What Are the Key Features of the Best Fleet Cards?

What Are the Key Features of the Best Fleet Cards?

What Are the Key Features of the Best Fleet Cards?

If you’re a business owner who spends a lot of money on fuel costs, a fleet card may help you save money and control fuel costs. Here are some of the most important considerations when you choose the best fleet fuel card for your small business. 

Wide acceptance

Acceptance is one of the most important criteria when choosing a fuel card. You need a card that will be accepted where you or your drivers need to use it. Generally, cards that carry a MasterCard or Visa logo are the most widely accepted. 

Discounts

Fuel spending can be a major expense, so it can be helpful to choose a card that offers fuel discounts, such as per gallon discounts, cash pricing at certain stations, or fuel rebates. 

Spending controls

If your business offers gas cards to employees or contractors, the ability to set spending limits can be essential. Purchase controls allow a business to restrict spending to certain drivers, day of the week, fuel type,  or other parameters. 

Detailed reporting

Keeping track of fuel costs is essential to running an efficient business fleet. Reporting tools can help your business stay on top of fuel expenses, and help your business make better decisions. 

Perks and rewards programs

Significant fuel spending can add up. Earning rewards can make it a little less painful. 

What Are the Top-Rated Fleet Fuel Cards?

Here is a summary of the top features of the most popular fleet cards: 

