Whether you’re a real estate agent who spends a lot of time driving to show properties, a contractor who often travels to job sites, a trucker, or any other business owner whose business requires frequent fuel purchases, you’ll want to consider a gas card for your company. A business credit card with fuel rewards can offer discounts, rewards or both.

Here we’ll guide you through choosing the best business gas credit cards for your small business. 

Benefits of Using a Business Gas Credit Card

Here are three great reasons to consider using a business gas credit card:

Rewards

Fuel costs can add up quickly. Discounts and rewards are the two biggest benefits of business credit cards for gas purchases. Some credit cards offer significant cash back rewards for these purchases, which can be comparable to getting a discount on each purchase if you use that cash back to pay for fuel. (You usually don’t have to.)

Better cash flow

Another reason to use a business gas credit card is to improve cash flow. With most business credit cards you will have time to pay the bill in full and avoid interest charges. In fact, most business credit cards will offer a grace period of 21 to 25 days.

As long as you pay your entire statement balance in full by the due date, you won’t have to pay interest charges. Depending on how you time your purchases, you may get somewhere between 21 and 55 days of interest-free financing. 

Also, some card offers feature 0% intro APR welcome offers that apply to purchases and/or balance transfers. As long as you pay your balance in full before the intro period ends, you may get several months of purchases interest-free.

Expense management

Expense management is another popular benefit of fuel cards. With a business credit card you can more easily track and manage your fuel purchases. If you have employees or contractors who need to fill up at gas stations, you can provide them with cards and avoid the hassles of reimbursements.

Many card issuers offer free cards to employee authorized users. With these cards, you can impose spending limits, while utilizing real-time expense tracking and reporting. And best of all, as the primary account holder, you can earn rewards for purchases they make on those cards.

Top Business Credit Cards With Gas Rewards

Here are some of the best small business credit cards with higher-than-average gas rewards:

1. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Great rewards card for fuel and groceries

If you prefer to fill up at a gas station of your choosing rather than be limited to one spot, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers great rewards: 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations. 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases.. There’s a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

2. Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi

Save even more with Costco’s competitive gas prices

Costco is a popular place to fill up the tank due to its very competitive fuel prices. You can save even more with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi due to its cash back rewards program: 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel. 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com. 1% cash back on all other purchases. There is ​​a $0 annual fee with your paid Costco membership.

3. Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

Great rewards rate on fuel purchases for travelers loyal to Marriott

Spending at gas stations can earn you significant points on this travel card. Earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. 2x points on all other eligible purchases. 

LIMITED TIME OFFER: Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Points after you use your new Card to make $8,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms apply. Offer ends 03/12/2025.

4. Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®

Popular with travelers loyal to American Airlines

The Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® is great for business travelers who want to get miles for their gas and other purchases. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations. Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on other purchases. The annual fee is $99, waived for first 12 months.

5. Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

Solid all around cash back benefits

With the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card, 1.5% cash back on all purchases. There’s also a welcome offer: $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening. There is $0.00 annual fee for this card, and the APR is 0% for 9 billing cycles on purchases with a 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR on purchases after that.

6. American Express® Business Gold Card

Pick your top rewards categories

With the American Express® Business Gold Card you Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories.

Categories include:

• Gas stations
• Airfare purchases directly from airlines.
• Online, TV and radio advertising.
• Computer hardware, software and cloud systems from select technology providers.
• Restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
• Shipping.

Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.* The annual fee for this card is $375, and if you’re worried about foreign transaction fees, there are None.

7. Coast Visa® Fleet Card

Solid fleet fuel card for managing employee expenses

This card is marketed as a fleet card, meaning it can be used at any gas station or truck stop where Visa cards are accepted. Furthermore, this is a corporate card that you can qualify for without a personal guarantee.

Earn up to 10¢ on every gallon on your statement. 4-10¢ off per gallon at 30,000+ locations. You also Earn $100 opening account statement credit after spending $1,000 on purchases. There’s a charge of $4 per monthly active user. 

Fleet Fuel Cards vs. Business Gas Credit Cards

When it comes to managing fuel expenses, business owners have two primary options: fleet fuel cards and business gas credit cards. While both can help streamline fuel purchases and track expenses, they serve different purposes and offer distinct advantages.

