A fuel card can help your business save money per litre, track fuel costs across a fleet and get other benefits at service stations across Australia.
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Some fuel cards are restricted to specific networks of petrol statins.
Most fuel cards charge a monthly fee. You need an ABN to get one.
Some cards offer additional benefits like discounts on fuel and points.
How do fuel cards work?
If you're on the road for work or run a business with a fleet of vehicles, fuel costs 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.
Types of fuel cards
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.
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.
Can I get a fuel card for personal use?
You need an ABN to get a fuel card. This means you need to own a business or be a sole trader. If you don't have an ABN, you could use a prepaid fuel card like the the AmpolCash card and BP gift cards. You can also use Woolworths WISH gift cards at participating Woolworths co-branded fuel outlets, while Shell offers a gift card for Reddy Express service stations.
How to compare fuel cards in Australia
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.
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).
Fees. Fuel cards typically charge a monthly fee per card or a separate account fee and an additional cardholder fee.
Why choose a fuel card over a regular credit card?
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. Fuel cards come with monthly reports that consolidate all your vehicle expenses into one statement. Some cards will integrate with your business accounting software to make things even easier.
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.
Our expert says: Fuel card or business credit card?
"If you run a fleet of vehicles and fuel is a major expense, using a dedicated fuel card that gives you discounts per litre could save you money and make it easy to track the expense. A business credit card opens up a wider range of business spending. It's more flexible and you can often earn frequent flyer or reward points too. But these cards often have higher annual fees and are suited to businesses with multiple employee spending needs. If it's just cars, a fuel card might make more sense. "
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. When comparing fuel cards, consider these questions:
What fuel card features you want.
How much you're willing to pay.
Whether you want to be tied to one service station brand or access as many as possible.
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.
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 benefits of the fuel card should outweigh the cost of the card.
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.
Rewards programs with petrol partnerships in Australia
A handful of rewards programs in Australia have direct partnerships with service stations. This gives you a way to get value from your petrol spending without a credit card – or earn even more points with one.
Join BP Rewards, link it to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account and you'll earn between 1 and 2 BP Points per litre of fuel and 1 point per $1 spent on eligible in-store products.
Fuel rewards: Redeem 500 BP Points for $5 off your next eligible purchase
Other rewards: Redeem 1,000 points for a $10 David Jones eGift card
Join BP Rewards, link it to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account and you'll earn up to 2 Qantas Points per litre of fuel and 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent on eligible in-store products.
Fuel rewards: Redeem your Qantas Points to pay for fuel, with a minimum 1,900 points giving you $10 off (up to $100 per transaction)
Other rewards: Redeem a minimum of 8,000 points for Qantas flights, or use points for thousands of other options through the Qantas Frequent Flyer website.
Scan your Flybuys card to earn 1 point per $2 spent on fuel and eligible in-store spending.
Fuel rewards: Redeem 2,000 Flybuys points for $10 off your spending at Shell Reddy Express.
Other rewards: Get $10 off your shop at Coles and other participating Flybuys partners, transfer points to Velocity Frequent Flyer or shop for rewards on the Flybuys store.
Get the My 7-Eleven app, link your Velocity Frequent Flyer account and scan your Velocity card through the app to earn 1 point per litre on regular fuel, 2 points per litre on premium fuel, and 2 points per $1 spent on eligible in-store purchases.
Petrol discounts: Exclusive offers through the My 7-Eleven app, plus a "fuel price lock" feature to help you get the best local price.
Fuel rewards: Velocity Frequent Flyer doesn't offer specific fuel rewards.
Other rewards: Flights, accommodation, gift cards and more through Velocity. Plus a My 7-Eleven surprise reward after every 7th visit.
Example: How much value can I get from paying for petrol with a credit card?
To give you an idea of how much value you can get with a card that has a higher earn rate for petrol spending, let's take a look at the Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard.
It earns an equivalent to 0.5 Flybuys points per $1 on all your eligible spending, including petrol. In this scenario, we'll assume you can get all your petrol at a Shell Reddy Express service station, which also offers 1 Flybuys point per $2 spent. Flybuys points can be redeemed at a rate of 2,000 points = $10 off, redeemable at Shell Reddy Express and other participating partner stores such as Coles, Kmart, and Target.
Weekly petrol spend
Points per year
Petrol rewards example
$100
Points through credit card: 2,600
Points through Flybuys: 2,600
Total: 5,200
$20 off your spending at Shell Reddy Express service stations (or for spending at other Flybuys partner stores)
$200
Points through credit card: 5,200
Points through Flybuys: 5,200
Total: 10,400
$50 off your spending at Shell Reddy Express service stations (or for spending at other Flybuys partner stores)
$300
Points through credit card: 7,800
Points through Flybuys: 7,800
Total: 15,600
$70 off your spending at Shell Reddy Express service stations (or for spending at other Flybuys partner stores)
In this example, you could save between $20 and $70 off your petrol in a year just by paying for petrol with the Coles No Annual Fee credit card and scanning your Flybuys card.
If you earned Flybuys points with other partners, or through bonus points offers, you could get even more money off your petrol and other spending.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
Amy is an experienced journalist with over 16 years of experience, contributing to major publications like Money Magazine, The Sydney Morning Herald, and ABC News Australia. Specialising in personal finance, she frequently appeared in media outlets and on radio. Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Drama from Griffith University and earned RG146 certifications in Tier 1 Generic Knowledge and Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products, ensuring her expertise is grounded in current financial regulations. Amy was Finder's Senior Writer for Credit Cards from 2016 to 2024. See full bio
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Richard Whitten is Finder’s Money Editor, with over seven years of experience in home loans, property and personal finance. His insights appear in top media outlets like Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine, and the Herald Sun, and he frequently offers expert commentary on television and radio, helping Australians navigate mortgages and property ownership. Richard holds multiple industry certifications, including a Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking (RG 206) and Tier 1 and Tier 2 certifications (RG 146), as well as a Graduate Certificate in Communications from Deakin University. See full bio
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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?
Finder
MayMarch 25, 2018Finder
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.
As many petrol stations or supermarkets have fuel cards and vouchers available for purchase in-store or online, finding a fuel gift card for a quick, considerate gift (or even for personal use) is remarkably simple.
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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