IssuerAccepted whereDiscountsSpend controlAccountingFeesRewards
Axle Fuel Card800 fueling locations across the Pilot Flying J and One9 Fuel networks.Manage locations, set card limits, and easily monitor activityNo transaction, account management, annual, or monthly feesCombine the Axle Fuel Card with the myRewards program. By stacking points, earn up 5 points per gallon with each fill when you activate PushForPoints®
BP Business Solutions Fuel Plus ProgramUse at thousands of bp or Amoco branded locations in the U.S.Block and request new cards. Maintain driver ID numbers as needed. Set purchasing limits by card.Transaction reports. Tailor reports to your business. Get access to tax-exempt reports.$12/month membership fee. Late fee is greater of $75 or 12.25% of the new balance.Continue to save up to 7¢ with volume-based rebates after promotion period ends
BP Business Solutions Mastercard® ProgramUse for fuel at any location that accepts Mastercard® cardsBlock and request new cards, Maintain driver ID numbers as needed, Set purchasing limits by cardTransaction reports. Tailor reports to your business. Get access to tax-exempt reports.$10/month membership fee (waived months where more than 5000 gallons are purchased). High credit risk fee of 2% of accounts credit/spend limit. Late fee for standard accounts: Greater of $75 or 7.25% of New Balance; High Credit Risk Accounts: Greater of $75 or 12.25% of New Balance. Out of network transaction fee.Save up to 7¢ with volume-based rebates after promotion period ends
Chevron Texaco Business CardAccepted at more than 8,000 Chevron and Texaco locations in U.S.Access exclusive discounts on auto parts, hotels and more.Driver ID numbers and odometer readings at the pump. Set controls by card or driver. Limit spending by time of day or day of week. Limit spending by product type (i.e. fuel only option), quantity, or dollar amount.24/7 online and mobile account access. Automatic paperless accounting. Create custom reports.No setup, annual, or monthly card fees.Earn volume-based rebates up to 6¢ per gallon at Chevron and Texaco locations.
Chevron Texaco Business Access Card (charge card)Accepted at any major U.S. fuel stationAccess exclusive discounts on auto parts, hotels and more.Driver ID numbers and odometer readings at the pump. Set controls by card or driver. Limit spending by time of day or day of week. Limit spending by product type (i.e. fuel only option), quantity, or dollar amount.24/7 online and mobile account access. Automatic paperless accounting. Create custom reports.$2.00 per fuel transaction applies only when fueling outside the Chevron and Texaco network.Earn volume-based rebates up to 6¢ per gallon at Chevron and Texaco locations.
Chevron Texaco Business Access Flex Card (credit card)Accepted at any major U.S. fuel stationAccess exclusive discounts on auto parts, hotels and moreDriver ID numbers and odometer readings at the pump. Set controls by card or driver. Limit spending by time of day or day of week. Limit spending by product type (i.e. fuel only option), quantity, or dollar amount.24/7 online and mobile account access. Automatic paperless accounting. Create custom reports.No setup, annual, or monthly card fees.Earn volume-based rebates up to 6¢ per gallon at Chevron and Texaco locations.
Circle K-CK Pro fleetAccepted at over 6,000 Circle K locations nationwideDriver loyalty program for additional savings. Exclusive driver discounts on drinks and food in-store.Odometer and driver PIN prompt at pump. Daily / weekly spending limits. Driver card limits – control spend by card. API integration with several telematics partners. Eliminate collecting paper fuel receipts. Itemized list of daily driver purchases. Real-time employee spend tracking.Access to 24/7 online fleet management tool. Customizable fleet reporting and expense tracking. Easy, online account management. Convenient online bill payment.No monthly or annual fees.Savings start at 5¢ per gallon at Circle K locations
Circle K-Pro Universal Fleet CardAccepted at 95% of fuel retailers across the countryDriver loyalty program for additional savings. Exclusive driver discounts on drinks and food in-store.Odometer and driver PIN prompt at pump. Daily / weekly spending limits. Driver card limits – control spend by card. API integration with several telematics partners. Eliminate collecting paper fuel receipts. Itemized list of daily driver purchases. Real-time employee spend tracking.Access to 24/7 online fleet management tool. Customizable fleet reporting and expense tracking. Easy, online account management. Convenient online bill payment.Monthly fee per card.Llate fee greater of $75 or 7.99% of the total balance due, if payment is not received before 3:30 ET on due date.Save on each gallon of gas at Circle K locations
Citgo Fleet CardAccepted at all CITGO locationsAccess exclusive discounts on auto parts, hotels and moreDriver PIN and odometer reading entered at the pump, Control spending by card or driver, Limit fueling by time of day or days of week, Limit card use by product type, location, or dollar amount24/7 online and mobile account access. Automatic fuel accounting.No monthly account fees.Save 10¢ on every gallon at CITGO for 6 months.
Citgo Fleet Select cardAccepted at all CITGO locationsAccess exclusive discounts on auto parts, hotels and more.Driver PIN and odometer reading entered at the pump. Control spending by card or driver. Limit fueling by time of day or days of week. Limit card use by product type, location, or dollar amount.24/7 online and mobile account access. Automatic fuel accounting.No setup, annual or card fees.Save 10¢ on every gallon at CITGO for 6 months. Standard rebates up to 7¢ per gallon.
Citgo Fleet Universal cardAccepted at CITGO, plus 95% of U.S. gas stationsAccess exclusive discounts on auto parts, hotels and moreDriver PIN and odometer reading entered at the pump. Control spending by card or driver and limit fueling by time of day or days of week. Limit card use by product type, location, or dollar amount.24/7 online and mobile account access. Automatic fuel accounting.Save 10¢ on every gallon at CITGO for 6 months. Standard rebates up to 7¢ per gallon.
Coast Visa® Fleet CardAccepted anywhere Visa® is accepted36 different discount partners across fuel, maintenance, roadside assistance, and accounting softwareSpending controls include number of transactions or total spend by day, week, or month, a requirement to provide odometer readings, and others. Assign cards to specific drivers and vehicles in online portal.Coast provides transaction-level details through its dashboard, reports, and alerts, allowing business to track purchases by driver and vehicle.$4 per monthly active user.
All charges made on this charge card are due and payable when you receive your periodic statement
Earn $100 opening account statement credit after spending $1,000 on purchases.
Earn 2¢ on every gallon with no tiers or excluded stations.
Comdata Fleet CardAccepted at 8,000 truck stops nationwideCash price plus up to an additional $.25 off per gallon at TA Petro, $.10 off at Pilot Flying J, $.08 at Love’s, AMBEST, Speedway / 7-Eleven, Casey’s and $.07 at Sheetz locations.Set up time, day, gallon and or price restrictions.Access to reporting that provides transaction visibility as it happens and collects expenses in one place.Discount card with a credit line.
