Best Gas Rewards Cards: Tank Up, Road Warriors
Written by Dayana Yochim
Edited by Carolyn Kimball
Fact-checked by Andrea Coombes
You don’t have to drive a gas guzzler or endure a killer daily commute to benefit from a gas rewards card. The same credit cards that dole out 3% to 5% cash back on groceries, dining out, travel, and more can also pay off at the gas pump.
To pick the best credit cards for gas rewards, we ran dozens of cards through the paces, calculating cashback rates, sign-up bonuses, and identifying features that matter to road warriors.
The 5 best credit cards for gas rewards
The best cashback credit cards for gas (and EV charging) spending are:
- Citi Custom Cash Card: Best for long-haul commuters
- PNC Cash Rewards Visa Credit Card: Best welcome bonus
- USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card: Best for military (current/former)
- Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi: Best for warehouse shoppers and world travelers
- Blue Cash Everyday from American Express: Best for low-maintenance card fans
To get the most mileage out of any gas rewards credit card, keep in mind:
How rewards spending caps are calculated: Although most no-annual-fee cards cut the gas rewards tap to a trickle after you spend a certain amount, the average household (which spends roughly $1,700 a year on fuel) is unlikely to see their rewards shortchanged. It can happen, though, if a card combines purchases in multiple rewards categories to calculate its rewards spending cap. To avoid throttling your gas earnings, consider designating a gas-only card when you’re out running errands, as we suggest doing with the Citi Custom Cash Card.
Where you get your gas matters: Tap the brakes before filling up at superstores, convenience stores and warehouse clubs. Most rewards cards (the Costco card notwithstanding) pay the higher bonus rate only on gas purchased at regular gas stations. Fuel up elsewhere and you’ll typically earn just 1% cash back.
You don’t need to pay an annual fee to get 5% cash back on gas: We include several 5% gas rewards cards in our recommendations. But there may be other nonmonetary requirements to qualify for a card with the highest rewards rates (e.g., a USAA membership to apply for its card). If eligibility is an issue, there’s little standing in your way from getting a no-fee card offering 4% cash back on gas.
» Tool around: Take our credit card rewards calculator for a spin to see which cards offer you the best rewards card mileage based on how much you spend on gas each month.
See a credit card that’s worthy of a slot in your wallet? Take a moment to confirm card details on the issuer’s site before you apply.
1. Citi Custom Cash Card
Fill 'er up!: Pays 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases in your largest monthly spending category (which translates to up to $6,000 in spending per year).
Running on fumes: You’ll earn just 1% cash back on purchases outside of your single biggest spend category each month (and on amounts above $500 per month).
How much can I earn using the Citi Custom Cash Card?: Cardholders who spend an average of $140 on gas each month on gas will earn $84 in cash back a year using the Citi Custom Cash Card. The $500 monthly cap on a single bonus spending category means you can earn up to $300 cash back per year if you’ve got a lead foot and a cross-country commute.
A no-annual-fee rewards card that pays you 5% cash back on gas? What you’re hearing right now is the siren song of a long, scenic stretch of empty road, full tank, and whatever adventure lies beyond.
The Citi Custom Cash Card is not technically a “gas credit card”: It automatically calculates your biggest spending category each month to determine which purchases qualify for the highest 5% cashback rate. Ergo, if fuel is your largest monthly expenditure, you’ll earn an automatic 5% cash back on every penny you pay at the pump, up to $500 in spending per month, which equates to up to $25 cash back per month, or a maximum of $300 cash back per year.
Tread carefully with this Citi card, however: Any month in which “Gas” is not your biggest spend category will throttle your gas cashback rate from 5% to 1%. For example, spend $100 on groceries and $99 at the gas station, and the 5% bonus rate will apply to just your supermarket spending. You’ll earn just 1% cash back on fuel and all other purchases that month. That cuts the gas rewards earnings for an average driver to just $1.40 per month.
(FYI: The other Citi Custom Cash Card categories eligible for 5% cash back are restaurants, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.)
The Citi Custom Cash Card is best for: road warriors seeking a dedicated card to use to get 5% cash back when filling up. And since the Custom Cash Card has an array of 5% cashback-eligible categories, during gas-lite spending months, you still have the opportunity to earn the bonus rate on big-ticket spends.
Read our full Citi Custom Cash Card review. User tip: The default 5% category in the investor.com credit card calculator is groceries. To see how much you’d earn on gas spending with this Citi card, enter your monthly gas spending amount in the “Groceries” field.
