Best Small Business Fuel Card: Shell vs 76 Universal vs ExxonMobil Business Fuel Cards

Small business fuel cards help companies manage a small number of regularly used company vehicles and provide businesses with such things as card limits, online expense tracking, cash rebates on gas, and more. We analyzed a range of small business fuel cards and came up with the top three, as well as our number one small business fuel card recommendation.

Most Small Business Credit Cards allow you to issue employee cards, set spending limits, and set spending categories while also earning rewards at higher rates than fuel cards. For example, with the Chase Ink Business Cash^SM Credit Card, you can earn up to 5% cash back on purchases and new card holders are eligible for a bonus up to $500. Apply online at Chase in minutes.

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Small Business Fuel Card Comparison Table

	Shell Small Business Gas Card	76 Universal Card	ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card
Average APR Learn More	23%	23%	23%
Monthly Recurring Fees Learn More	$0.00	$2.00 (Plus a one-time $40 account setup fee.)	$0.00
Liability Learn More	Company Liability or Joint Liability	Joint Liability (Personal Liability + Company Liability)	Joint Liability (Personal Liability + Company Liability)
Network Availability Learn More	Accepted at 14,000 Participating Stations (Check out their online locator)	Accepted at 90% of U.S. Gas Stations (Rewards available at only 7k stations - Check out their online locator)	Accepted at 10,000 Participating Stations (Check out their online locator)
Discount and Rewards Learn More	$0.03 Discount Per Gal	Tiered Discount: $0.00 - $0.04 Per Gal	1 Pt. Per Gal ; 2 Pts. Per $1.00 Spent
Qualifications Learn More	Personal Credit: 650+ Business Credit: (Check your credit here for free)	Personal Credit: 650+ Business Credit: (Check your credit here for free)	Personal Credit: 650+ Business Credit: (Check your credit here for free)
Reporting and Control Learn More	Fuel and Non-Fuel Transaction Data, Card Limits	Diver-Level and Vehicle-Level Transaction Data, Card Limits	Fuel and Non-Fuel Transaction Data, Card Limits
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*Updated: March, 2018

Common Elements of a Small Business Fuel Card

While this article dives into the differences between the best small business fuel cards we’ve highlighted, all three of these cards have similar elements that are common amongst many fuel cards.

Carry Forward Balance – Most small business fuel cards – including all three in this article – allow cardholders to carry a balance. Monthly minimum payments are always due, but business owners can float fuel card balances and pay any interest charges, which are typically the greater of $20 or 2.5% of the remaining card balance. In addition to interest charges, late fees are assessed if a cardholder misses a monthly payment.
Limit Purchases – Many fuel cards can limit purchases. All three of these cards allow business owners to limit purchases to gas as well as place balance limits on individual cards.
Additional Cards – Almost all fuel card accounts offer unlimited cards. A business can supply its employees with as many cards as they need. There is typically no cost associated with new cards. However, some fuel cards charge a monthly card fee for each opened card, regardless of usage. Each of the three cards in this article offer unlimited cards and don’t charge for new cards.

Small business credit cards also allow you to carry forward a balance, set card limits, and issue additional employee cards. Plus, most small business credit cards have a greater rewards program. For instance, Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card the offers up to 5% cash back on purchases and a bonus of up to $500 for new card holders. Apply online at Chase in minutes.

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Best Small Business Fuel Card: Shell Small Business Gas Card

We recommend the Shell Small Business Gas Card because of its choices for liability, its qualifications for approval, and its overall network availability.

With the Shell Small Business Gas Card, liability can either be held jointly between the business and business owner or held only by the business. This is A-typical from the usual small business fuel cards that offer only joint liability. What this means is that the Shell Small Business Gas Card can protect a business owner’s liability better than the 76 Universal Card and The ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card.

One of the results of this these two liability options that the Shell Small Business Gas Card offers two different ways to qualify. The ExxonMobil and 76 cards only offer one.

The first way to apply for a Shell Small Business Gas Card is through a joint application. In this case, the card issuer looks for a business owner’s credit score around 650 and a “good” small business credit rating. The second way is through a business-only application where the business owner’s personal credit isn’t considered. In this case, a business must have a “good” business credit score, $1 million in annual revenue, and at least three years of business records.

Finally, the Shell Small Business Gas Card is our top recommendation because of the size of its participating gas stations. Shell offers roughly 14,000 national gas stations and the Shell Small Business Gas Card receives a discount at all of them. This is in contrast to ExxonMobil’s 10,000 locations, and while the 76 Universal card is accepted at 90% of U.S. gas stations, only 7,600 of them offer rewards and discounts.

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Best for Flexibility: 76 Universal Card

The 76 Universal Card provides the highest degree of flexibility when it comes to accepted gas stations. The card is accepted at 90% of national gas stations – roughly 45,000 – and is a great option for companies that need to fill up at a variety of locations.