Fleet fuel cards

Fleet fuel cards are designed for businesses with multiple vehicles or a fleet of drivers. These cards usually function as charge cards, meaning the balance must be paid in full each billing cycle. They often come with expense management features, allowing business owners to track fuel usage, set spending limits, and monitor transactions in real-time.

Key benefits of fleet fuel cards:

• Fuel discounts & rebates: Many fleet cards offer per-gallon discounts or rebates, reducing overall fuel costs.
• Restricted purchases: Fleet cards are typically limited to fuel and vehicle-related expenses, helping prevent unauthorized spending.
• Extensive acceptance: Some fleet cards, like the WEX Fleet Card, are accepted at 95% of U.S. fuel stations.
• Detailed reporting: Businesses can often track driver spending, monitor fuel efficiency, and set spending limits for employees.
• No personal credit check (in some cases): Fleet fuel cards may be approved based on business credit history rather than personal credit scores.

Top Fleet Fuel Cards*

• WEX Fleet Cards – Accepted at over 95% of U.S. fuel stations and 45,000 service locations.
• Fuelman® Fuel Cards – Designed for fleet expense management with multiple card options.
• U.S. Bank Voyager Mastercard – Accepted at 320,000 gas stations and truck stops with no transaction fees (but a $3 billing period charge).
• Brand-specific fleet cards – Many major fuel brands, including Arco, BP, Casey’s, CEFCO, and Speedway, offer their own fleet cards.

Business gas credit cards

As we’ve described earlier, business gas credit cards work similarly to traditional business credit cards but often offer enhanced cash back rewards or points on fuel purchases. 

Unlike fleet cards, cardholders can use business gas credit cards for a wide range of business purchases beyond fuel, such as office supplies, travel, and dining. Most of them allow businesses to carry a balance and make minimum payments if necessary.

Which one is right for your business?

The choice between a fleet fuel card and a business gas credit card depends on your business needs. Overall:

• Fleet fuel cards are ideal for businesses with multiple vehicles that need strict spending controls and detailed reporting.
• Business gas credit cards are better for small business owners looking to earn cash back, rewards, or flexible spending options beyond just fuel.

For businesses that only need to cover gas and maintenance for a fleet, fleet fuel cards may provide better savings and expense tracking. However, for businesses that want a more versatile credit card that earns rewards, a business gas credit card might be the better option.

*All information about the WEX, Fuelman®, U.S. Bank Voyager, Arco, BP, Casey’s, CEFCO, and Speedway credit cards have been collected independently by Nav. These cards are not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.

How to Qualify for a Business Gas Card

Qualifying for a business gas card depends on the type of card you choose—business gas credit cards or fleet fuel cards—and your personal or business credit. 

Business gas credit cards

Business gas credit cards issued by major credit card issuers typically require a personal credit check for approval. Most issuers expect applicants to have good to excellent credit (typically a FICO score of 670 or higher). 

For income, you can usually provide household income and business revenue. That means your business doesn’t have to make a lot of money yet to qualify, provided your total household income is strong. 

Those qualifications will often impact.

• Approval – Higher credit scores increase your chances of qualifying.
• Interest rates (APR) – A strong credit profile may help you secure a lower interest rate.
• Credit limit – A higher credit score and solid income can lead to a larger credit line.

It’s worth emphasizing that even startups may qualify for a business credit card, as long as their personal credit is strong and they have sufficient income from all sources. 

Many business gas credit cards require a personal guarantee, meaning you’re personally responsible for the debt if the business cannot pay. 

And many of these cards will report payment history to business credit, rather than to your personal credit. 

Fleet fuel cards

Fleet fuel cards, which are often limited to fuel and vehicle-related purchases, are designed for businesses, and may have different qualification requirements. Some providers do not require a personal credit check, instead evaluating your business’s financial health, time in business, and revenue. 

However, some fleet cards do check both personal and business credit during the application process.

Fleet card issuers may look at:

• Business credit history – A strong business credit profile can improve approval odds.
• Revenue and cash flow – Some fleet cards require a minimum monthly revenue.
• Time in business – New businesses may face stricter approval criteria.

If you’re looking to qualify for a business gas card without relying on personal credit, it’s essential to build your business credit profile first.