» Foodie alert: If food is your love language, check out our picks for the best dining and grocery credit cards.
2. PNC Cash Rewards Visa Credit Card
PNC Cash Rewards Visa Credit Card
Read review
Breakout: 4% cash back on gas station purchases on up to $8,000 spent per year.
Burnout: The $8,000 annual cap on eligible rewards spending also includes purchases you make at grocery stores and restaurants.
How much can I earn using the PNC Cash Rewards Visa card?: The PNC Cash Rewards’s 4% cashback rate on gas means cardholders who spend an average of $140 a month — or $1,680 per year — on fuel will earn $67 cash back per year. The maximum cashback you can earn on gas with the card is $320 if you hit the $8,000 annual rewards spending cap on fuel purchases.
A lot of tiered-rate cashback credit cards are skimpy with what they pay out on gas. (Think 2% to 3% cashback max.) With the PNC Cash Rewards Visa Card, gas purchases are at the top of the rewards pyramid. The card pays 4% cash back on gas, 3% cash back at restaurants, and 2% on groceries.
All the bonus rewards rates shrink to 1% once you hit the annual $8,000 spending cap. It’s unlikely you’ll hit that ceiling on gas alone, which is like spending $666 a month to fuel up a fleet. But, hey, if you do, you’ll earn $320 in cash back per year using the PNC Cash Rewards Visa. In a more real-world scenario where that $666 in spending is divided equally between gas, restaurants and groceries, you’d earn $240 back per year. (Use the credit card calculator to math out your real-world results.)
The bottom line: Be mindful of the $8K combined category spending cap to ensure you’re able to take full advantage of the PNC Cash Rewards card’s high bonus rate on gas.
The PNC Cash Rewards Visa Credit Card is best for: those looking for a no-annual-fee tiered cashback card (i.e., pays different bonus rates on different categories) that pays one of the more generous gas rewards rates. The PNC Cash Rewards Visa is engineered with drivers in mind. The top 4% bonus tier applies to gas purchases. The card’s 3% cashback rate on dining is handy for pit stops, and 2% on groceries covers you when stocking up on staples for your destination Airbnb.
Read our full PNC Cash Rewards Visa Credit Card review.
3. USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card
Hooyah! (Hooah! or Oorah!, depending on your military branch!): 5% rewards on your first $3K in combined gas station and military base purchases.
Hoo-nah: Requires USAA membership; plus the 5% rewards rate fizzles to 1% after you spend $3,000 filling up your fleet of Hummers.
How much can I earn with the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card?: If you spend $140 each month on gas, you’ll earn $84 per year using the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus Amex at the pump. Spend up to $250 per month ($3,000 annually) on gas, and you’ll pocket $150 cash back.
The 5% cashback rate on gas makes the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card a no-brainer pick for paying at the pump. The card earns its stripes by also applying that high rewards rate to military base purchases. Groceries, on the other hand, earn just 2%, and everything else is rewarded at 1%. You’ll probably want to reserve this card for gas and commissary purchases only.
USAA’s largesse only extends so far. The 5% rate applies only to your first $3,000 in gas and commissary purchases per year. This rewards spending cap is half of what’s offered on similar 5% gas rewards cards (see the Citi Custom Cash Card above), and limits your annual earnings potential on gas to $150 or less. The 2% cash back on groceries is subject to the same rules. (But honestly, there are better no-fee cards for foodies.)
The biggest obstacle for attaining the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus Amex is qualifying to apply. You might have a stellar credit score, but membership is limited to active or former military and their spouses and adult children.
The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card is best for: USAA members who pump $3,000 or less into their trucksters per year. The 5% cashback rate drops to 1% on amounts above that cutoff. In addition to the high rewards rate on gas/military base purchases, the card is also very travel-friendly. It includes trip cancellation/interruption/accident insurance, baggage delay reimbursement, and charges no foreign transaction fees, all pluses for domestic and world travelers.
Read our full USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card review.
4. Costco Anywhere Visa
Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
Read review
Road trip!: 4% cash back on gas — and EV charging costs — up to $7,000 in spending per year at Costco or other gas stations.
Toll road ahead: Requires Costco membership – which is essentially like paying $60-$120 a year, depending on the membership level.
How much will I earn using the Costco Anywhere Visa?: Cardholders who average $140 a month in gasoline/EV purchases will earn $67 cash back on their purchases each year using the Costco Anywhere Visa. Bulk gas buyers who spend $7,000 a year on fuel can earn up to $280 cash back annually on gas and EV charging expenses.
