If you're on the road a lot or run a business with a fleet of vehicles, fuel costs can quickly add up. A fuel card gives you a way to keep track of what you spend – and often provides discounts or other perks like reward points.
A fuel card works in the same way as a regular credit or debit card where you swipe your card at the pump or inside the service station to pay for fuel and/or other available products and services. This means that all of your business fuel costs can be tracked under a single account.
Unlike other cards, fuel cards usually only work at partnered service stations or other participating locations. Here's a look at some of the different types of fuel cards available:
- Business fuel cards. These generally cater to small and medium-sized businesses. Aside from petrol savings, business fuel cards usually offer monthly, ATO-approved statements that help make it easier to manage business costs and accounting. Additionally, these cards save drivers from using a company credit card or their personal credit card and having to submit expenses for regular fuel purchases.
- Fleet fuel cards. Similar to business fuel cards, fleet fuel cards are useful for businesses with larger vehicle fleets. They help with budgeting and fuel efficiency and can usually access petrol discounts at different fuel brand stations.
- Individual fuel cards. This type of fuel card is designed for the regular consumer and it offers cashless convenience and card security on top of petrol discounts.
- Prepaid fuel gift cards. These are gift cards or vouchers that an individual or business can use to pay for petrol and other goods. They do not extend any credit and must be paid for in full upon purchase.
Here are some of the factors to consider when comparing fuel cards:
- The brand. Where do you usually buy your fuel? If you're loyal to a brand or often travel on routes where one fuel retailer has more locations than others, choosing a fuel card that fits with your routine will help you make the most of its benefits without having to change your routine too much.
- Single brand vs multi-brand. If you don't have a brand preference but would rather shop for the lowest-priced fuel at any time, a fuel card offering access to multiple fuel brand stations could be the better option for you. For example, you can use the BP Plus fuel card at over 1,400 BP locations in Australia, while the WEX Motorpass fuel card has over 6,000 service stations and industry partners in Australia – including select 7-Eleven, Ampol, BP and Shell locations.
- Locations. When researching fuel cards and the stations where you can use them, location should factor into your comparison, particularly for long-haul interstate drivers.
- Rewards. If you're interested in getting points through your fuel card, choose a loyalty program with rewards that you’d actually use.
- Credit vs charge. Most fuel card accounts are set up as charge cards that do not offer a revolving line of credit. This means you have a set amount of time to pay the full balance, instead of only paying part of it and being charged interest (as you would with a credit card). You can see if a particular fuel card is set up as a charge card or credit card by looking at the fees – if there is an interest rate it's usually a credit card.
- Fees. Fuel cards typically charge a monthly fee per card or a separate account fee and an additional cardholder fee.
- Control and expense management. Some fuel cards let you impose spending limits on the card and select what can be paid for with the card.
- Reporting. Especially useful for businesses, fuel cards come with monthly reports that consolidate all your vehicle expenses into one statement. This reduces accounting work and cost and simplifies tax reporting.
- Non-fuel partners. Some fuel cards also provide other non-fuel benefits with their network of partners, including car washes, mechanical work and warranty servicing.
We've rounded up a range of fuel cards you can get, including the key features like fuel discounts, where you can use them and account fees.
| 7-Eleven Fuel Pass | - Save 2-4 cents per litre on eligible fuel spending at 7-Eleven.
- Australia-wide acceptance at 550 7-Eleven outlets and across the Motorpass network (no fuel discounts apply at Motorpass though).
- Monthly fee of $2.50 plus GST per card.
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| AmpolCard | - Save 2-6 cents per litre on eligible premium fuel spending across the Ampol network.
- Accepted at over 1,800 locations around Australia.
- Monthly fee of $2.95 per vehicle.
- Earn Everyday Rewards points on fuel and in-store purchases when you link your Everyday Rewards account to your AmpolCard account.
- Contactless payments through the Ampol app.
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| BP Plus fuel card | - Minimum discounts of 2-3 cents per litre on eligible fuel spending at BP.
- Accepted at over BP sites across Australia.
- Monthly fee of $4.95 per card for 1-2 cards or $2.20 per card for 3 or more cards.
- Earn Qantas Points per litre through Qantas Business Rewards.
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| Caltex StarCard | - Discounts on related costs such as servicing, vehicle parts and accommodation.
- Acceptance at over 6,000 locations with an Open Loop StarCard.
- Closed Loop StarCards are accepted at Caltex and Puma Energy service stations, with no transaction fees.
- $30 annual fee (excluding GST) and $0 monthly fee for each card added to the account.
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| EG Fuel Card | - Ongoing savings of 3 cents per litre on eligible fuel spending across the EG and Caltex Woolworths network (excluding LPG)
- Accepted at 535 EG/Caltex Woolworths locations across Australia
- Monthly fee of $2.20 per card
- Everyday Rewards members: Scan your Everyday Rewards card at participating locations to earn points per $1. Plus, option to use Everyday Rewards fuel discount offers on top of the fuel card discounts.
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| Fleet Card Blue | - Discounts on eligible fuel spending.
- Accepted at over 5,700 fuel sites across Australia, including many Shell and Coles Express locations.
- Fees and costs vary depending on the account.
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| Fleet Card Orange | - Discounts on eligible fuel spending.
- Accepted at over 11,000 fuel and partner sites in Australia, including some Shell, Coles Express and car wash businesses.
- Fees and costs vary depending on the account.
