Coast Fuel Card Review for 2023
Tricia has nearly two decades of experience in commercial and federal government lending. Her expertise is highlighted throughout small business loan content on Fit Small Business.
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This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
Coast Fuel Card is a Visa fleet and fuel card designed for business owners who spend on gas frequently and don’t want to provide a personal guarantee. It offers a smart platform that allows you to track your expenditures, set spending controls, and generate expense reports. It has a monthly fee of $2 per active user.
If you wish to compare one card over another, select a maximum of three cards on this page and click Add to compare to view the details in a side-by-side comparison.
Coast Fuel Card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Businesses with small to large fleets
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
N/A
Annual Fee
None, only $2 per active user per month
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
- 2 cents off per gallon on your statement
- 1% back on non-fuel purchases
Pros
- Universally accepted fleet card
- 1% cash back on nonfuel purchases
- Doesn’t require personal guarantee
Cons
- Charges monthly fees to active users
- Balance is due in full each month
- Doesn’t support cash withdrawals
- Customizable controls
- Spend reports
- Exclusive discounts from large partner networks
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
N/A
Annual Fee
None, only $2 per active user per month
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
- 2 cents off per gallon on your statement
- 1% back on non-fuel purchases
Pros
- Universally accepted fleet card
- 1% cash back on nonfuel purchases
- Doesn’t require personal guarantee
Cons
- Charges monthly fees to active users
- Balance is due in full each month
- Doesn’t support cash withdrawals
- Customizable controls
- Spend reports
- Exclusive discounts from large partner networks
When grading business fuel credit cards like the Coast Fuel Card, we first take into account the card’s fees, network availability, and reporting tools. Then, we rate the repayment terms, rewards, rebate programs, and other features.
Grading Criteria | Card Score | Highest Possible Score |
|---|---|---|
Fees | 15 | 20 |
Network Availability | 20 | 20 |
Reporting Tools | 20 | 20 |
Repayment Terms | 5 | 10 |
Rewards | 5 | 10 |
Rebate Programs | 10 | 10 |
Other Features | 8 | 10 |
Total Score | 83 | 100 |
Who the Coast Fuel Card Is Best For
- Businesses with fleets: Coast is best for corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and partnerships that own at least five-vehicle fleets.
- Business owners who do not want to provide a personal guarantee: Coast Fuel Card does not require a personal guarantee as part of the application process.
It’s important to note that Coast Fuel Card does not approve sole proprietorships. If this card is not a good fit for your business, see our recommended alternatives below.
Coast Fuel Card Fees
- Monthly: $2 per active user
- Late payment: $35
- Return payment: $35
Coast Fuel Card is a charge card, which means your entire balance is due every billing cycle. The monthly fee is only charged to users who use the Coast card that month. If it wasn’t, then no fee will be charged. The monthly fee includes access to the Coast expense management platform.
It’s worth noting that Coast doesn’t charge per-gallon administration, per-transaction, electronic payment, and check processing fees. Cardholders also don’t need to pay low gas price surcharges, reporting fees, portal access fees, or inflated penalties for higher unpaid balances.
How To Make Payments on the Coast Fuel Card
- Connect your business bank account to the platform: To connect a business bank account to your Coast portal, go to the “Account Settings” section under “Payment Methods.” This allows you to make direct debit payments.
- Set up automatic payment: You can use your connected business bank account to set up an automatic payment on your monthly due date.
- Schedule an automated clearing house (ACH) or wire payment: You can schedule an ACH or wire transfer manually from any business bank account. You can find the Coast account number in the “Account Settings” section under “Payment Methods,” then click the “Pay by ACH Credit or Wire” link.
Coast Fuel Card Rewards
- 2 cents off per gallon anywhere you purchase gas with no tiers or excluded stations
- 1% cash back on every purchase at merchants other than gas stations, with no tiers or caps
- Other partner rebates:
- 6 cents off per gallon at Casey’s
- 4 cents off per gallon at RaceTrac and RaceWay
- 15% on oil change services at Take 5
- 10% on maintenance and oil change services at Jiffy Lube
- 8% at Pep Boys
- Up to 8% on tires and wheels at Discount Tire
- 2% on roadside assistance at Honk’s
Your cash back reward earned on other purchases at merchants other than gas stations will be applied on the last day of each statement period in the form of a statement credit—there’s no need to redeem. Rebates on gas purchases and other partner merchants are automatically credited to your account.