Typical fuel cards only work at gas stations owned by the card’s brand. For example, you can’t use your Shell Gas Card at an ExxonMobil gas station, and vice versa. This is the main drawback of a fuel card and the 76 Universal Card circumvents this problem. The 76 Universal card is accepted at most Shell and ExxonMobil gas stations.

However, the rewards on the 76 Universal Card only work at 7,600 participating 76, Conoco, and Phillips 66 gas stations, giving it the smallest network of discounted locations when compared to the other two cards. This means that you can only earn – as well as use – the card’s gas discounts at select locations. Discounts are based on a tiered structure of monthly gallon usage and they range from $0.00 to $0.04 per gallon.

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Best for Additional Rewards: ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card

The ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card participates in the Plenti rewards program. Together with Plenti, ExxonMobil has have a rewards program based on a point system, which is unique from the Shell fuel card and 76 fuel card.

ExxonMobil Business Fuel cardholders earn one point for every gallon pumped and two points for every $1.00 spent on eligible non-fuel purchases. These purchases are limited to vehicle-related expenses, such as repairs, maintenance, and items purchased from on-site convenience stores. Shell and 76 don’t reward you for non-fuel purchases.

Every 100 points with the ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card is worth $1.00 off the next fill up. So, if you expect you and your employees to make non-fuel-related purchases on your fuel card, the ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card’s Plenti rewards program could save you a significant amount of money on company gas. Plenti offers a fuel finder to help cardholders find locations with these discounts and deals.

This rewards program is in stark contrast to the more typical fuel cards rewards. With the Shell Small Business Gas Card and the 76 Universal Card, for example, discounts are based only on monthly gallon usage. Non-fuel related purchases made on these cards aren’t counted towards the overall fuel savings, which means you could be missing out on additional rewards.

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In-Depth Review: Shell Small Business Gas Card vs ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card vs 76 Universal Card

APR

Annual percentage yield (APR) is an important component of a fuel card because it dictates the fees associated with any late payments. The average APR for fuel cards is 23 percent.

Shell Small Business Gas Card: The Shell Small Business Gas Card currently has an APR of 23%, which is in line with average APRs. Minimum payments are due every 30 days, which is the greater of $20 or 2.5% of the total balance. Any outstanding balance older than 30 days is assessed an interest charge based on the card’s APR.

76 Universal Card: The 76 Universal fuel card also has an APR that matches the average of 23%. Like the Shell Small Business Gas Card, the 76 Universal Card’s payment terms are net-30, with a monthly minimum payment of $20 or 2.5% of the total balance, whichever is greater.

ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card: The ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card, unsurprisingly, has an APR of 23%. Similarly, the card’s are net-30, with a monthly minimum payment of $20 or 2.5% of the total balance, whichever is greater.

Monthly Recurring Fees

The majority of small business fuel cards don’t carry any recurring fees. There are a few fuel cards that assess a small, per card monthly fee, and a few others charge either a one-time setup fee per account, or a one-time new card fee per card. This differs from fleet cards, which have monthly fees ranging from $0.00 to $10.00. For more information, read our article on fleet cards and how they relate to small business fuel cards.

Shell Small Business Gas Card: The Shell Small Business Gas Card doesn’t have a monthly fee. Additionally, the card doesn’t assess any fees on new cards, allowing you to pass out as many as you’d like. For example, when you first open your corporate account, you can request up to 14 other cards, and more cards are made available after the application process at no cost. This is the best you can hope for when it comes to recurring fuel card fees.

76 Universal Card: The 76 Universal Card card is one of the few fuel cards that actually carries a monthly recurring card fee. The 76 Universal Card assesses a $2.00 monthly fee per card, which is paid for by the company. In addition, the 76 Universal Card also currently charges a one-time $40 account setup fee when you apply. There are no charge for new cards, but still, this fee structure is the worst out of the three on this list.

ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card: The ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card is similar to the Shell Small Business Gas Card in that it has no monthly, annual, or new card fees. There is no limit to the amount of cards you can give out to your employees. However, remember that as a business owner you’ll be held liable for the transactions of your employees. It might be best to limit purchases, which the card can do.

Liability

Personal liability is on the mind of every business owner. With fuel cards, it’s typical to see joint liability, where the business and the business owner are liable for all cards on the corporate account. This includes responsibilities for the payment of card balances and any late fees or delinquent payments. A few fuel cards, however, offer the option of company-only liability, where the business owner’s personal liability is protected from all fuel card activity.

Shell Small Business Gas Card: The Shell Small Business Gas Card offers the best options for liability. It’s one of the only fuel cards that can protect a business owner’s personal liability and place the burden solely on the company. In order to qualify for business-only liability, your company must have 3+ years in business, $1 million in annual revenue, and a good business credit rating.