Comdata Connect CardAccepted at 8,000 truck stops nationwideCash price plus up to an additional $.25 off per gallon at TA Petro, $.10 off at Pilot Flying J, $.08 at Love’s, AMBEST, Speedway / 7-Eleven, Casey’s and $.07 at Sheetz locations.Set up time, day, gallon and or price restrictions.Access to reporting that provides transaction visibility as it happens and collects expenses in one place.Discount card without a credit line. No credit check required.
Comdata OnRoad CardUniversal Mastercard® acceptanceZero transactions fees at millions of retail locations in the MasterCard Signature Debit network. Management of company and driver funds consolidated onto a single card solution. Surcharge-free ATM transactions at Allpoint and Cirrus ATMs. Real-time reports and tracking of purchases conducted on the Proprietary side of the card.
Comdata MastercardUniversal Mastercard® acceptanceGet cash price at majority of network stops
EFS Fleet CardAccepted at over 12,000 truck stopsReal-time online account reconciliation. Best-in-class purchases and financial controls.
EFS Fleet MastercardAccepted at over 12,000 truck stops. In the mastercard network 10.3 million locations, 575,000 for fuel/maintenanceCash price for fuel in EFS merchant network
Exxon Mobile-BusinessPro95% of U.S. gas stationsEarn up to 6¢ per gallon at Exxon and Mobil stationsDriver PINs entered at the pump. Real-time alerts. Set fuel controls by card or driver. Restrict fueling to certain times or product type, locations, or dollar amounts.Online and mobile account management tools and reporting, Custom report creationOne-time Setup Fee: $40. Monthly Card Fee: $2. https://www.exxonmobilfleetcards.com/faq/
Exxon Mobile-FleetPro12,000+ Exxon and Mobil locations plus 800+ commercial fueling stationsCustomized pricing with diesel-focused discountsDriver PINs entered at the pump. Real-time alerts. Set fuel controls by card or driver. Restrict fueling to certain times or product type, locations, or dollar amounts.Online and mobile account management tools and reporting, Custom report creation, Consolidated invoicing for commercial truck and gas station purchases
Fuelman Mixed Fleet Card40,000+ fueling locations in discount networkSave $0.08 on every gallon of diesel or unleaded fuel at the 40,000+ fueling locations included in discount networkHelp prevent fraud & misuse by customizing fuel controls. Manage driver profiles and turn cards on/off with just a few clicks. Real-time alerts for potentially fraudulent transactions.With highest plan you get Dedicated account management team, Enhanced trend reporting & alerts, Customizable dashboards & data visualizations, All-in-one maintenance management & payment program, Detailed fuel & tax reportingFuelman offers three program tiers that fit all of your business’s fuel card needs- Basic: Only $39 monthly; Pro: Only $59 monthly; and Enterprise: Only $99 monthly. Additional fees may apply for late payments and out-of-network purchases.With highest level plan you Earn 2 reward points per eligible gallon to redeem gift cards, merchandise, and more
Fuelman Diesel Fleet Card40,000+ fueling locations in discount networkSave $0.12 on every gallon of diesel fuel at the 40,000+ fueling locations in discount networkHelp prevent fraud & misuse by customizing fuel controls. Manage driver profiles and turn cards on/off with just a few clicks. Real-time alerts for potentially fraudulent transactions.With highest plan you get Dedicated account management team, Enhanced trend reporting & alerts, Customizable dashboards & data visualizations, All-in-one maintenance management & payment program, Detailed fuel & tax reportingFuelman offers three program tiers that fit all of your business’s fuel card needs- Basic: Only $39 monthly; Pro: Only $59 monthly; and Enterprise: Only $99 monthly. Additional fees may apply for late payments and out-of-network purchases.With highest level plan you Earn 2 reward points per eligible gallon to redeem gift cards, merchandise, and more
Fuelman MastercardFuel up anywhere Mastercard® is accepted.Save $0.03 per gallon on unleaded and diesel fuelcustomizable controls to help prevent employee misuse, giving you an advantage over traditional credit cards.Detailed fuel and tax reporting, Customizable spend dashboards and reports$59 per monthEarn 1 reward point per eligible gallon to redeem for gift cards
Pacific PrideNetwork of more than 55,000 sites nationallyTrack odometer and MPG. At Pacific Pride sites, transactions are limited to the type of fuel required by the vehicle, and Driver uses ID Number. Option to restrict purchases of misc items at Pacific Pride sites.Track important variables such as location, vehicle, driver, time and day, miles per gallon, cost per mile, and expose unusual activity. Fleet purchases consolidated on a single, easy to read billing statement.
Shell Fleet Plus® CardNearly 13,000 Shell stations and participating Jiffy Lube® locations* nationwideOngoing savings of up to 6¢ per gallon at Shell stationsSet limits on purchases. Activate, suspend and terminate cards using our online or mobile tools.With ClearView™ Snap and ClearView Essentials, pull up detailed fueling activity reports.No card feesPay less with discounts at participating Jiffy Lube locations. Money-saving insights on maintenance, mileage and training.
Shell Small Business™ CardNearly 13,000 Shell stations and participating Jiffy Lube® locations* nationwideOngoing savings of up to 6¢ per gallon at Shell stationsSet limits on purchases. Activate, suspend and terminate cards using our online or mobile tools.With ClearView™ Snap and ClearView Essentials, pull up detailed fueling activity reports.No card feesPay less with discounts at participating Jiffy Lube locations. Money-saving insights on maintenance, mileage and training.
Shell Fleet Navigator® CardAccepted at over 95% of all U.S. fueling stations and 45,000+ service locationsOngoing savings of up to 5¢ per gallon at Shell stationsSet limits on purchases. Activate, suspend and terminate cards using our online or mobile tools.With ClearView™ Snap and ClearView Essentials, pull up detailed fueling activity reports.20% Discount at participating Jiffy Lube locations*
U.S. Bank Voyager MastercardNationwide fleet card acceptance, as well as Canada and MexicoAssign specific controls and pump prompts. Support tracking and control of pre-purchased fuel.Integrate fuel and maintenance on a single platform to better manage total costs. Program management tool gives you visibility into fleet operations.
Wex Fleet CardAccepted at 95% of U.S. gas stationsEarn up to 3¢ rebate per gallon first 6 monthsTrack unauthorized use with closed-loop network.Create custom reports. Automatic, paperless fuel accounting and expense tracking. 24/7 online and mobile account management and bill payment.Discounts on fuel, tires, hotels, wireless, and more.
WEX Fleet FlexCardAccepted at 95% of U.S. gas stationsEarn 3¢ per gallon rebate for 6 monthsLimit spending by product type, location, or dollar amount. Restrict fueling to certain times or days. Set spending controls by card or driver, Driver ID numbers entered at pump.Purchase activity reports. Exception, transaction summary, and transaction deal reports. Financial summary, site summary, and exception summary reports. Tax exemption reports.