How to Apply for a Business Gas Card

Applying for a business gas card is straightforward, and in many cases, you can get a decision on your application within minutes. Pulling together the right information in advance will make the application process easier and smoother. 

Step 1: Choose the right business gas card

Before applying, compare different gas cards to find the best fit for your business needs. Consider:

• Rewards and benefits, such as cash back, discounts, or loyalty rewards
• Accepted locations to ensure the card is widely accepted at gas stations you frequent
• Fees and interest rates, including annual fees, foreign transaction fees, and APR rates
• Personal guarantee requirements, determining if the card relies on personal or business credit

The lists of credit cards earlier in this article can help you narrow down your choices. 

Step 2: Gather your information

To apply for a business gas card, you’ll need to provide key details about yourself and your business. Having this information ready can help speed up the process.

Personal information:

• Full legal name
• Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
• Date of birth
• Home address and contact information

Business information:

• Legal business name as registered
• Business structure, such as LLC, sole proprietorship, or corporation*
• Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
• Business address and phone number
• Annual business revenue (or projected income if newly established)
• Years in business
• Industry type (SIC or NAICS code may be required)

*Note that some card issuers require a business entity like an LLC or corporation. This requirement is more common with fleet cards and corporate cards. 

Step 3: Submit your application

Most business gas card applications can be completed online. A few providers may also allow you to apply over the phone or in person at a bank branch. After submitting, you may receive an instant decision or be notified if additional review is required.

Step 4: Understand approval criteria

As mentioned earlier, card issuers may review:

• Personal credit score, which is required for most small business gas credit cards
• Business credit scores, which may be considered for some fleet fuel cards
• Personal and household income
• Business revenue and cash flow
• Time in business

If you’re not approved, the issuer will provide a reason. Common reasons for denial include low credit scores, insufficient revenue, or a short business history. 

If your application is rejected, consider applying for a different card, improving your credit, or exploring secured business credit cards.

Step 5: Activate and use your card

Once approved, you’ll receive your business gas card in the mail. Activate it following the issuer’s instructions and set up:

• Online account management for tracking expenses
• Automatic payments to avoid late fees
• Spending limits for employee cards if applicable

Use Nav’s Business Credit Card marketplace to find cards based on your business data. 

Maximizing Your Business Gas Card Rewards

A business gas rewards credit card can help you save money, but there are strategies for getting the most value out of it. By understanding how your card’s rewards system works and managing spending wisely, you can make the most of every dollar spent on fuel.

Understand reward eligibility and limitations

Not all gas purchases qualify for bonus rewards. Some credit cards exclude gas purchases made at warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club, while others limit rewards to specific fuel brands or station types. And many cards have annual spending caps, meaning once you exceed a set amount in gas purchases, the bonus rewards drop to a lower rate.

To maximize rewards:

• Check the card’s terms to confirm which gas purchases qualify.
• Use the card strategically at eligible gas stations.
• Monitor spending to stay within bonus reward limits.

And be sure to check out other perks like cell phone protection, purchase protection, or extended warranties. 

Leverage employee cards for additional rewards

If your business has employees or contractors who drive for work, providing them with employee credit cards can increase your rewards earnings while simplifying expense tracking. Many business gas credit cards offer free or low-cost employee cards, allowing you to:

• Earn rewards on fuel purchases made by your team.
• Set controls to limit overuse. 
• Monitor transactions in real time for better expense management.

It’s also smart to create a clear company policy outlining how employee cards should be used, spending limits, and any consequences for misuse.

Avoid interest charges to protect your rewards

The value of gas rewards can quickly be overshadowed by interest charges if you carry a balance. Most credit cards, including business gas cards, feature variable APRs, which can be high if balances aren’t paid in full.

To maximize savings:

• Pay the full statement balance by the due date to avoid interest.
• Take advantage of any introductory 0% intro APR offers if available.
• Set up automatic payments to prevent late fees and protect your credit score.

By carefully tracking purchases, leveraging employee cards, and avoiding unnecessary interest charges, you can make your business gas card work harder for you—turning everyday fuel expenses into valuable savings and rewards.

