The Best Credit Cards for Buying Gas in Canada

Assuming $200 in monthly gas spending, the card’s 4% cash back rate would earn about $8 a month, or $96 a year, on gas purchases alone.

That may not justify the annual fee by itself, but the card also earns 4% cash back on eligible groceries, which can make the rewards add up quickly. For example, $1,000 a month in grocery spending would earn another $480 per year.

The card’s accelerated earn rates are capped, and purchases earn at the regular rate once the applicable cap is reached. Eligible cardholders can also link the card to Journie Rewards for fuel savings at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron stations for savings of up to 10 cents per litre.

This card makes the most sense if you’ll use it for more than gas. If groceries and other eligible spending are part of the equation, the rewards can add up; if not, the annual fee may be harder to justify.

Assuming $200 a month in gas spending, the card’s 4% cash back rate would earn about $8 a month, or $96 a year, before the annual fee.

The card’s value increases if you also use it for eligible groceries. Spending $1,000 a month on groceries would add another $480 per year in cash back. The 4% rate applies to up to $30,000 in combined eligible gas and grocery purchases annually; after that, those purchases earn 2%.

There’s no fee to add supplementary cards, so other drivers in your household can help you earn more. The card also earns 2% cash back on other eligible purchases, which can make everyday spending more rewarding.

The main drawback is acceptance. If your preferred gas stations, grocery stores or warehouse clubs don’t accept American Express — or don’t qualify for the bonus categories — the card may be less useful than its earn rates suggest.

Assuming $200 a month in gas spending and gas selected as one of your 2% Money-Back categories, you’d earn about $4 a month, or $48 a year, on gas purchases alone.

That’s less than some premium cash-back cards, but there’s no annual fee to offset. You can choose two 2% categories — or three if you deposit rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account — making this a flexible option for modest gas spenders who want no-fee cash back.

Tangerine cardholders who fill up at Shell may also unlock added value by linking eligible accounts with Shell Go+ and Scene+. The card is less compelling if you want premium perks, insurance or higher fixed earn rates across multiple categories.

Assuming $200 a month in gas spending and the card’s 3% cash back rate, you’d earn about $6 a month, or $72 a year, on gas purchases alone before the annual fee.

To get more value from the card, you’ll likely need to use its 3% rate on other eligible categories, including groceries, EV charging, public transit, recurring bills and select streaming, digital gaming and media purchases. Spending $1,000 a month across eligible groceries and bill payments would add another $360 per year.

The 3% rate is capped at $15,000 in annual spending per bonus category; after that, purchases in that category earn 1%. The card also includes Deluxe TD Auto Club membership, so compare it with any roadside assistance coverage you already pay for.

You may be able to offset the annual fee with an eligible TD banking plan, but only if the account makes sense on its own. Otherwise, the monthly banking fee could outweigh the card-fee rebate.

Assuming $200 a month in gas spending and the card’s 3% cash back rate, you’d earn about $6 a month, or $72 a year, on gas purchases alone before the annual fee.

The card is stronger if you also use it for broader household spending, since it earns accelerated cash back on groceries, transit, gas and recurring bills. That makes it more useful for people who want one premium cash-back card for several everyday categories.

It also includes roadside assistance, which gives it some overlap with the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card. If you’re comparing the two, look at where you spend most, whether you’ll use the roadside assistance benefit and whether either card’s annual fee can be waived through your banking package.

This card makes the most sense if you want premium cash back and spend across multiple everyday categories. If gas is your only priority, a no-fee or station-specific card may be a better fit.

Assuming $200 a month in gas spending and the card’s 3X earn rate, you’d earn about 600 Avion points a month, or 7,200 points a year, on gas purchases alone.

The same 3X rate also applies to groceries, dining, food delivery, rideshare, streaming, digital gaming and subscriptions. Spending $1,000 a month on groceries would add another 36,000 Avion points per year, and there are no spending caps on gas station or grocery store purchases.

Point values vary by redemption, so the card’s value depends on how you use Avion Rewards. You can also link an eligible RBC card to Petro-Points to unlock Petro-Canada fuel savings and earn more Petro-Points and Avion points.

This card is best for people who want a lower-fee rewards card and already use Avion Rewards or Petro-Canada. If you prefer simple cash back, another gas card may be a better fit.

To earn rewards with this card, you’ll need a Costco membership ($65 or $130). From there, decide whether the card’s earn rates and spending caps make sense for your gas and Costco spending.

The card earns 3% cash back at Costco Gas and 2% at other gas and EV charging stations, up to $5,000 in annual gas and EV charging purchases. That works out to just over $400 a month. Maxing out the cap at Costco Gas would earn $150 in cash back.

In-store Costco purchases earn 1% cash back, while Costco.ca purchases earn 2%, so online shopping can earn more rewards. Once you receive your annual cash back voucher, you can use it at Costco or exchange it for cash, giving you more flexibility in how you use your rewards.

A PC Financial Mastercard can be a good fit if you regularly fill up at Esso or Mobil and already collect PC Optimum points.

The appeal is less about a traditional cash-back rate and more about stacking rewards within a loyalty program you may already use. PC Financial Mastercard cardholders can earn PC Optimum points on fuel at Esso and Mobil, with earn rates depending on the specific card.

It’s especially worth considering if you also shop at Loblaw-banner grocery stores, Shoppers Drug Mart or other places where PC Optimum points are easy to redeem. If you rarely use PC Optimum, the rewards may feel less flexible than cash back.

A basic PC Mastercard may be better for casual Esso and Mobil customers. A higher-tier PC card may make sense for heavier PC Optimum users, but only if the extra rewards and benefits are worth the eligibility requirements.

The Triangle World Elite Mastercard is worth considering if you regularly fill up at Gas+ or Petro-Canada and like earning Canadian Tire Money.

The card earns CT Money on eligible fuel purchases at participating Gas+ and Petro-Canada locations and includes roadside assistance, giving it some overlap with premium cash-back cards — but without an annual fee. That makes it a strong alternative for drivers who want fuel rewards and roadside assistance without paying for a premium cash-back card.

The trade-off is redemption flexibility. CT Money can be valuable if you shop at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s, Party City or other participating retailers. If you don’t shop within that ecosystem, cash back may be more useful.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express card earns 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent on gas. To build your Scene+ balance faster, you’ll need to use its higher grocery earn rates: 5 to 6 points per dollar at eligible grocery stores.

Those elevated earn rates are subject to a $50,000 spending cap. After you hit the cap, purchases earn 1 point per dollar. You can also link your Scene+ account to Rakuten to earn Scene+ points instead of cash back on Rakuten purchases, in addition to the points you earn with your card.

If you have a Shell Go+ account, linking your card can unlock fuel savings of 3 cents per litre when you pay with the linked card, or 4 cents per litre on premium fuel.

This card is best for people who already collect Scene+ points and can use American Express regularly. If you want straightforward cash back or your usual gas stations don’t accept Amex, another Scene+ card may be easier to use.