For newer businesses or those that haven’t yet hit the $1MM revenue mark, the Shell card allows for joint liability, which is held between the business owner and the company. In this case the card doesn’t show up on a person’s personal credit report, but the business owner is still liable for all of the debts, fees, and payments.

76 Universal Card: The 76 Universal Card only offers joint liability. This means that regardless of business credit or performance, a business owner is required to sign as a guarantor, and his or her personal credit might be affected. The fuel card won’t show up on his or her personal credit, but the business owner is liable for any late or delinquent payments on behalf of the company. Failure to pay would result in a blemish on both the business and business owner’s credit score.

ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card: The ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card, similar to the 76 Universal Card, only offers joint liability. This is common across most fuel cards. No matter what, a business owner’s personal credit is linked to the corporate account, holding the business owner equally liable for all credit transactions. Just like the 76 Universal card, it won’t show up on a business owner’s personal credit report but delinquent payments can still affect the score.

Network Availability

Fuel cards typically work at participating locations only. The Shell Small Business Gas Card, for example, can only be used at Shell gas stations and service stations. This makes the size of a fuel card’s network very important. The more locations a brand has available the better the opportunities are to use its fuel card and take advantage of the savings.

Some fuel cards are unique, however, in that they’re accepted at a large number of gas station brands but only a few of those brands accept the cards’ discounts and rewards. It’s important, therefore, to check on the size, locations, and the associated terms of a fuel card’s usage prior to applying. Fuel card providers make available their own online mapping tools that help you actually see each provider’s network of locations in real time. Many of them also have mobile apps for on the road convenience.

Shell Small Business Gas Card: The Shell Small Business Gas Card can be used at any Shell station, of which there are 14,000 nationally. Each of these 14,000 gas stations accept the discounts offered by the fuel card. Some of the 14,000 gas stations are also service stations, where the card is used to pay for repairs and maintenance. The Shell fuel card is therefore used by cardholders to make other vehicle-related purchases at Shell locations, which includes items from the convenience store. However, non-gas purchases aren’t included in the card’s rewards program.

76 Universal Card: The 76 Universal Card is accepted at the largest number of gas stations and service stations when compared to the other two. As much as 90% – an estimated 45,000 gas stations – accept the 76 Universal Card. This is unique; most fuel cards are only accepted at gas stations and service stations owned by the brand. However, of the estimated 45,000 gas stations, only 7,600 of them accept the 76 Universal Card’s discounts. This is because the discount program is only valid at 76, Conoco, and Phillips 66 locations.

ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card: The ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card is accepted at any Exxon or Mobil gas station or service station. There are roughly 10,000 of these locations across the U.S. The fuel card’s discount and rewards program is valid at any of these stations, which includes money spent on vehicle-related purchases and money spent in any of ExxonMobil’s convenience stores.

Discounts and Rewards

One of the major benefits of a fuel card is that it offers gas discounts or rewards on the number of gallons you purchase a month. Many of the available small business fuel cards offer an automatic cash discount on a gallon of gas. Some fuel cards structure their rewards programs to offer points in return for both dollars spent as well as gallons pumped. Points can then be redeemed for cash discounts on future gas purchases.

Shell Small Business Gas Card: The Shell Small Business Gas Card offers a straightforward $0.03 cash discount on a gallon of gas purchased at one of Shell’s 14,000 locations. The card can be used for vehicle-related purchases at participating Shell locations but no other discounts are offered. The only reward you can receive is the flat discount on gas, which is currently $0.03 per gallon.

76 Universal Card: The 76 Universal Card offers a tiered discount structure at participating gas stations, of which there are 7,600. The discounts are valid at any 76, Conoco, and Phillips 66 location. The tiers are based on the number of gallons used each month:

0 – 999 Monthly Gallons – $0.00 Discount Per Gallon
1,000 – 2,499 Monthly Gallons – $0.01 Discount Per Gallon
2,500 – 4,999 Monthly Gallons – $0.015 Discount Per Gallon
5,000 – 6,999 Monthly Gallons – $0.02 Discount Per Gallon
7,000 – 9,999 Monthly Gallons – $0.03 Discount Per Gallon
10,000+ Monthly Gallons – $0.04 Discount Per Gallon

Remember that the 76 Universal Card is accepted by 45,000 gas stations. It’s the most accepted card on this list. The number of gas stations participating in its rewards program, however, makes it the smallest at 7,600.

ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card: The ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card is part of the Plenti rewards program, which is unique from the other two cards on this list. The ExxonMobil card offers points based on the amount of gallons pumped and amount spent on non-gas purchases at Exxon or Mobil locations. Cardholders earn one point for each gallon of gas used and two points for each dollar spent on vehicle-related expenses such as repairs and maintenance. Gas doesn’t count.