Coast Fuel Card Features
Account Management & Security
- Easy-to-use spend management dashboard: Coast’s platform allows you to onboard new users and vehicles in just a few clicks, order new cards in seconds, and set controls and restrictions.
- Spend controls: Coast Fuel Card allows you to set spending limits on employee cards to control spending. You can limit the number of transactions or total spending by day, week, or month and set a requirement to provide odometer readings. You can also set spending limits by driver or vehicle.
- Real-time alerts: You can receive real-time alerts for suspicious transactions, allowing you to catch misuse and exceptions faster.
- Intuitive reports and charts: Coast Fuel Card makes it easy to track expense transactions with its expense reports and comparative,
- Short message service (SMS) validation: Each time the card is used, the assigned employee will be validated via SMS. This eliminates the need for PINs.
Software Discounts
- 30% on Geotab telematics subscriptions
- 30% for six months on Intuit QuickBooks
- 15% off the first-year subscription at Whip Around
- Six months free field service management software at FleetComplete
Coast Fuel Card Alternatives
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards World EliteTM Mastercard
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
0% APR for 15 billing cycles
Intro APR
Regular APR
18.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent/Good
- Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Rewards never expire.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or quickbooks
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 18.99% - 27.99%.
- No annual fee.
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
- Terms and conditions apply
- Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
Pros
- 0% APR applies to both purchases and balance transfers
- Unlimited cash back rewards
- No annual fee
Cons
- Balance transfer fee is charged even during the introductory period
- Intro APR doesn’t apply to cash advances
- MasterRental car rental collision damage waiver: When you rent a car using your U.S. Bank credit card, you’re covered in case of accident or theft on all rentals made worldwide. Coverage is primary, which means you won’t need to use your personal auto insurance or accept the insurance offered by the rental agency. Coverage is capped at $50,000.
- Purchase assurance: U.S. Bank may repair or reimburse for items purchased with your U.S. Bank business credit card that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per loss, up to $25,000 per year, per account. Lost items and items left out of reach that others can see are not covered.
- Extended warranty protection: U.S. Bank will double the manufacturer’s warranty up to an additional one year from the expiration of warranties of five years or less. An item with a six-month warranty would be backed for an additional six months, for example. The issuer will replace the item or reimburse you up to the amount charged on your U.S. Bank card up to $10,000.
Intro APR
Regular APR
18.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent/Good
- Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Rewards never expire.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or quickbooks
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 18.99% - 27.99%.
- No annual fee.
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
- Terms and conditions apply
- Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
Pros
- 0% APR applies to both purchases and balance transfers
- Unlimited cash back rewards
- No annual fee
Cons
- Balance transfer fee is charged even during the introductory period
- Intro APR doesn’t apply to cash advances
- MasterRental car rental collision damage waiver: When you rent a car using your U.S. Bank credit card, you’re covered in case of accident or theft on all rentals made worldwide. Coverage is primary, which means you won’t need to use your personal auto insurance or accept the insurance offered by the rental agency. Coverage is capped at $50,000.
- Purchase assurance: U.S. Bank may repair or reimburse for items purchased with your U.S. Bank business credit card that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per loss, up to $25,000 per year, per account. Lost items and items left out of reach that others can see are not covered.
- Extended warranty protection: U.S. Bank will double the manufacturer’s warranty up to an additional one year from the expiration of warranties of five years or less. An item with a six-month warranty would be backed for an additional six months, for example. The issuer will replace the item or reimburse you up to the amount charged on your U.S. Bank card up to $10,000.
- Is a great option if you want premium rewards on gas purchases and a 0% APR offer on both purchase and balance transfer transactions for the first 15 billing cycles
- Offers 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals directly booked in the Travel Rewards Center, 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, office supply stores, cellphone service providers, and restaurants, and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
- Lets you earn $500 bonus cash back after spending $4,500 on eligible purchases within the first 150 days of opening your account.
- Has no annual fees
- Is our best fuel business credit card and leading business credit card with no annual fee
GM Business Card™
GM Business Card™
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Those who do business regularly with GM
Intro APR
0% APR
Regular APR
18.74% to 28.74% variable
Annual Fee
None
Credit Needed
Good/Excellent
- 5% back on purchases of GM Genuine and ACDelcro Parts, accessories, and paid Certified Service at authorized GM Dealers
- 3% back on purchases from gas stations, restaurants, and office supply stores.
