A fuel card can help your small business save money by providing your employees with a convenient way to pay at the pump. The best fuel card for small businesses is one that has low fees, generous rewards, and impressive flexibility.
8 Best Fuel Cards for Small Businesses
We’ve thoroughly reviewed dozens of popular options and identified the best fuel cards for small businesses based on their rewards, features, and fees. Use our recommendations to choose the right card for your business.
- Best Coast-to-Coast Acceptance: WEX
- Best for Ease of Use: Coast
- Best for Fuel Savings: Fuelman Mixed Fleet Card
- Best for No Fees: Shell Small Business Fuel Card
- Best Rebates for Large Fleets: BP Business Solutions Fuel Card
- Best for Diesel Savings: TruckSmarter
- Best Network of Gas Stations: 76 Universal Fuel Card
- Best for Managing Fuel Usage: Comdata Fuel Card
WEX
- Best for: Coast-to-Coast Acceptance
If your small team drives across multiple states, WEX stands out for its massive U.S. footprint. The platform adds helpful controls—like real-time purchase alerts and automatic fuel-expense tracking—to keep spending tidy and admin hours low. You can choose among several WEX programs to match your fleet size and needs.
Special Features:
- Detailed reporting that breaks down fuel spend by driver, vehicle, or location
- Mobile payment options for faster, card-in-wallet checkouts
Benefits:
- Accepted at virtually all major U.S. fuel brands plus a wide network of service locations
- Streamlined payments and easy controls on where, when, and how cards are used
- Well-rated driver app experience
- Program options tailored for different fleet sizes
Disadvantages:
- Rebates are decent but not the richest on the market
- Some program fees aren’t disclosed publicly, making comparison shopping harder
Coast
- Best for: Ease of Use
Coast is built for small teams that want straightforward fuel management without the fine print. The Visa-backed card works at virtually any station that accepts Visa, while the dashboard gives you real-time visibility into spending, budgets, and permissions. With a flat monthly price and clear controls, it’s a low-lift way to keep fuel costs organized.
Special Features:
- Quick, intuitive controls and security settings for every card and user
- Built-in spending and budgeting tools with real-time tracking
- Downloadable spending reports
Benefits:
- Consolidate fleet purchases under one account
- No personal guarantee required
- Responsive customer support
- Purchase and expense tracking to simplify admin work
Disadvantages:
- Not optimized for very large fleets with complex needs
- Perks are lighter than high-reward competitors
Fuelman Mixed Fleet Card
- Best for: Fuel Savings
Fuelman offers several levels of fuel cards to meet the needs of various sizes of companies and organizations. The Fuelman Mixed Fleet Enterprise offers full performance analytics, including driver scoring and state-by-state spend mapping. It's widely accepted at more than 60,000+ stations nationwide on the Fuelman Network.1
Special Features:
- Real-time alerts for potentially fraudulent transactions
- Option to set spending limits
- Ability to activate access restrictions for certain employees' cards
- Strong purchasing controls
- Reports that make budgeting and accounting simple
Benefits:
- Large network of fuel stations that participate in rewards
- Save 8¢ on every gallon of diesel or unleaded fuel at the 40,000+ fueling locations included in our discount network.2
Disadvantages:
- Several potential hidden fees
- Mixed BBB reviews
Disclaimer:
- 1 Fuelman sites can be found at www.fuelman.com/sitelocator
- 2 Fuelman discount sites can be found at http://www.fuelman.com/sitelocator. Not valid on off-road diesel, high-speed diesel, aviation, bulk fuel, propane or natural gas purchases. To receive rebates, invoice must be paid in full and on time. Rebates subject to change beginning 12 months after account setup.
Shell Small Business Fuel Card
- Best for: No fees and outstanding rewards
The Shell Small Business Fuel Card is specifically designed for small businesses, which means you won’t have to risk your personal credit score or assets if something goes wrong and you can’t pay the balance. You’ll reap great rewards all while avoiding monthly fees and set-up costs.
Special Features:
- Set limits on how much each user can spend
- Manage the card entirely online, including adding or terminating users
- View analytics to understand savings opportunities
- Reduce the risk of fraud by requiring driver IDs
Benefits:
- Zero fees as long as you pay off the balance of the card each month
- Free real-time monitoring
- Low credit score requirements, which makes it good for beginners
- No cost for additional users or cards
- Option to view statements in a consolidated format or by user ID
Disadvantages:
- Only usable at Shell gas stations
- Only beneficial for larger fleets that fill up tanks regularly
BP Business Solutions Fuel Card
- Best for: Large rebates with few fees
This fuel card isn’t ideal for very small businesses that are just getting started because you’ll need to purchase a fair amount of fuel for each billing cycle to make it worth your while. But for larger companies, the card is beneficial in multiple ways, with impressive rebates for companies that purchase a significant amount of fuel.
Special Features:
- Fuel rebates start at three cents per gallon after you purchase 300 gallons worth of purchased fuel. The rebates increase the more fuel you purchase, reaching seven cents per gallon when you purchase 10,000 or more gallons of fuel.