Like the PNC Cash Rewards card, the Costco Anywhere Visa offers 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases. Both shift down the rewards rate to 1% after you reach an annual spending threshold. But Costco’s $7,000 cap applies solely to gas (and EV charging) purchases. PNC’s $8,000 cap applies to the combined total you shell out on gas, groceries and dining out. (See who makes it through the checkered flag first in the Costco Anywhere Card vs. PNC Cash Rewards Card.)
The Costco Anywhere Visa also makes a good travel companion (it offers 3% unlimited cash back on worldwide travel), especially if you rent a car when you’re overseas. Petrol purchases made elsewhere in the world also qualify for the 4% cashback rate. Added bonus: You won’t get sideswiped by foreign transaction fees, which can pad the purchase price by 3% when using some other credit cards.
The Costco Anywhere Visa is best for: Costco members or wannabe warehousers willing to pay the annual membership fee. Combine your gas and grocery runs, and you’ll get 2% cash back on Costco purchases, and 4% cash back filling up (or charging) your vehicle at a Costco location or other gas station of choice both here and abroad.
Read our full Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi review.
5. Blue Cash Everyday from American Express
Pile in!: 3% cash back on up to $6,000 a year in gas, grocery and online purchases per bonus category, not combined.
Pit stop: 3% cash back on gas isn’t the best offer out there, but it’s well in the wheelhouse of other cards with no annual fees.
How much will I earn using the Blue Cash Everyday card?: Spending $140 a month on gas with the Blue Cash Everyday card from American Express translates to $50 cash back per year. The total annual gas rewards earning potential (3% cash back on up to $6,000 in gas purchases in a year) is $180.
Sure, there are other no-annual-fee rewards cards that pay 3% cash back on gas station spending. If you’re curious, the lineup includes the BMO Harris Bank Cash Back Mastercard, Truist Enjoy Cash Credit Card, the Venmo Credit Card (if gas is your top monthly spend category), and BofA’s Customized Cash Rewards card (if you choose gas as your bonus category).
But the Blue Cash Everyday card from Amex makes it easier to get better mileage out of its 3% cash back rate.
The difference is that a lot of rewards cards cap how much of your spending is eligible for bonus rewards. Amex does too, but unlike other cards that lump multiple spending categories together under a single rewards spending cap, the Blue Cash Everyday card’s $6,000 annual spending limit applies to each of its bonus category separately: You’ll earn 3% cash back on your first $6,000 spent on gas, 3% on $6K worth of groceries, and, yup, 3% on six grand of U.S. online purchases. Once you hit the spending ceiling, the rewards rate drops to 1% unlimited cash back.
The Blue Cash Everyday from American Express is best for: Those looking for a well-rounded cashback card when gassing up the car, getting groceries, and shopping online. And because the Blue Cash Everyday Amex’s 3% cashback rate is good for the first $6,000 you spend each year in each bonus category, you won’t need to shuffle the cards in your wallet figuring out which one to use.
Read our full Blue Cash Everyday from American Express review.
Calculate the best make and model for you
The cash back estimates we used in our Guide to Best Credit Cards for Road Warriors are based on how much the average American who spends $1,680 a year on gas would earn. That said, your rewards mileage may vary based on how much money you pump into your tank.
In an attempt to use every last car analogy we can think of before this article ends — and, of course, to help you identify the best gas rewards card for you — we encourage you to take our investor.com credit card calculator for a test drive.
Type in how much you spend fueling up each month under “Spending Categories,” and we’ll generate a customized list that shows the amount you can expect to earn with each card in our database based on your inputs.
Best gas rewards credit cards FAQs
What credit card has 5% cash back on gas?
The people want to know. Specifically, the people have been asking Google, “Which credit card has 5 cash back on gas?” We — and Google — assume you’re asking about cards that pay 5% cash back on gas purchases.
Two of the five providers in our list of best credit cards for gas rewards offer 5% cash back on filling station purchases, but only if you meet certain requirements:
- The Citi Custom Cash Card pays 5% cash back on up to $500 in gas spending per month. That 5% bonus rate applies only to your biggest spending category during the month (calculated automatically by Citi). If you spend more on groceries than car go-juice during the month, then you’ll earn just 1% back on gas.
- The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card also pays 5% cash back on up to $3,000 of gas (and military base) spending per year. Great rewards rate, but only if you’re eligible to apply for the card, which requires being a USAA member or a close relative of someone with current or past military ties.