Each 100 points earned equals $1.00 off at the gas pump. The Plenti program is available at all 10,000 Exxon and Mobil locations. The ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card could offer the most reward savings if your company intends to use its fuel cards to make both gas and non-gas purchases.

Qualifications

Small business fuel cards have strict requirements when it comes to account qualifications. Just like other small business credit cards, fuel cards generally require a joint application for qualification. These online applications will ask for both a business’s tax ID number as well as a business owner’s social security number. Both the company and the owner’s credits are checked for qualification.

Small business fuel cards look for a personal credit score around 650+ and “good” business credit, as rated by an established credit rating agency. Check out our article on business credit for more information. Some small business fuel cards allow a business to qualify without asking for the owner’s personal credit history. Businesses usually have to meet certain criteria in order for this to be the case.

Shell Small Business Gas Card: The Shell Small Business Gas Card has two possible ways to qualify, which is uncommon amongst fuel cards and makes it the best in this category. The first way is through a more typical joint application, where a business owner is required to enter his or her personal tax information as well as the company’s tax ID.

The credit score of both the owner and the company is checked for approval. If a business owner has a credit score above 650 and the business’s credit is in good standing, the account is approved. The fuel card doesn’t show up on the business owner’s personal credit but he or she is held liable for the corporate account.

The second and less typical way to qualify is through a company-only application. Companies who’ve been in business for at least three years, make over $1 million annually, and have “good” credit are allowed to apply without the business owner as the guarantor. This protects the owner’s credit score and makes the company liable if the application is approved.

76 Universal Card: The 76 Universal Card requires joint qualification of the business and the business owner. The card application requests the owner’s social security number in addition the the business’s tax ID number. A personal credit score of 650 and a “good” business credit rating is required to qualify. The fuel card doesn’t show up on the business owner’s personal credit but he or she is held liable for the credit card bill, which includes any fees or delinquent payments. The card doesn’t allow for a company-only qualification.

ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card: The ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card is similar to the 76 Universal Card in that it requires joint qualification and doesn’t allow for company-only qualification. The social security number of the business owner and the business’s tax ID number are both required in the application. A personal credit score of 650 is required for the business owner and the company’s credit has to be in good standing in order to be approved. Like the 76 Universal Card, the business owner is jointly liable with the business.

Reporting and Control

Small business fuel cards provide businesses with various reporting and analytics capabilities. A business owner or fleet manager can access a central online dashboard that contains information on card usage. Typical things that a fuel card tracks include card IDs, itemized fuel purchase reports, itemized non-ful purchase reports, and more. The dashboard can also limit access to various cards, if desired. For example, fuel cards can limit purchases to fuel only as well as set spending limits on a per-card basis.

Shell Small Business Gas Card: The Shell Small Business Gas Card offers consolidated online statements that group fuel card transactions by card ID and break out transactions by fuel and non-fuel purchases. Much like standard fuel cards, the Shell card can limit purchases to only fuel and put caps on spending. Shell provides a central dashboard where reports can be read and limits can be placed.

76 Universal Card: The 76 Universal Card might have the best reporting out of the three cards. The card boasts comprehensive reports that displays both driver and vehicle data. Fleet cards, for example, can access level III transaction data. The 76 Universal Card, while it doesn’t have quite that much information, comes close, which is more than the other two cards can say. The 76 Universal Card can also place limits on purchases, both by type and amount.

ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card: The ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card is similar to the Shell Small Business Gas Card in both reporting and control. The card offers consolidated online statements that show both fuel and non-fuel purchases as well as individual card reports. The ExxonMobil card also can control spending limits from its central dashboard.

Bottom Line

Our overall recommendation for small business fuel cards is the Shell Small Business Gas Card. It’s the best card on this list when it comes to liability, qualification, and discounted locations. The 76 Universal Card is great for flexibility. It’s accepted at 45,000 gas stations nationally. However, only 7,600 gas stations offer discounts with the card. The ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card offers the most unique rewards program and is the best if you expect to make significant non-fuel purchases at convenience stores or on the maintenance and repair of your company vehicles. The card is accepted at 10,000 national locations.

For many small businesses, it may make more sense to go with a business credit card that offers rewards on all purchases, not just those that are fuel or vehicle related. The Chase Ink Business Cash^SM card offers great cash-back rewards. You can issue employee cards at no additional cost and set spending limits for each card, allowing you to manage both fuel and non-fuel employee spending.

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Best Small Business Fuel Card: Shell vs 76 Universal vs ExxonMobil Business Fuel Cards

Small Business Fuel Card Comparison Table

Common Elements of a Small Business Fuel Card

Best Small Business Fuel Card: Shell Small Business Gas Card

Best for Flexibility: 76 Universal Card

Best for Additional Rewards: ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card

In-Depth Review: Shell Small Business Gas Card vs ExxonMobil Business Fuel Card vs 76 Universal Card