- Accepted at 175,000 gas station locations
- Set controls and limitations per day, week, or month
Benefits:
- Real-time reporting on card usage
- Set purchase controls to eliminate unnecessary spending
- Use online tools to activate or deactivate your card
- Customer service is readily available and based in the U.S.
Disadvantages:
- Fuel payments at stations outside the BP network are subject to transaction fees.
- You can only receive rebates when purchasing fuel from BP and Amoco stations.
- The BP network has gaps in the midwestern, southern, and northeastern parts of the U.S.
TruckSmarter
- Best for: Biggest diesel savings
TruckSmarter partners with hundreds of truck stops across the country to give drivers and owner-operators large discounts on fuel. Customers typically save up to $1.50/gallon. No fuel card is needed because transactions are carried out directly in the TruckSmarter app.
You'll find fuel discounts on your route nationwide at mom and pop truck stops, travel centers, and chains like Maverik, Roady’s, GrubMart, Quicklees, Davis, Taylor Quik Pik.
Special Features:
- Easy-to-use
- Up to $1.50/gal savings, average 20¢/gal savings
- No fuel card needed
- No transaction fees
Benefits:
- Interactive fuel finder map to find fuel savings along your route
- Itemized fuel statements for IFTA reporting
- Driver support from U.S.-based support team
- Additional fuel savings for factoring customers
- Access to load board for free
Disadvantages:
- Temporary pre-authorization charge
- Limited desktop features
76 Universal Fuel Card
- Best for: Largest network of gas stations with rebates
You can use the 76 Universal Fuel Card at over 45,000 locations across the country. It’s the most flexible fuel card available, but you do need to purchase a higher volume of fuel during each billing cycle in order to experience the benefits of the 76 Universal Fuel Card.
The biggest catch is that you can only receive fuel rewards when you use this card at one of the 7,600 Conoco, 76, or Phillips 66 locations. Look at the locations of these gas stations before you opt for this card.
Special Features:
- Universally accepted at a wide variety of fuel locations
- Option to pick from a fleet-based or universal card
- Monthly reports with driver and vehicle breakdowns
- Tools to reduce unauthorized spending
Benefits:
- Excellent rewards for companies that purchase large volumes of fuel
- No interest as long as you pay off the charge card balance on a monthly basis
- One of the largest per-gallon rebates available
Disadvantages:
- Wex administers the card, and the company is hard to reach
- The online resources and spending summaries are limited
- Rebates are only available from a small network of stations
- Some users report lag times when waiting to receive their rebates
Comdata Card
- Best for: Managing fuel usage
The Comdata Card is ideal for small businesses that manage no more than fifty trucks. However, it can service far larger businesses as well. It’s best known for its mobile app, which makes it easy to find participating locations for the card, of which there are more than 15,000 stations nationwide.
Special Features:
- Unique hotel discounts
- Best-in-class mobile app
- Driver payroll management tools
Benefits:
- The FleetAdvance mobile app makes it easy to locate eligible gas stations.
- Save money on other services, including hotel stays and tire replacements.
- The app helps drivers find and pay for CAT scale transactions.
Disadvantages:
- Not a fully nationwide card
- Monthly fee per card is fairly high compared to leading competitors
- It does not offer the same type of rebate program that other fuel cards offer
What is a Business Fuel Card?
A business fuel card or fleet fuel card works as a line of credit businesses use to pay for gasoline and other automobile-related expenses such as insurance or maintenance. Fuel cards can be secured or unsecured credit lines that offer a number of benefits and discounts.
Business fuel cards are generally net 30, meaning fuel card service providers report timely payments monthly to business credit bureaus. As a result, business fuel cards are a highly effective way companies can build their business credit.
In general, it’s easier for businesses to qualify for fuel cards than traditional credit cards. Some business fuel card providers may require a deposit to secure a fuel card until you establish your creditworthiness.
How Does a Fuel Card For Small Businesses Work?
If you have a decent-sized fleet, fuel could be your largest expense. So, fuel cards work in the following ways.
- The business owner or company manager will set up the fuel card and assign rights to employees to use the card.
- Each employee is assigned an individual spending limit based on their role in the company.
- The fuel card tracks all purchases made online and provides a convenient way to document these expenses.
- Drivers no longer have to retain physical copies of their receipts or manually fill out expense reports.
- Administrators can download expense reports as a whole. You can also download a report specific to a particular driver’s ID and look for ways to save on expenses.
- Each time a driver uses a fuel card at a participating location, you can get money back in the form of fuel rebates based on your card’s agreements.
- There are easy budgeting options and tools to estimate your fuel expenses each month.
Learn more about fuel cards and how they work here.
Do Credit Scores Impact Access to Fuel Cards?
Most fuel cards are also credit cards. Truckers with low credit scores are less likely to get approved by these fuel card companies because a credit check is part of the approval process.
If you’re concerned about your credit score and still want fuel cards for your trucking business, the best options are fuel cards with no credit check. These gas cards are typically prepaid or low-balance options that present less risk for the card issuing company.
What is a No Credit Check Business Fuel Card?
