Top cards for 3-5% back on gas, including no-fee options and premium rewards cards.
Why Get a Gas Credit Card?
The average American spends $2,000-$3,000 per year on gas. Using the right credit card turns every fill-up into cash back.
The math:
- $2,500/year on gas
- 5% cash back
- $125/year in rewards
Compare that to 1% back on a generic card: only $25/year. The right gas card earns you $100+ more annually.
Best Gas Credit Cards at a Glance
| Card | Gas Rewards | Annual Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Custom Cash | 5% (up to $500/mo) | $0 | Most drivers |
| PenFed Platinum Rewards | 5x points | $0 | High gas spenders |
| Costco Anywhere Visa | 4-5% | $0* | Costco members |
| Bank of America Customized Cash | 3% (6% first year) | $0 | BofA customers |
| Blue Cash Preferred | 3% | $95 | Multi-category spenders |
*Requires Costco membership ($65-$130/year)
Best Overall: Citi Custom Cash
Gas Rewards: 5% back on your top spending category (up to $500/month)
Annual Fee: $0
Why it's great:
The Citi Custom Cash automatically gives you 5% back on whatever category you spend most in each billing cycle. If gas is your top category that month, you get 5% back on gas automatically.
Key details:
- 5% category cap: $500/month ($25 max rewards)
- 1% on everything else
- No category activation needed
- Rewards earned as ThankYou points (redeemable for cash)
Best for: Drivers who spend $200-$500/month on gas and want automatic category optimization.
Apply: citi.com/credit-cards/citi-custom-cash-credit-card
Best for High Spenders: PenFed Platinum Rewards
Gas Rewards: 5x points per dollar (worth ~4.25-5% when redeemed well)
Annual Fee: $0
Why it's great:
Unlike capped cards, PenFed has no limit on gas rewards. Spend $500 or $5,000 on gas, you earn 5x points on all of it.
Key details:
- No cap on gas rewards
- Points worth 0.85 cents each for statement credit
- Worth more (1 cent+) for travel redemption
- Requires PenFed membership (free to join via $5 savings account)
Best for: High-mileage drivers, families with multiple vehicles, or anyone spending $500+/month on gas.
Apply: penfed.org/credit-cards/platinum-rewards-visa
Best for Costco Members: Costco Anywhere Visa
Gas Rewards: 5% at Costco gas, 4% at other gas stations (up to $7,000/year combined)
Annual Fee: $0 (but requires Costco membership)
Why it's great:
Costco gas is already 20-40 cents cheaper per gallon. Add 5% cash back on top, and you're saving 35-55 cents per gallon total.
Key details:
- 5% on Costco gas + 4% on other gas/EV charging
- Combined $7,000/year cap on gas rewards
- 3% on restaurants and travel
- Rewards paid annually as a certificate (redeemable at Costco)
Best for: Anyone with a Costco membership who regularly fills up at Costco gas stations.
Apply: citi.com/credit-cards/citi-costco-anywhere-visa-credit-card
Best for Bank of America Customers: Customized Cash Rewards
Gas Rewards: 3% back on gas (choose as your category), 6% first year for new cardholders
Annual Fee: $0
Why it's great:
You choose your 3% category. If you pick gas, all gas purchases earn 3%. New cardholders get double (6%) for the first year.
Key details:
- Choose from: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores, home improvement
- $2,500/quarter cap on 2% + 3% categories combined
- BofA Preferred Rewards members: boost to 3.75-5.25%
- $200 sign-up bonus (typically requires $1,000 spend)
Best for: Bank of America customers who can leverage Preferred Rewards status for up to 5.25% back.
Apply: bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/products/cash-back-credit-card
Best Premium Card: Blue Cash Preferred (Amex)
Gas Rewards: 3% back at U.S. gas stations
Annual Fee: $95 (waived first year)
Why it's great:
If you also spend heavily on groceries (6% back) and streaming (6% back), this card's combined rewards easily offset the annual fee.
