If you drive, regardless of whether you’re behind the wheel of an electric car or a gas car, you know it can get expensive to fuel your vehicle.
Whenever I’m at the pump, I reach for my Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Its rewards at US gas stations help to offset the monthly expense of filling my tank.
If you’re looking for a card that rewards you for having an EV, you’ll want to compare options that offer cash back or points for EV charging and other “green” purchases.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, click here.
Who should get a gas or EV credit card?
Unless you can take advantage of other higher rewards categories, a gas or EV credit card may not make sense for your wallet if you work from home or don’t drive much. But a card may suit your budget if you spend a lot of time behind the wheel.
Gas credit cards
Gas station-specific credit cards can help you earn rewards at the pump. In most cases, you can enhance the impact by using a credit card that offers rewards on gas station purchases with a gas station loyalty program.
Gas station loyalty programs offer points for purchases that can then be used for merchandise or discounted gas. Some programs let you connect an existing debit or credit card with an account to earn rewards. However, gas credit cards are typically more rewarding and flexible.
The best gas credit cards also offer bonus rewards on EV charging.
EV credit cards
A credit card for EV charging is just like any other credit card, but it offers benefits for EV-related purchases. For the most part, these benefits come in the form of cash-back or rewards points for EV charging bills, which can add up over the course of a year.
Credit cards for EV charging let users earn rewards when they charge their cars on the road or at home. Cardholders who want to take advantage can pay for EV charging stations and their home electric bill with their credit cards.
Whether you use a credit card for gas or EV charging, or both, it’s important to pay credit card balances in full to avoid interest charges.
Read more: Is EV Charging Cheaper Than Buying Gas? We Did the Math
Pros and cons of credit cards for gas or EV charging
✅Pros:
- You’ll earn rewards for everyday transit spending.
- Most cards offer additional benefits and perks.
- Many credit cards that let you earn rewards on gas or EV charging also offer perks like travel insurance or cell phone insurance.
❌Cons:
- Credit cards that earn rewards often require good or excellent credit (a 670 FICO score or above).
- Can be a hassle to keep track of cards that have rewards caps or changing categories.
- Loyalty credit cards that offer fuel discounts at warehouse club stores, like Costco, generally require a membership.
How to choose the best credit card for fueling purchases
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a credit card. Consider these tips to find the right credit card for your needs.
Assess your personal credit. The best credit cards require good or excellent credit. If your credit score isn’t quite in the good credit range, but you want to earn rewards for EV or gas purchases, use these tips to help boost your score or look at credit cards for fair credit.
Consider annual fees. With any rewards card, the annual fee can erode your earnings or exceed them. To decide if a credit card’s annual fee is worth it, be sure that you can earn enough rewards through normal spending to at least cover the fee. Plenty of cards have no annual fee, although the cards that do often offer higher reward rates, larger welcome bonuses and better card perks.
Compare cardholder benefits. Look at the benefits each card offers and decide which ones are most helpful for you. These could include 0% intro APR offers for purchases or balance transfers, travel insurance benefits and cell phone insurance and more.
Look closely at rewards rates. Credit cards that offer better-than-average reward rates on EV charging or gas purchases may also have other bonus categories, so check out which aligns best with your current spending habits. There are also flat-rate rewards credit cards that offer the same cash-back rewards rate on purchases, which could be attractive if you don’t want to bother tracking rewards categories.
Select the type of rewards you want to earn. Finally, make sure you’re earning rewards you can use. Investigate rewards programs to confirm you like the redemption options available with different cards.
How can I save money by using a credit card?
With a gas or EV charging credit card, you earn rewards every time you swipe to refuel or recharge. Your rewards will then show up in your account and then typically can be redeemed for statement credits to lower your overall balance. However, statement credits won’t reduce your monthly minimum payment, and you’re still responsible for paying off your balance on time and in full to avoid accruing interest.
Some cards might allow you to redeem your rewards toward other purchases, like travel. In some cases, how you redeem will affect how much your points are worth. Generally, if you have a dedicated travel credit card, redeeming rewards for travel will be the most lucrative choice.
Alternatives to gas or EV charging cards
If you want to earn rewards for spending but you don’t necessarily want to prioritize rewards on fuel purchases, you can expand your search to the following:
Cards that fall into each of these categories offer different types of rewards you can earn for spending, each with their own benefits and features.
How to apply for a credit card
Follow these steps to apply for a gas or EV credit card:
- Compare cards to find the right fit. Use this guide to help find a credit card that matches your lifestyle and spending habits.
- Apply securely on the card issuer’s secure website. Some card issuers also let you apply for a new account over the phone.
- Submit your application. Be prepared to share information like your household income, your Social Security number, your monthly housing payment and your contact information. The card issuer will conduct a hard inquiry on your credit reports during the application process.
- Use your card responsibly. If you’re approved for the card, make sure to pay your credit card bill in full each month to avoid the high interest rates most credit cards charge for carrying a balance.
**All information about American Express cards have been collected independently by CNET. American Express cards are no longer available through CNET.