These cards didn’t make our list of top gas rewards cards, although each “has 5 back on gas” if you’re Googling:
- The Credit One Platinum X5 Visa pays 5% cash back on a number of spending categories, including gas, grocery, internet, cable, satellite TV and mobile phone service. Purchases in all of those categories combined count towards the $5,000 annual spending cap on 5%-eligible spending. An even bigger bummer is the card’s $95 annual fee. You won’t even start earning money with the X5 Visa until after you’ve spent $1,900 at the 5% cashback rate.
- The TD Cash Card shells out 5% cash back on gas purchases, too. Sadly, the 5% rewards rate is only good for the first six months you have the card (or on up to $6,000 of gas spending). After that, the 5% rate ghosts you and you’re stuck earning just 1% on fuel. Read full review.
- You’ll earn 5% cash back on an array of purchases — maybe even gas! — with the Chase Freedom Flex card. The 5% bonus category changes every three months, so you’ll have to wait until Chase spins the rewards roulette wheel each quarter to see if the marble drops on gas. When/if it does, you’ll earn 5% cash back on gas on up to $1,500 of spending. Otherwise, it’s a table-scraps 1% cashback rate on gas. Read full review.
All things credit cards
Explore investor.com's full coverage of credit cards, including in-depth, expert reviews of popular cards and head-to-head comparisons of the cards that will give you the best cashback rewards, based on your actual spending.
Is it better to buy gas with a rewards card or a gas station card?
Gas cards save you money at the pump — around five to 10 cents off per gallon. Rewards credit cards help you earn money, up to 5% cash back on the amount you spend.
Consumer Reports found that using a rewards credit card paying 5% cash back on gas purchases offered nearly twice the savings as the per-gallon discounts you’ll get with a gas credit card, offered by companies like ExxonMobil and Shell.
For example: Pump 12 gallons at $3.50 a gallon ($42 total), and the most you’ll save using a gas station card is $1.20. Swipe a rewards credit card that pays 5% cash back instead, and you’ll earn $2.10 on that same purchase. Even a 3% cashback rate on gas ($1.26) outpaces the per-gallon discount.
When gas prices go up, a rewards card becomes an even better way to pay at the pump. That’s because gas card discounts are calculated per gallon pumped, not the total amount you spend. Whether the price is $2.50 or $5.50 a gallon, you’ll save just 10 cents per gallon. A rewards card calculates your cashback rate based on the purchase price.
Not to be overly dramatic (we know we’re dealing with a difference of just a few bucks here), but when gas is $5.50 a gallon, it’s roughly 175% more profitable to use a rewards card than a gas card. Spend $82.50 filling your 15-gallon tank with the good stuff, and depending on which card you swipe, you’ll either earn $4.12 cash back (rewards card) or save $1.50 on fuel (gas card).
What is the best gas rewards card for a business owner?
A 3% cashback rate on gas is pretty standard with many business credit cards, and a handful offer more. Businesses that burn through a lot of fuel each year should pore over the rewards rules with the same care as you would any contract. Look for things like annual bonus caps, vendor exclusions (gas purchased at warehouse clubs and convenience stores are typically not eligible for the “gas rewards” rate), and whether the other rewards categories align with your business’s spending.
The following credit cards offer something extra for business owners looking to capitalize on their gas spending:
Unlimited earnings potential: The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card offers unlimited 3% cash back on gas and EV charging stations, as well as on office supplies, cell phone expenses, and wining and dining clients. It’s this card’s unlimited earnings potential — as in no annual spending caps — that make this card stand out from the other 3% cashback contenders. Read full review.
4% cash back on gas and EV charging worldwide: The Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card by Citi pays a handsome 4% rewards rate on the first $7,000 you spend on fuel and electrical charging, after which the cashback earnings shifts down to 1%. You don’t have to fill your tank at Costco to earn the bonus rewards rate, either. Fuel from regular gas stations qualifies for 4% cash back (though not at other warehouse/superstores), as does filling up a tank overseas. Plus, the Costco card charges no foreign transaction fees. Read full review.
Loyalty boost for banking customers: The Truist Business Cash Rewards Credit Card pays 3% cash back on gas (and 2% on restaurants and office supplies) on up to $2,000 of spending each month in the two bonus categories combined. The card shifts into a higher gear for Truist banking customers. You’ll automatically earn a 10% Loyalty Cash Bonus if you funnel your rewards into a Truist business checking, savings, or money market account. If your bank balance is $25,000 or more, the loyalty bump is 25% up to 50%, which turns a 3% cashback rate into 3.75% to 4.5% rewards rate. Read full review.
