Best gas business credit cards: Editorial reviews
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card gives you 2% back on your first $50,000 in purchases each year, making it ideal for small businesses. Once you hit the cap, you earn 1% back on every eligible purchase.
One thing we love about Blue Business Cash is that it’s easy to use. You get the same amount of cash back in every category, so you don’t have to track your spending or try to estimate your earnings on each transaction. The main drawback of using the card is the $50,000 spending cap. If your business spends more than $50,000 per year, consider getting a credit card with no annual spending limit.
▶︎ Read more: Amex Blue Business Cash review
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card gives you 2% back on your first $25,000 in combined gas station and restaurant purchases each year, plus 5% back on your first $25,000 in combined office supply, cable, telephone and internet purchases. Thanks to the emphasis on telecommunications services, this is one of the best gas cards for businesses with brick-and-mortar locations.
We love that the Ink Business Cash® card comes with a generous welcome bonus. If you spend $6,000 within six months of opening your account, you’ll earn $750 in cash back— $350 after spending $3,000 in your first 3 months and an additional $400 after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. Although this card comes with a lot of perks, the $25,000 spending cap is a bit low, so you may be better off with a different card if your business spends more than $25,000 per year in one or more bonus categories.
The American Express® Business Gold Card gives you 4x Membership Rewards Points® on every purchase in your top two eligible spending categories, making it ideal for business owners who want to maximize their cash back. One of these categories is purchases at U.S. gas stations, so if you spend a lot on gas every month, you may be able to earn 4x points. You also get 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com and 1x points on all other purchases.
We love that the American Express® Business Gold Card gives you a monthly statement credit to cover the cost of a Walmart+ membership. Walmart+ members get 10 cents off per gallon at Mobil and Exxon stations, making it even easier to reduce your overall gas costs. Because the card only gives you 2x points on travel booked through the Amex Travel portal, it may not be the best fit if you travel frequently and want to maximize your rewards on hotel and flight purchases.
▶︎ Read more: Amex Business Gold card review
With the Capital One Spark Cash Plus, you get 2% cash back on every purchase. There’s no annual limit and no need to worry about spending categories. Spark Cash Plus users are also eligible for 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel.
We love that the Spark Cash Plus comes with a $1,200 cash bonus for users who spend $30,000 within three months of opening an account. The high bonus spending threshold makes this card ideal for established businesses that spend at least $10,000 per month. Capital One requires Spark Cash Plus users to pay their balances in full each month, so this card isn’t a great fit if you need time to pay.
Chase offers the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, which is one of the most popular travel credit cards on the market. Users earn 5x points per dollar spent at gas stations, plus up to 26x points per dollar spent at hotels in the IHG portfolio. This card is best for users who travel frequently and prefer to stay at Holiday Inn Express, InterContinental Hotels and other IHG properties.
We love that IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card users get a free night for every account anniversary. Because the card focuses on IHG benefits, it may not be the best fit if your company uses non-IHG hotels.
Capital One Spark Miles for Business users earn 2x miles on every purchase, plus 5x miles on all hotel stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You also get purchase records, year-end summaries and other tools to help you streamline your accounting activities, making the Spark Miles for Business card a great fit for larger businesses with multiple users.
We love that Capital One offers several redemption methods, such as flights, vacation packages, hotel stays and loyalty program transfers. Because these redemption methods are all travel-related, the Spark Miles for Business Card may not be the best fit for your needs if you don’t travel frequently.
▶︎ Read more: Capital One Spark Miles Business card review
The Capital One Venture X Business is one of the best credit cards for travel, as it gives you 5x miles on all hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access and other valuable travel benefits. You also get 2x miles on all other purchases, making the card ideal for earning rewards on gasoline purchases.
We love that Capital One allows cardholders to use their rewards without any blackout dates or other restrictions. The card also comes with a 150,000-mile bonus when you spend $30,000 within three months of opening an account, making it a good fit for any business that does a significant amount of spending each month. Like the Spark Miles for Business card, the Capital One Venture X Business emphasizes travel benefits, so it may not be right for you if you don’t travel often.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card gives you 4x points at U.S. gas stations, making it a great fit for any company that has a vehicle fleet or requires employees to drive their personal vehicles for business purposes. Users also earn 6x points on purchases at hotels included in the Marriott Bonvoy program, plus 2x back on all other purchases.
We love that cardholders qualify for a 7% discount on eligible stays and get one Free Night Award on every account anniversary. Because many card benefits relate to the Marriott Bonvoy program, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card probably isn’t the best fit if you don’t travel frequently or if your company uses a different hotel chain.