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| Fleetcare Fuel Card | - Fuel discounts at locations around Australia, including participating BP, Shell, Coles Express and Ampol outlets.
- Accepted at over 4,500 locations across Australia.
- Fees and costs are tailored to your account.
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| Metro Fuel Card | - Accepted at over 250 Metro locations, and at over 90% of service stations across Australia through Motorpass terminals.
- Monthly management fee provided directly to customers, plus an $8 fee per additional card.
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| Mobil card | - Competitive pump prices and discounts in related spending categories, including vehicle servicing, car parking, taxis and accommodation.
- Accepted at participating Mobil sites across Australia.
- $0 monthly account fee.
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| On The Run (OTR) Fuel Card | - Petrol price discounts (offers vary).
- Accepted at over 100 OTR service stations in South Australia.
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| Pumacard | - Discounts tailored to your card agreement.
- Accepted at over 400 Puma locations in Australia, plus Motorpass locations (around 90% of all service stations).
- Monthly fee of $2.50 per card.
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| Shell Fuel Card | - Accepted at over 1,300 locations across Australia.
- Monthly fee of $2.50 per card.
- Earn 0.5 Flybuys points per $1 spent when you use your Shell Card at any Shell Coles Express or Shell Reddy Express site.
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| UnitedCard | - Offers savings of up to 6c per litre at participating United Petroleum locations, with tailored discounts based on the type of card you choose.
- Acceptance at United locations across Australia.
- Monthly fees vary based on your account details.
- Community and sports-branded cards available.
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| WEX Motorpass | - Fuel discounts vary by location and account.
- Acceptance at over 6,000 across Australia, including some with well-known brands like Ampol, BP and Shell.
- Monthly fees vary based on your account details.
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The best fuel card is one that gives you extra value for paying with it – and that you can easily use for all your fuel spending. This isn't a one-size-fits-all set of qualities, but you can use them to help you choose a fuel card by thinking about the following:
- What fuel card features you want.
- How much you're willing to pay for the fuel card.
- Whether you want to be loyal to one brand of service station or want the widest acceptance possible.
As a basic guide, fuel cards for a single brand – such as those from Ampol, Shell or 7-Eleven – typically suit business owners that can easily refuel within that network or service stations. For businesses that cover a lot of ground and need flexibility with where they get fuel, a card with a wider network – such as those from Fleet Card or WEX Motorpass – could give them more options.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Convenience. Apart from being cashless, you can usually manage your fuel card account online to view your account details and transactions.
- Savings. The discounts you’ll receive on an everyday expense can amount to significant savings over time.
- Rewards. Maximise your rewards by earning points on fuel and vehicle expenses.
- Control and budgeting. Fuel cards can be very helpful for reducing costs and helping you stay within your budget.
- Invoicing. With fuel costs clearly documented in the statement, there is no need to go through receipts to determine the correct amount for reimbursement.
Cons
- Limited fuel options. Getting a brand-specific fuel card may limit you to only using that brand and not shopping for the lowest-priced petrol.
- Fees. The cost of your fuel card should not outweigh its financial benefits.
- Fewer ways to earn rewards. Exclusively using a fuel card for your vehicle expenses means sacrificing other reward points that you could be earning on a higher-earning rewards credit card.
Fuel cards can be an attractive option if you spend a lot on fuel or own a company with a large fleet of vehicles. There is no one best fuel card, so when considering which fuel card to choose, make sure to research and compare all available options before deciding on the right one for you, your business or your fleet.
Can I get a fuel card for personal use?
There are some prepaid fuel card options you can use without an ABN or business, including the AmpolCash card and BP gift cards. You can also use Woolworths WISH gift cards at participating Woolworths co-branded fuel outlets, while Coles offers gift cards for Coles Express service stations.
A lot of the major fuel cards in Australia are designed for businesses or sole traders that want to keep track of fuel and other vehicle expenses (and save money), meaning you usually need an ABN to get them. If you want a card for personal use, there are credit cards that offer more points per $1 on petrol with rewards including cashback or fuel gift cards. You can also get fuel gift cards from some service stations or online stores.
Is a fuel card a credit card?
No, fuel cards are different to credit cards because you can only use them at participating fuel outlets. Most fuel cards also limit what you can use the card to pay for. Plus, fuel cards will usually issue an invoice that you need to pay in full by the due date – a payment structure that is more similar to charge cards than credit cards.
In comparison, credit cards are widely accepted, can be used for most purchases and let you pay off the account over time – with minimum repayment requirements and interest charges.
What else can I buy with a fuel card?
Fuel cards are naturally limited in their access to spending. As such, you can usually only use them for fuel or car-related purchases. You may however also use fuel-branded cards at selected station convenience stores for products and parts.
How does pre-authorisation work?
Fuel cards are usually pre-authorised before a transaction to ensure that there are sufficient funds on the card for that transaction. However, once the transaction is successful only the actual purchase amount will be charged to the card and any "pre-authorised amount" released.
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I would like to apply for an individual fuel card for my teenage son who is a uni student – not a fleet or company card – and link it to my credit card . I can’t seem to find such a card for sale? Are such fuel cards for personal/private use available?
Hi Angela,
Thanks for your inquiry.
There are fuel cards for individuals issued by fuel companies like Caltex and Shell. Whilst I cannot recommend a specific individual fuel card to you, you may refer to our guide about fuel cards available in Australia. If you’ve chosen the card that you think will work for your son, you may press the “Go to site” button to be redirected to the provider’s website to apply or to get in touch with them.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May