5 Best Fuel Cards for Small Business 2020

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post with regularly updated card details.

Using fuel cards at the pump is an easy way to save your business money, especially if you or your employees drive for work often. You’ll also be able to manage your company’s fleet vehicles by monitoring and controlling employee spending. The best card for you is either from your preferred station or is the card that offers you the largest return on your fuel purchases. If you want to earn rewards outside of your preferred gas station, however, consider a business credit card.

The best fuel cards for small businesses are:

• Shell Small Business Fuel Card: Best overall for earning rewards at the most stations
• 76 Universal Fuel Card: Best for flexible spending on fuel purchases
• Chevron Texaco Business Access Fuel Card: Best for driving farther distances
• BP Business Solutions Fuel Card: Best for gas rebates for larger fleets
• U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard®: Best for earning gas rewards with a traditional business credit card

Shell Small Business Fuel Card: Overall Best Fuel Card for Small Business

The Shell Small Business Fuel Card is the best fuel card for small business because of its rewards program and choices for liability—joint or company. Choosing company liability is a good option if you want to protect your personal credit score and personal assets. You’ll also pay no monthly setup fee or additional card fee, and it can help you maximize your rewards. Shell allows you to earn rewards and discounts at 14,000 locations.

Shell Small Business Fuel Card Costs

• Rebates up to 6 cents per gallon of gas purchased at Shell retailers
• 15% Jiffy Lube discount on the posted retail price of oil changes and preventative services at participating locations

Shell Small Business Fuel Card Network Availability

You can only use the Shell Small Business Fuel Card at Shell gas stations. Shell has roughly 14,000 gas stations nationally, and its fuel card offers a discount at all of them.

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76 Universal Fuel Card: Best for Flexible Spending at Nonbranded Stations

Open the 76 Universal Fuel Card if you don’t want to be limited to a specific gas company or station. There are roughly 45,000 stations that accept this fuel card, but you’ll only earn rewards at participating 76, Conoco, and Phillips 66 gas stations (7,600 total participating locations). This is a charge card, so the balance is due in full monthly, and it charges no interest.

76 Universal Fuel Card Costs

• 1,000 to 2,499 monthly gallons: 1 cent discount per gallon
• 2,500 to 4,999 monthly gallons: 1.5 cents discount per gallon
• 5,000 to 6,999 monthly gallons: 2 cents discount per gallon
• 7,000 to 9,999 monthly gallons: 3 cents discount per gallon
• 10,000 or more monthly gallons: 4 cents discount per gallon

76 Universal Fuel Card Network Availability

The 76 Universal Fuel Card is accepted at more gas stations than the Shell and ExxonMobil cards and includes about 45,000 gas stations (90% of United States gas stations). However, out of these 45,000 locations, rewards are only available at 7,600 locations.

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Chevron Texaco Business Access Fuel Card: Best for Fleets That Drive Far & Often

If your fleet drives regularly, consider the Chevron Texaco Business Access Fuel Card. You pay a $2 monthly fee per card but earn up to 6 cents per gallon. It’s a charge card with net-22 repayment terms, which means you pay no interest but have to pay the balance in full within 22 days of receiving your statement.

Chevron Texaco Business Access Fuel Card Costs

• 500 to 2,000 monthly gallons: 1 cent rebate per gallon
• 2,001 to 4,000 monthly gallons: 2 cents rebate per gallon
• 4,001 to 6,000 monthly gallons: 3 cents rebate per gallon
• 6,001 to 8,000 monthly gallons: 4 cents rebate per gallon
• 8,001 to 10,000 monthly gallons: 5 cents rebate per gallon
• 10,000 or more monthly gallons: 6 cents rebate per gallon

Chevron Texaco Business Access Fuel Card Network Availability

The Chevron Texaco Business Access Fuel Card is accepted in every state at nearly 8,000 Chevron and Texaco stations nationwide. You also can use the card at any major United States gas station, which makes it a good option for small businesses that drive longer distances.

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BP Business Solutions Fuel Card: Best for Larger Fleets That Want Gas Rebates

If your large fleet is seeking a sizable network and the opportunity to earn discounts at BP stations, this card is a perfect fit for you. You can earn rebates up to 6 cents per gallon, depending on how much gas you pump per month. This fuel card acts as a charge card, which means you won’t face interest payments, but the balance is due in full every month.

BP Business Solutions Fuel Card Costs

• 300 to 2,999 monthly gallons: 3.5 cents rebate per gallon
• 3,000 to 7,999 monthly gallons: 4 cents rebate per gallon
• 8,000 to 9,999 monthly gallons: 5 cents rebate per gallon
• 10,000 or more monthly gallons: 6 cents rebate per gallon

With the discounts you earn on this card, you can earn the $10 account fee back after you purchase 300 gallons in one month.

BP Business Solutions Fuel Card Network Availability

The BP Business Solutions Fuel Card is accepted at any gas station that takes Mastercard—more than 175,000 locations. Keep in mind, however, that cardholders can only earn rewards at the 7,200 BP and ARCO-branded stations nationwide.

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U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard®: Best for Gas Rewards on a Traditional Business Credit Card

Business owners can also use a traditional business credit card for fuel expenses. One of the best alternatives to a typical fuel card is U.S. Bank’s business gas card, the U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard®. You’ll earn 3% cash-back rewards on gas purchases and have interest-free financing for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers. The issuer also provides free employee cards.

U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard® Costs

This is the best introductory financing offer on our fuel cards for small business list. No other business credit card offers better introductory financing terms.

U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard® Discounts & Rewards

• 3% cash back on cellphone purchases and service
• 3% cash back on gas purchases up to $200 per single purchase
• 3% cash back at office supply stores
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Welcome offer: Receive 3% cash back on all purchases in the first 180 days of opening your account

Compared to the other fuel cards on this list, this card comes with a unique rewards structure. Instead of offering discounts at branded gas stations, you get cash back on all purchases. For example, you can earn 3% cash back on gas purchases at all stations that accept Mastercard.

U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard® Network Availability

Unlike most fuel cards on our list, the U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard® is not restricted to a single merchant or gas station. You’ll be able to use this card at stores that accept Mastercard and online by entering your credit card information.

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How We Evaluated the Best Fuel Cards for Small Business

While evaluating several branded fuel cards, we considered each card’s fee structures, repayment terms, network availability, and any rebate programs. Although there are a handful of options available, a card offered by your preferred gas station is typically the best one for you. If you don’t want a card affiliated with a specific gas company, choose a traditional cash back business credit card that pays strong rewards on fuel purchases.

Bottom Line

Business owners who have to drive often for work can tap into fuel rebates and employee spending controls by opening a small business fuel card. How much the card costs, where you can use the card, and how much money you can save across your entire account will help determine the card for your firm.