▶︎ Read more: Marriott Bonvoy Business card review
With The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, you get 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for every dollar spent at participating hotels in the Hilton portfolio. Users also earn 6x points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made at U.S. gas stations and 3x-6x points on other eligible purchases.
We love that the card comes with several valuable upgrades, such as complimentary Emerald Club Executive® status with National Car Rental. This makes it a great fit for business owners who travel frequently. If you don’t travel often or your company doesn’t use Hilton hotels, you may benefit from getting a different gas credit card.
▶︎ Read more: Hilton Honors Business card review
What is a business gas credit card?
A business gas credit card is a credit card that gives you points, discounts, miles, cash back or other rewards on your gasoline purchases.
If you use your card at an eligible gas station, you’ll earn at the rate listed in the credit card terms of service. For example, you may earn 4 miles per dollar spent or 2% cash back on each purchase.
Some gas stations, including Shell and Exxon Mobile, have their own savings programs, making it possible to stack your rewards.
Pros and cons of business gas credit cards
Who should get a business gas card?
Company gas cards are ideal for businesses that regularly have employees on the road. For example, if you employ several sales professionals, they may have to drive to trade shows and client meetings.
If you have a wide variety of expenses, a general cash-back credit card may be a better fit for your needs. Additionally, a business gas credit card may not be the best option for a company with a large vehicle fleet. Consider looking for the best fuel card available in your area.
How to choose the best gas business credit card
Before you apply for a gas credit card, consider these factors.
Redeeming rewards
Gas credit cards for businesses come with a variety of credit card rewards, such as statement credits and cash back with no annual fee. They can also offer discounts on flights and hotels. However, if travel benefits are what you are looking for, you may benefit more from a travel credit card. Look for a card that makes it easy to redeem your rewards. Otherwise, you may earn rewards that you never get to use.
Spending categories
Some cards give you the same amount of cash back on every purchase, while others have multiple spending categories with different reward rates. If you apply for a card with multiple spending categories, make sure those categories align with your business needs.
Employee cards
Many credit card companies offer additional cards, making it easier for employees to fill up while they’re on the road. If you want to give cards to multiple employees, look for a card issuer that offers this option.
Annual fee
Some companies charge annual fees of $150 or more, so it’s important to look for a card with just the right balance of fees and rewards. In some cases, it makes sense to pay a higher fee if the card comes with valuable benefits. Otherwise, choose a card with a low or no annual fee.
Rewards caps
As noted above, some credit cards have annual spending caps. For example, you may only earn the highest rate on your first $25,000 in purchases each year. To maximize your earnings, make sure you stay below the limit.
High-maintenance rewards programs
Once you earn your rewards, it should be easy to redeem them. Steer clear of cards with high-maintenance rewards programs that make you jump through hoops just to get a statement credit or a discount on your next purchase.
Other card benefits
The credit card market is a competitive one, so many companies try to stand out by offering additional benefits. For example, you may come across a card with 0% interest on all purchases for the first 12 months of membership.
Other companies offer extended warranties, purchase protection or extra account management features. Compare offers carefully to determine which one has the best combination of benefits for your business.
How to apply for a gas business credit card
To apply for a gas card, follow these steps:
- Compare several offers to find the right one for your needs.
- Visit the card website.
- Click on the application link.
- Fill out the application. You’ll need to provide your name, address, Social Security number and other personal details. Most banks also ask you to indicate whether you rent or own your home.
- Submit the application. You may be approved immediately, approved after a delay or denied.
- Read your denial letter carefully, if applicable. It explains why the bank denied your application.
Typically, a good credit score is required for a gas card, but it will depend on which card you want. Along with your credit score, banks will also look at your overall credit history when determining whether you qualify.
Can I apply for a gas business credit card without a business?
Yes, it’s possible to get a gas business credit card if you don’t own a business.
For example, if you’re a freelance graphic designer, you may qualify for a business credit card even if you haven’t formed an LLC or a corporation. Before you apply, read the card terms carefully to verify your eligibility.
How to maximize gas rewards for your business
To maximize your earnings, follow these tips:
- Join loyalty programs. Stack your rewards by using your gas credit card at a gas station that has its own loyalty program.
- Plan for the bonus. Meet the initial spending requirements to earn your card welcome bonus.
- Pair with another card. Use multiple credit cards to get around low spending caps.
- Always pay your statement. Make on-time payments to avoid racking up interest charges that eat into your rewards.
Explore related articles by topic
You’ve viewed 3 of 3 articles
LOAD MORE