A no credit check fuel card allows drivers to purchase fuel without undergoing a credit check. It's often prepaid or secured by a deposit. Ideal for businesses with poor credit, alternative solutions like these make managing fuel expenses easier. However, they may lack some benefits of traditional fuel cards, like detailed reporting.
A no credit check fuel card for truckers is ideal for:
- New trucking businesses: Lacking a credit history, these companies find traditional credit-based fuel cards hard to secure.
- Businesses with poor credit: Companies with low credit scores may not qualify for conventional fuel cards, seeking out trucker gas cards for bad credit.
- Owner-operators: Independent truckers may prefer these small business fuel cards for simplified expense tracking without credit scrutiny.
- Seasonal operations: Businesses with fluctuating income can benefit from the straightforward prepayment structure.
- Companies seeking control: These easy gas credit cards help limit unauthorized spending, as they can only be used for fuel purchases.
What to Consider When Choosing a Fuel Card for Small Business
As you take a look at the fuel card for small business options, consider these key aspects to get the greatest benefit from the card you choose.
Minimal Fees
If a fuel card’s fees are too high, you’ll likely end up paying more to use one of these cards and reap fewer benefits along the way. Look for a fuel card with minimal fees, especially when it comes to monthly costs and annual fees. You can avoid high interest rates as well by paying off the card balance each month, but keep in mind that there might be some fees that you cannot avoid nor reduce.
Low APR
To prepare for the off-chance that you run into financial difficulties down the line, it’s a good idea to select a card that offers a low APR. That way, if you end up carrying a balance over from one month to the next, you won’t have to face expensive fees.
Mobile Account Access
Both managers and drivers alike will appreciate a fuel card with good mobile access. Drivers appreciate the opportunity to search for in-network fuel stations, while managers will want to know how they're doing in terms of their monthly budgets.
Rewards
The greater the rewards, the greater the financial impact of your fuel card. Rewards can appear in the form of rebates for every gallon of fuel you purchase, or discounts on common services that fleet businesses need, like oil changes or new tires.
Just be sure the card’s rewards align with your business and its needs. There are many different reasons why a company would manage a fleet, and each fleet is incredibly unique, so don’t fall for a one-size-fits-all fuel card.
Spending Limits
Placing a limit on your company’s spending budget is one of the greatest benefits of selecting the best fuel card for small businesses. Choose a card that allows you to set limits for each driver or each type of driver.
Placing limits on your employees’ spending habits will help you stay in line with your budget. Plus, it’ll make it easier for you to meet your financial goals and objectives without checking your purchases weekly, daily, or even hourly if you manage a large fleet with many drivers.
Pros and Cons of Fuel Cards for Your Business
Getting a fuel card for your business will result in many great benefits for your company.
Pros of Fuel Cards
Here’s a look at why you should add this financial tool to your small business.
- Eliminates the need to collect and document physical copies of receipts
- Deep analytics to better understand your spending
- Spending limits based on your fleet's needs
- Accessible spending reports from anywhere to make budgeting easier
- Lost or stolen cards can be cancelled with the click of a button
- Alerts about financial misuse to curb unnecessary spending
Cons of Fuel Cards
While fuel cards have many great benefits, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider.
- Reporting for personal use vs business use is hard
- You’ll need to trust that your employees will use the card properly
- Drivers will need to learn how to use the card and input their data appropriately
- Your drivers will need to look up fuel stations within the card’s network and potentially go out of their way for the best savings
- Many cards include monthly per-card fees
FAQ
Should I get a fuel card for my business?
If you offer a fuel program or reimbursement opportunity for your drivers, then you’ll have far more management and insights into these expenses if you sign up for a fuel card for your business. Companies that provide per-mile reimbursement will not view a fuel card as being as beneficial for their business as other fleet management companies will.
What is the easiest business gas card to get?
The easiest gas card is going to be the one that doesn’t require a high credit score or extensive credit for small businesses. As such, the Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit is a great option if you have limited or poor business credit.
How do fleet fuel card discounts work?
Fleet fuel cards enable trucking businesses to effectively decrease expenses related to fuel and maintenance through a network of affiliated merchants and fuel stations. By leveraging these cards, you can save money on trucking expenditures while also maintaining detailed visibility into how your funds are allocated. Additionally, fleet fuel cards let you exercise control over how drivers utilize the cards, ensuring they are not used for personal expenses and preventing excessive spending.
What credit score is needed for a fuel card?
Most fuel card service providers require customers to have fair credit. Fair credit is at least a 580 FICO score. A FICO score above 640 on business credit reports ensures the best chances of getting approved for practically any card.
Do fuel cards report to credit bureaus?
Yes, fuel cards report to business credit bureaus usually on a net-30 basis. By “net 30,” we mean they report timely payments after 30 days. You can typically expect to see on-time payments in your credit score within 60 days of opening net-30 accounts.
Are fuel cards safer than credit cards?
On the whole, fuel cards are much safer than traditional credit cards for fleet fuel purchases. Fuel cards are the best option for fleet owners since fuel cards have safety features like unique driver IDs. This feature means that a special code must be entered at the pump in order to purchase fuel. The increased safety features allow fleet owners to reduce fuel card fraud and track spending effectively.