Alternatives to Business Gas Credit Cards

Business gas credit cards can be a great way to manage fuel expenses and earn rewards, but they are not the only option out there. Depending on your business expenses and business needs, there are other ways to pay for fuel that may offer different benefits, such as more control over spending, simplified accounting, or fewer credit requirements.

Fuel charge cards

Fuel charge cards function similarly to business gas credit cards but are typically limited to fuel and vehicle-related purchases. Unlike traditional credit cards, they are not part of a major payment network like Visa or Mastercard, meaning they can only be used at specific gas stations or service locations. Many fuel charge cards offer discounts on gas purchases, detailed expense tracking, and the ability to set spending limits for employees. However, they often require full payment at the end of each billing cycle, meaning there is no option to carry a balance.

Fleet fuel programs

Some fuel providers and fleet management companies offer prepaid fuel programs or direct billing accounts. These programs allow businesses to load funds in advance or receive an invoice for fuel purchases at the end of the billing period. 

This option can be useful for companies that need to closely monitor fuel usage and spending without relying on credit approvals. However, businesses may be required to purchase fuel exclusively from participating stations, which could limit flexibility.

Employee reimbursement

Another alternative is reimbursing employees for fuel purchases made with their personal credit cards or cash. This method can provide flexibility, especially for businesses that do not purchase fuel frequently. 

However, it requires employees to front the cost, submit receipts, and wait for reimbursement, which can be inconvenient. Additionally, managing and tracking reimbursements can create an extra administrative burden, making it less practical for companies with multiple drivers or high fuel expenses.

Business debit cards

For businesses that prefer to avoid credit entirely, a business debit card linked to a dedicated fuel account may be a viable option. This approach ensures that fuel purchases are paid directly from business funds without accumulating debt or interest charges. 

But you won’t likely get rewards, discounts, or the potential credit-building benefits that business gas credit cards provide. Also, business debit cards don’t offer the same protection as business credit cards if they are used fraudulently. 

Is a Business Gas Card Right for You?

A business gas card can be a smart choice if your company spends a significant amount on fuel and you want to earn rewards or discounts on those purchases. Many business gas credit cards offer valuable cash back, reward points, or rebates, which can add up to significant savings over time. 

The best business gas credit card for a trucking business will likely be different from the best business credit card for gas for a rideshare business. 

But a card that offers fuel rewards isn’t the right business credit card for every business. 

The right choice for you will depend on your business spending, and how you manage your credit card. If you pay your balance in full each month and fuel is a major expense, a gas rewards card can help you save money and streamline expense management. 

But if you’d rather earn rewards in other spending categories, a different type of business credit card may be a better fit.

Either way, Nav can help with a robust marketplace of business credit cards along with tools to help you build your business credit history and manage cash flow.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a gas card for my business without a personal credit check?

Yes, some business gas cards, including several fleet fuel cards, do not require a personal credit check. These cards may instead evaluate your business’s credit history, revenue, and time in operation to determine eligibility. Many major business gas credit cards, however, do require a personal credit check and a personal guarantee, which means you are personally responsible for any unpaid debt. If you want to avoid a personal credit check, consider fleet fuel cards or business credit-building options that help establish business credit without relying on your personal score.

How do fleet fuel cards work?

Fleet fuel cards are designed specifically for businesses that operate multiple vehicles. Unlike traditional business gas credit cards, fleet cards typically restrict purchases to fuel and vehicle-related expenses, helping business owners control spending. These cards often come with built-in expense management features, such as real-time tracking, spending limits for employees, and detailed reporting on fuel usage. Some fleet fuel cards also offer discounts or rebates per gallon, making them a cost-effective choice for businesses with high fuel consumption. However, many require full payment at the end of each billing cycle rather than allowing a revolving balance.

What credit score is needed for a business gas card?

The credit score required for a business gas card varies by issuers. Most general purpose small business gas credit cards that operate on major networks like Visa and Mastercard require a good to excellent personal credit score, typically 670 or higher. Some fleet fuel cards, especially those designed for larger businesses, may focus more on business credit history rather than personal credit.

If your personal credit score is below the preferred range, you may still qualify for certain business gas cards, but you may face higher interest rates or lower credit limits. If your goal is to get a business gas card without relying on personal credit, consider working on building your business credit profile first.