Information gathered independently from card issuer websites September 2024. Please check with issuer for current terms and conditions. 

What Is the Most Accepted Fleet Card?

Fleetcards are typically either tied to specific gas stations (closed loop) or are accepted anywhere a wider brand such as Mastercard or Visa (open loop). Those that are tied to MasterCard or another large brand are going to be the most widely accepted, however these cards don’t always offer the best discounts on fuel purchases. 

If you can get the fuel you need at a specific gas station chain, you’ll likely see the biggest cost savings by choosing a closed loop card. 

How Can Fleet Cards Improve Operational Efficiency?

Fleet cards can improve operational efficiency in several ways:

  • Online expense tracking and receipts
  • Account management and online bill payment
  • Create digital reports for both internal and tax purposes
  • Track drivers and their purchases
  • Easily control what drivers can purchase, when, and how much they can spend

Of course each card offers different features and benefits so it is important to make sure that you look at what they offer to make sure it fits your business needs. 

Which Fleet Fuel Card Provides the Most Comprehensive Reporting Tools?

Reporting tools can help you with a number of tasks including tracking and reporting driver spending, creating custom reports, and collecting receipts. 

If reporting is the most important factor for your business when picking a fleet fuel card, you may want to start by looking at the Fuelman cards, but many card providers offer a wide range of reporting tools.

What Are the Top-Rated Fleet Cards for Cost Efficiency?

When looking at the cost-efficiency of fleet cards, most are similar in the savings they provide. Typically, cards offer somewhere between 2¢ to 7¢ off per gallon when filling up at specific stations, though some offer cash fuel prices when paying with the card, and some offer reward points. 

Of course a discount is only beneficial if you can use it, so it’s essential to pick the right fuel card overall. 

Do Fleet Cards Offer Rewards or Discounts?

Many fleet cards that offer rewards or discounts. Typically most of the fleet card companies offer discounts or rebates on gasoline or diesel purchase at the gas station tied to the card. 

Some of the card companies also have partnerships with other companies—usually those in the auto or hotel industry— and will offer discounts or rewards there. 

Just make sure to check that the card company is partnered with the hotels or auto companies you’ll actually use.

Is There a Fleet Card That Integrates Well With GPS Tracking Systems?

Yes several fleet cards integrate with GPS tracking systems, including Fuelman, WEX, BP, Comdata, Chevron, and several others. It can be worth considering why you want GPS tracking, though. Some cards may instead offer advanced spending controls that may make GPS tracking unnecessary.

Is a Fleet Card The Best Choice for Your Business?

If your business has more limited fuel purchase needs, you may not need a fleet card. Instead, a business credit card that offers strong rewards on gas purchases can be a better option. 

Find the best business gas card and the best fuel cards for truck drivers

This article was originally written on September 24, 2024.

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