Key details:
- 3% on gas (no cap)
- 6% on groceries (up to $6,000/year)
- 6% on select streaming services
- 1% on everything else
Best for: Families who spend $500+/month on groceries. The 6% grocery rewards plus 3% gas makes the $95 fee worthwhile.
Note: Gas purchases at supermarkets and warehouse clubs code as "grocery" not "gas." This can be a benefit (6% instead of 3%) or limitation depending on where you fill up.
Rotating Category Cards (Sometimes 5% on Gas)
These cards offer 5% in rotating quarterly categories. Gas is often featured, but not always.
Chase Freedom Flex
Gas Rewards: 5% when gas is the quarterly category (up to $1,500/quarter)
Annual Fee: $0
Recent gas quarters: Q3 2025 featured gas and EV charging
Key details:
- Must activate each quarter
- 5% on travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3% on dining and drugstores
- 1% on everything else
Best for: Those willing to track quarterly categories and have a backup gas card for other quarters.
Discover it Cash Back
Gas Rewards: 5% when gas is the quarterly category (up to $1,500/quarter)
Annual Fee: $0
First-year bonus: Discover matches all cash back earned in your first year (effectively 10% on gas quarters)
Best for: New cardholders who can take advantage of the first-year match.
Station-Specific Cards
These cards offer high rewards but only at specific gas station brands.
Shell Fuel Rewards Credit Card
Rewards: 10 cents off per gallon at Shell (up to 35 gallons per fill)
Annual Fee: $0
Best for: Regular Shell customers
ExxonMobil Smart Card
Rewards: 12 cents off premium, 10 cents off other grades (up to 100 gallons/month)
Annual Fee: $0
New cardholder bonus: Extra 30 cents/gallon for first 2 months
Best for: Regular Exxon/Mobil customers
How to Choose
Choose Citi Custom Cash if:
- You spend $200-$500/month on gas
- You want automatic category optimization
- You value simplicity
Choose PenFed Platinum Rewards if:
- You spend $500+/month on gas
- You don't want spending caps
- You're okay joining PenFed (easy and free)
Choose Costco Anywhere Visa if:
- You already have a Costco membership
- You regularly fill up at Costco gas
- You want to stack cheap prices + high rewards
Choose Bank of America Customized Cash if:
- You bank with Bank of America
- You have Preferred Rewards status (or will qualify)
- You want 6% back the first year
Stacking Strategy
Use multiple cards strategically:
| Where You Fill Up | Best Card |
|---|---|
| Costco | Costco Anywhere Visa (5%) |
| Other stations | Citi Custom Cash or PenFed (5%) |
| Shell | Shell card (10 cents/gal) + backup card |
What About EV Charging?
Several gas cards now include EV charging rewards:
- Costco Anywhere Visa: 4% on EV charging stations
- Chase Freedom Flex: Sometimes includes EV charging in quarterly categories
- Citi Custom Cash: EV charging may count toward "gas station" category
Important Notes
Pay Your Balance in Full
These rewards only make sense if you pay your balance monthly. Carrying a balance at 20%+ APR wipes out any cash back you earn.
Watch for Exclusions
Most cards exclude:
- Gas at supermarkets (Kroger, Safeway gas pumps)
- Warehouse clubs (except Costco Visa at Costco)
- Super centers (Target, Walmart)
Check your card's terms for specific exclusions.
Annual Fee Math
For cards with annual fees, calculate your break-even:
- $95 fee / 3% gas rewards = $3,167 in gas spending to break even
- But include other category rewards in your calculation
The Bottom Line
For most drivers, the Citi Custom Cash offers the best combination of high rewards (5%) and simplicity (automatic categories, no annual fee).
High spenders should consider the PenFed Platinum Rewards for its unlimited 5x earning.
Costco members should absolutely use the Costco Anywhere Visa at Costco gas stations.
Whichever card you choose, using any gas rewards card beats paying with a debit card or generic 1% cash back card.
Last updated: January 2025