Flexible rewards rate for high-mileage months: The Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards card offers business owners the flexibility to choose your 3% cashback category each month. (Gas is one of six business-y spending categories.) It’s a handy feature if work trips are infrequent. There’s a $50,000 annual spending cap on purchases that qualify for the 2% (dining) and 3% (cardholder choice) tiers. Read full review.
Try our business credit card rewards calculator
Our business credit card finder makes it easy to find the cashback credit card that pays the highest kickback based on how much you actually spend each month on business needs.
Methodology
The results of the Best Credit Cards for Road Warriors list are based on data from the investor.com credit card rewards calculator and research into each provider’s terms and conditions.
The credit card tool calculates the annual dollar value of the rewards each credit card program pays per $1 spent in each “spend category.” It takes into account tiered reward rates, reward spending caps, default reward rates and annual fees to provide the most accurate results.
How we chose these credit cards: We used the investor.com credit card calculator to identify the cards with the most generous rewards terms on gas purchases and, where offered, EV charging purchases. The calculator automatically factors in bonus rates, rewards spending caps and annual fees. (p.s.: None of the picks on our list of best gas rewards cards charge an annual fee.)
Rewards earnings estimates: The annual cashback earnings ranges we cite are what an average consumer would earn using the card for fuel purchases. The default input we use in the calculator — $140 a month for gas; $1,680 per year — is based on consumer expenditure data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). We also calculated the maximum a cardholder could earn in gas rewards for road warriors who put a lot of mileage on their cards.
Other considerations: We also took into account other card features (the availability of a welcome bonus; offers roadside assistance; rewards eligibility on overseas fuel purchases) and limitations (cards where gas isn’t a permanent bonus rewards category; which cards honor the bonus rate when filling up at wholesale clubs).
Compare credit cards
Select and compare two credit cards head to head to see which offers the most bang for your buck.
Select Credit Cards
↓×- Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card
- American Express Cash Magnet
- Apple Card
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards (Gold Tier)
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards (Platinum Honors Tier)
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards (Platinum Tier)
- Blue Cash Everyday from American Express
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- BMO Harris Bank Cash Back Mastercard
- Capital One Quicksilver Rewards
- Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Good Credit
- Capital One QuicksilverOne
- Capital One Savor Rewards
- Capital One SavorOne Rewards
- Chase Freedom Flex
- Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Citi Custom Cash Card
- Citi Double Cash Card
- Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
- Credit One Bank American Express Card
- Credit One Platinum Rewards Visa
- Credit One Platinum Rewards Visa with No Annual Fee
- Credit One Platinum X5 Visa
- Discover it Cash Back
- Discover it Chrome
- PayPal Cashback Mastercard
- PenFed Power Cash Rewards
- Petal 2 Visa Card
- PNC Cash Rewards Visa Credit Card
- Sallie Mae Accelerate
- Sallie Mae Evolve Credit Card
- SoFi Credit Card
- TD Cash Credit Card
- Truist Enjoy Cash Credit Card
- U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card
- Upgrade Cash Rewards
- Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards
- USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card
- USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card
- Venmo Credit Card
- Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Compare
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- Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi Review
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- Best Business Credit Cards
- Top Financial Advisor Firms
- Best High-Yield Savings Accounts
About the Editorial Team
Dayana Yochim has been writing (articles, books, podcasts, stirring speeches) about personal finance and investing for more than two decades, focusing on bringing clarity and the occasional comedic aside to what is often a murky, humorless topic. She’s written for NerdWallet, The Motley Fool, HerMoney.com, Woman’s Day, Forbes, Newsweek and others, and been a guest expert on "Today," "Good Morning America," CNN, NPR and wherever they’ll hand her a mic.
Carolyn Kimball is Managing Editor for Reink Media Group and the lead editor for content on investor.com. Carolyn has more than 20 years of writing and editing experience at major media outlets including NerdWallet, the Los Angeles Times and the San Jose Mercury News. She specializes in coverage of personal financial products and services, wielding her editing skills to clarify complex (some might say befuddling) topics to help consumers make informed decisions about their money.
Andrea Coombes has 20+ years of experience helping people reach their financial goals. Her personal finance articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MarketWatch, Forbes, and other publications, and she's shared her expertise on CBS, NPR, "Marketplace," and more. She's been a financial coach and certified consumer credit counselor, and is working on becoming a Certified Financial Planner. She knows that owning pets isn't necessarily the best financial decision; her dog and two cats would argue this point.