anywhere Visa is accepted.
Pros and cons
Pros
Automatically captures number of gallons, grade, and receipts.
Cash back on nonfuel purchases (unless restricted to fuel only).
No account setup fee.
Cons
$35 fee for returned or late payments.
Balance must be paid in full every month.
WEX Fleet FlexCard
Fees: $2 per card per month for the WEX Fleet FlexCard.
Rewards: Up to 15 cents per gallon.
Gas station network: WEX has its own network, which includes 45,000 stations nationwide.
Pros and cons
Pros
Fuel discounts at more than 45,000 gas stations in the WEX network.
Promotional discount of 3 cents per gallon for the first 6 months.
No account setup fees or monthly card fees.
Can carry a balance (interest charges apply).
Cons
Can only be used at stations in the WEX network.
High fees for late and returned payments.
No rewards on nonfuel purchases.
Fuelman Mixed Fleet Card
Fees: $39 per month for the Basic package.
Rewards: Up to 8 cents per gallon, plus one point per gallon that you can redeem for other rewards.
Gas station network: Fuelman has its own network, which includes 40,000 stations nationwide.
Pros and cons
Pros
Promotional discount of 8 cents per gallon for the first 12 months.
Fuel discounts offered at 40,000+ gas stations in the Fuelman network.
No account setup fees.
Earn points that can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, etc.
Cons
$3 fee for using card at a station outside the Fuelman network.
High fees for late and returned payments.
Monthly fee of $39 to $99, depending on plan.
Balance must be paid in full every month.
Shell Small Business Card
Fees: None.
Rewards: Up to 6 cents per gallon.
Gas station network: Shell.
Pros and cons
Pros
Volume-based fuel discount of up to 6 cents per gallon.
No monthly card fees.
Can carry a balance (interest charges apply).
Cons
Top rebate requires purchase of more than 10,000 gallons per month.
Use limited to Shell stations and participating Jiffy Lube locations.