- 1% back on all other purchases
Pros
- With signup bonus
- Has 0% introductory APR on purchases
- No additional fees
Cons
- Doesn’t offer 0% introductory APR on balance transfers
- Limited rewards redemption option
- Employee cards: Increase your earned rewards, set individual spending limits, and track employee spending activity by creating cards for your employees at no additional costs.
- Zoho Social discount: Earn 50% off Zoho Social, a social media management tool that helps small businesses grow their social media presence. Note that this is only applicable to new Zoho users and is valid for a customer’s first annual subscription.
- TurboTax discount: Save up to $20 on TurboTax federal products.
- ShopRunner: Get free ShopRunner membership, valued at $79, providing you free two-day shipping and free returns.
- Microsoft Advertising: Get $125 worth of advertising credit after spending $10 with Microsoft Advertising. This is only applicable to new customers.
Intro APR
0% APR
Regular APR
18.74% to 28.74% variable
Annual Fee
None
Credit Needed
Good/Excellent
- 5% back on purchases of GM Genuine and ACDelcro Parts, accessories, and paid Certified Service at authorized GM Dealers
- 3% back on purchases from gas stations, restaurants, and office supply stores.
- 1% back on all other purchases
Pros
- With signup bonus
- Has 0% introductory APR on purchases
- No additional fees
Cons
- Doesn’t offer 0% introductory APR on balance transfers
- Limited rewards redemption option
- Employee cards: Increase your earned rewards, set individual spending limits, and track employee spending activity by creating cards for your employees at no additional costs.
- Zoho Social discount: Earn 50% off Zoho Social, a social media management tool that helps small businesses grow their social media presence. Note that this is only applicable to new Zoho users and is valid for a customer’s first annual subscription.
- TurboTax discount: Save up to $20 on TurboTax federal products.
- ShopRunner: Get free ShopRunner membership, valued at $79, providing you free two-day shipping and free returns.
- Microsoft Advertising: Get $125 worth of advertising credit after spending $10 with Microsoft Advertising. This is only applicable to new customers.
- Is best for businesses that need to buy or lease a vehicle and that frequently do business with GM
- Has no annual, balance transfer, foreign transaction, and cash advance fees
- Lets you earn 5% back on purchases of GM Genuine and ACDelco Parts, accessories, and paid Certified Service at authorized GM Dealers, 3% back on purchases from gas stations, restaurants, and office supply stores, and 1% back on all other purchases
- Offers a $750 sign-up bonus after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first five months after account opening
- Is also one of our top-recommended fuel business credit cards
Chase Ink Business Cash®
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Office-based businesses that want top cash back rewards
Intro APR
0% Intro APR on Purchases
Regular APR
17.99% - 23.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good - Excellent
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Pros
- Top rewards for office supply spending
- Introductory APR on purchases
- Cash sign-up bonus
Cons
- 0% APR doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- High balance transfer fee of 5%
- Designed mainly for office-oriented companies
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the United States and abroad.
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per year.
- Extended warranty protection: Extends the time period of the United States manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
Intro APR
0% Intro APR on Purchases
Regular APR
17.99% - 23.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good - Excellent
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Pros
- Top rewards for office supply spending
- Introductory APR on purchases
- Cash sign-up bonus
Cons
- 0% APR doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- High balance transfer fee of 5%
- Designed mainly for office-oriented companies
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the United States and abroad.
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per year.
- Extended warranty protection: Extends the time period of the United States manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Is ideal for sole proprietors and startups with significant fuel expenses
- Has no annual fee
- Offers 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months of card ownership
- Offers 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary, 5% on the first $25,000 spent on office supplies, internet, cable, and phone services, and 1% on all other business purchases
- Lets you earn a $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 within the first three months
- Is our #1 choice for the best credit cards for startups
For other alternatives, see our guide to the best small business credit cards.
Bottom Line
Coast Fuel Card is best for companies with small to large fleets and frequent fuel expenses. It does not require a personal guarantee and provides a streamlined platform that allows you to monitor your spending and set user limits easily. Plus, it can be used anywhere Visa is accepted, and you can earn rewards on your purchases on top of the rebates you earn from gas and other partner merchants. Note, however, that Coast does not approve businesses structured as sole proprietorships.
