Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure. Your annual gas rewards savings depend on how much you spend filling up your car's fuel tank each year.
To develop our rewards predictions for the cards above, we used average consumer gasoline spending data. Based on that, we expect you can save around $50 to $100 annually using a card that earns 3x/3% or more at gas stations — and that's before accounting for any other rewards categories or spending. Starting from the average, you can use your own spending to determine which card offers the best savings for you.
If you have a long commute or take regular road trips, you may want to prioritize a card with no annual cap on gas rewards, for example, so you can ensure you maximize that spending year-round. On the other hand, if you spend closer to the national average (about $160 to $250 per month) on gas, you might be fine with a spending cap in exchange for a higher rewards rate up to that max. Credit card issuers can have different standards for "gas" or "gas station" rewards categories, so it's always important to read the terms of any new card before you apply.
Gas stations, for the purpose of rewards, usually means retailers that sell gasoline for cars, which you can either buy at the pump or purchase inside with an attendant. Boat marinas, as well as gas pumps at supermarkets, superstores like Walmart, and wholesale clubs like Costco may not count toward your gas rewards, but it often depends on how the transaction is coded by the merchant when you buy. Some issuers also offer the same bonus rewards for both gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations.
If you have an electric vehicle, look for this specifically within the terms of your card — if it's not listed, you may not earn boosted rewards at EV charging stations. Finally, look for any requirement of "U.S. gas stations" within your rewards agreement. Say, for example, you plan to rent a car on a vacation abroad and want to use your card to earn rewards internationally.
Before doing so, make sure your card earns gas rewards worldwide (and don't forget to check potential foreign transaction fees, too). For our list of best gas credit cards, we primarily looked at general rewards credit cards that offer solid perks on gas station purchases. For most people with variable expenses and average spending on gas, we believe a more general rewards option can help maximize overall spending.
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