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Compare gas cards

Interest rates (APRs), rewards, terms and fees of popular gasoline cards

By Steve Holt and Connie Prater

Comparing gas cardsWondering if you should keep your old gas credit card or considering getting a new one? Traditional gas cards -- which charge annual fees and do not feature rewards or rebates on gas purchases -- are becoming less popular, oil and gas industry and payment card experts say.

Instead, consumers want gas cards that give them rewards, cash back, points and rebates on gasoline purchases with no annual fees. CreditCards.com reviewed terms and conditions for the top 29 gas cards. The majority have eliminated annual fees that were common just a few years ago and added reward features. Annual percentage rates on the gas credit cards are on average still higher than general purpose credit cards. The newer cards offer the flexibility to purchase gas at any station -- regardless of the chain -- and allow consumers to make general purpose (nongasoline) purchases.

Which is better? Cash back or a low-interest gas credit card? Find out with the CreditCards.com calculator

Comparing gas credit card options*

Gas credit card

Where accepted

Annual fee

APR**

Rewards

BP Card

11,000 BP and Amoco stations nationwide; 390,000 PLUS ATMs worldwide

$29.95

23.49

2 percent cash back on fuel purchases

BP MultiCard

11,000 BP and Amoco stations nationwide; 390,000 PLUS ATMs worldwide

$29.95

23.49

Discounts at restaurants, hotel chains and other merchants; 2 percent rebate on Amoco Ultimate fuel purchases

BP Visa Rewards Card

11,000 BP and Amoco stations nationwide; plus anywhere Visa is accepted

None

14.24 to 24.24

10 percent rebate at all BP stations for the first 60 days and 5 percent afterward; 4 percent rebate on eligible dining and traveling during the first 60 days, 2 percent afterward; 2 percent rebate on all other purchases for the first 60 days, 1 percent afterward

Chase PerfectCard MasterCard

Anywhere MasterCard is accepted

None

13.49

6 percent on all eligible gas purchases at any station for the first 90 days; 3 percent rebate on all eligible gas afterward; 1 percent rebate on all other purchases

Chevron Gas

Chevron and Texaco stations in 25 states

N/A

21.49

Promotional rewards for new accounts through  May 31, 2008: 20 center per gallon in credits for the first 90 days and $20 Chevron or Texaco gift card.

Citgo Plus Card

7,000 Citgo stations nationwide

None

20.24

No rewards

Citi Driver's Edge Card for College Students

Anywhere Visa is accepted

None

Zero percent for six months; 15.24 afterward

3 percent rebates on gas station, supermarket and drug store purchases; 1 percent rebates on all other purchases; one penny a mile for personal miles driven

Citi Platinum Select Citgo MasterCard

Anywhere MasterCard is accepted

None

13.24 to 17.24

8 percent rebates on Citgo purchases and 5 percent on all other purchases for the first 60 days; afterward, 4 percent rebates on Citgo purchases and 1 percent elsewhere; $50 monthly cap on rebates

Citi Driver's Edge Platinum Select

Anywhere Citi cards are accepted

None

12.99

6 percent rebates on purchases at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations for 12 months; afterward, 3 percent rebates on these purchases; 1 percent rebates on other purchases; plus 1 cent for every mile driven

Diamond Shamrock

5,800 stations in the U.S., Canada, Latin American and the Caribbean

None

11.99

No rewards

Discover Open Road

Anywhere Discover cards are accepted

None

10.99 to 18.99

5 percent cashback automatically on the first $100 in gas and auto maintenance purchases each month; up to 1 percent cashback on all other purchases after total purchases exceed $3,000

ExxonMobil Personal

12,000 Exxon and Mobil stations nationwide

None

22.49

No rewards

ExxonMobil Preferred

12,000 Exxon and Mobil stations nationwide

$29

22.49

10 percent cash back on hotel/motel stays and cruises; 5 percent cash back on airline travel, car rentals; and dining and entertainment discounts

ExxonMobil MasterCard

12,000 Exxon and Mobil stations nationwide

None

17.49 (MasterCard); 13.49 (Platinum MasterCard)

3 percent cash back on gas purchases; 1 percent on everything else

Gulf MasterCard

Anywhere MasterCard is accepted

None

16.24 to 22.24

3 percent rebates at Gulf stations; 1 percent everywhere else

Hess Gas

1,250 stations in the U.S.

None

17.49

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. Rewards only apply at Hess locations.

Holiday Gas

400 stations in 12 northern U.S. states

None

N/A

4 percent rebates on all prepaid card purchases, but rewards may only be used for future purchases

Marathon Platinum MasterCard

Anywhere MasterCard is accepted

None

17.49

5 percent rebate on all Marathon purchases; 1 percent rebate on all other eligible purchases

Phillips 66 Conoco 76 MasterCard

8,600 stations nationwide

None

13.24 (Platinum); 17.24 (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 nationwide

None

22.49

No rewards

Shell Select MasterCard

14,000 Shell stations nationwide

$29

22.49

10 percent cash back on hotels and motels; 5 percent cash back on airlines and car rentals

Sinclair Card

2,600 Sinclair stations

None

10 to 21

No rewards

Sinclair MasterCard

Anywhere MasterCard is accepted

None

15.49 to 20.49

7 percent rebates on Sinclair purchases and 2 percent elsewhere for the first 60 days; afterward, 5 percent rebates at Sinclair and 1 percent elsewhere

Speedway SuperAmerica MasterCard

Anywhere MasterCard is accepted

None

17.49

40 points for every $1 spent at Speedway and SuperAmerica lcoations; 10 points for every $1 spent everywhere else

Sunoco Card

4,600 Sunoco stations nationwide

None

22.49

No rewards

Sunoco MasterCard

Anywhere MasterCard is accepted

None

15.49 (MasterCard); 19.49 (Platinum MasterCard)

4 percent rebate on all Sunoco purchases; up to 1 percent rebate on all other (non-Sunoco) purchases

Texaco

Chevron and Texaco stations in 25 states

N/A

21.49

Promotional rewards for new accounts through  May 31, 2008: 20 center per gallon in credits for the first 90 days and $20 Chevron or Texaco gift card.

Valero

5,800 stations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean

None

11.99

No rewards

Wawa Visa

Anywhere Visa is accepted

None

12.24 to 20.24

10 percent rebate on net purchases at Wawa stations and 2 percent rebate everywhere else for the first 90 days; afterward, 4 percent rebate on Wawa purchases and 1 percent rebate on purchases elsewhere

Source: CreditCards.com research and interviews 

*All terms and conditions are subject to change by issuer. Data in the chart are current as of April 15, 2008. If there are updates, please write to Editors@Creditcards.com.   

**Annual percentage rates (APR) are typically variable and subject to change by credit card issuer. Many are based on a formula that includes the prime rate plus a fixed rate set by the issuer.

To comment on this article, write to: Editors@CreditCards.com 

See also: "Coping with the gas pump," "Drive for rewards pushes gas cards in ditch," "Renting a car with cash or credit card? Expect to try harder," "12 tips for renting a car without a credit card," "Blog: 3 tips on buying gas

 

Published: April 9, 2008

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