Gas prices have been a real gut punch so far this year. The national average climbed as high as $4.55 per gallon in May before easing somewhat in recent weeks, leaving many Americans paying far more at the pump than they'd like.
You can't control where gas prices go next, but you can make sure you're getting rewarded for every fill-up. And thanks to a recent change from Chase, one of the most popular travel rewards cards on the market is suddenly one of the best cards for gas purchases, too.
Earlier this month, Chase added 3x points per dollar spent at gas stations and EV charging stations to the *chase sapphire preferred*. The move puts the card in direct competition with longtime gas rewards favorites like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card while making the Sapphire Preferred even more compelling for travelers who value Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Whether you're looking to earn transferable travel points or maximize cash back, these are the best credit cards to use at gas stations right now.
Best Gas Station Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Until recently, the *chase sapphire preferred* wasn't a card you'd think to pull out at a gas station as it only earned 1x point per dollar spent on these purchases. But that changed last week, when Chase added the ability to earn 3x points per dollar spent at gas stations and on EV charging.
That puts the Sapphire Preferred on equal footing with the Citi Strata Premier in this category, but with an arguably stronger roster of transfer partners and an ecosystem most travelers are already plugged into, it instantly become our top choice for gas purchases. If you're using the Preferred as your primary travel card, there's now no reason to reach for anything else at the pump.
The card also packs a ton of other benefits that make it hard to believe the annual fee is only annual_fees a year.
Oh, and not to mention, it's currently out with a record-setting bonus offer: bonus_miles_full
Read more: Our Full Review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Learn more about the *csp*.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card has been the go-to travel rewards card for gas station spending for years … and it's still one of the best options, even with the Sapphire Preferred now in the picture.
The card earns 3x points per dollar spent at gas stations, plus 3x on air travel, hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets. That's an exceptional spread of bonus categories for a $95 annual fee card.
Citi ThankYou points transfer to a solid lineup of airline partners – including American Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Air France/KLM, and more – making them genuinely useful for award travel.
Read More: 6 Great Ways to Use Citi ThankYou Points
Learn more about the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (for full disclosure, this is not an affiliate link).
Capital One Venture or Venture X Rewards Credit Cards
Capital One's flagship travel cards aren't specifically designed for gas, but they're a reliable fallback for any purchase where you don't have a stronger bonus-earning option.
Both the *venture x* and the standard *capital one venture card* earn an unlimited 2x miles on every dollar you spend. That consistent floor is useful precisely because gas isn't always your top spending category in a given month, yet you're still earning transferable miles every time you fill up.
While both of these cards are good choices, the Venture X adds additional perks, including an up to $300 annual travel credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel, Priority Pass lounge access, and a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus each year. These added benefits make it worth a good, hard look for anyone in the market for a premium travel card at a budget-friendly price point.
Read our full Venture X vs. Venture Card comparison
Learn more about the *venture x*.
Learn more about the *capital one venture card*
Bilt Palladium Card
The Bilt Palladium Card earns 2x points per dollar spent on everything (including gas), putting it in the same tier as the Capital One cards for flat-rate earning. There is one key difference, though: Bilt points are transferable to some of the most valuable airline and hotel programs on the planet.
With a $495 annual fee, this card has a narrower audience than anything else on this list, but it makes sense if you're already deep in the Bilt ecosystem – earning points on rent or mortgage payments, neighborhood spending, and simply want a card that earns solid transferable points on everything else, including gas.
As a standalone gas card, the math doesn't work. As part of a broader Bilt strategy, it's a reasonable option for the right cardholder.
Read More: From No Thanks to No-Brainer: Why I Pulled a U-Turn on the Bilt Palladium Card
Apply for the Bilt Palladium Card (for full disclosure: this is a personal referral link).
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
If you shop at Costco regularly and put a lot of miles on your car, this one is worth a look.
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi earns 4% cash back per dollar spent at gas stations, on up to $7,000 per calendar year (1% after that), and EV charging purchases are included in that rate.
You'll also earn 3% back on restaurant and travel spending, 2% at Costco and Costco.com, and 1% everywhere else. There's no traditional annual fee, but you do need an active Costco membership ($65/year for Gold Star, $130 for Executive).
For high-mileage drivers who already have a Costco membership, the 4% gas rebate is the strongest pure cashback offer on this list.
Learn more about the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi (for full disclosure, this is not an affiliate link).
Best Gas Station Credit Cards for Businesses
American Express® Business Gold Card
The American Express® Business Gold Card earns 4x points per dollar spent on the two categories where your business spends the most each month (up to $150,000 spent in combined purchases in a calendar year). Those categories include:
- Airfare purchased directly from airlines
- U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
- U.S. purchases made directly from select technology providers of computer hardware, software, and cloud solutions
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- U.S. purchases for shipping
If gas is one of your top business expenses, you won't find a better return than 4x per dollar spent at the pump.
Learn more about the *biz gold*.
Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card
The *Ink Cash* earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each year. You'll also earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants each year, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Better yet, the card has no annual fee!
And the cash back you earn from the Ink Business Cash card gets even more valuable if you pair it with a *chase sapphire preferred* or the *chase sapphire reserve*. That's because you can then turn that cash back into valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points to redeem towards travel.
Learn more about the *Ink Cash*.
Bottom Line
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is now one of the best cards for earning rewards on gas, thanks to its new 3x points per dollar at gas stations and EV charging stations. Pair that with the strength of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, and it's an easy choice for anyone who already has the card in their wallet.
If you don't have a Sapphire Preferred, the Citi Strata Premier remains a strong alternative, offering the same 3x rewards rate on gas and access to a similarly strong lineup of transfer partners.
No Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card? Yes Costco Anywhere Visa but no Sam’s Club Mastercard?