Coast Card Review: Wide Acceptance, High Rebates

coast logo with blue accent icon before text

Coast is a relatively new player in the US fuel card market. Founded in 2020, it has steadily grown its user base, five-fold in 2023 alone, and has since partnered its Coast Card with various fuel brands to offer rebate rates as large as 10¢ per gallon in some US regions.

As recently as March 2024, Coast partnered with Visa to earn it more customizable controls, stronger security measures, and even wider potential usage across the US.

In our review below, we assess how all these changes have impacted the Coast Card, looking at its value compared to other US fuel cards for fleets. That includes its pricing and fees, the rebates and discounts the card offers, and what spending controls and security measures you have to protect your business finances.

Coast Review: Quick Summary

  • Acceptance: Use anywhere Visa is accepted, providing extensive flexibility.
  • Discounts and rewards: Earn 4¢–10¢ per gallon at various Coast partner brands and 2¢ on every other gallon.
  • Fees: Transparent pricing of $4 monthly fee per active card; no setup or annual fees.
  • Spending controls: Set custom spending limits, restrict merchant categories, and receive real-time transaction alerts.
  • Security: Features include EMV chip technology, GPS auto-decline, and unique driver verification, with up to $25,000 annual fraud protection.
  • Reporting and integrations: Access to real-time data, detailed transaction reports, and integration with fleet management software.

What Does the Coast Fuel Card Offer?

Coast Pay makes things very simple: it only offers one fleet card – the Coast Card – for $4 per card, per month. You’ll get a rebate rate of between $2 and $10 per gallon depending on where you re-fuel.

Here’s what else you need to know about the Coast Card before we dive into this full-length review.

blue Coast card with Visa symbol for fleets on transparent background
Coast Fuel Card
Strengths

Wide acceptance due to Visa network integration

Rebates between 4¢-10¢ per gallon at over 29,000 US stations

Transparent and competitive fees of $4 per active card, per month

1% cashback on non-fuel purchases

Weaknesses

2¢ per gallon rebate rate for all other gas stations may be lower compared to some competitors

Sole proprietors won't be approved at time of writing

Rebates and Pricing
Rebate rates Per gallon of fuelCost Per month
$2 minimum at all gas stations $4 for all active cards
$4 to $10 at 29,000+ gas stations Late payment fee of 1% or $35 (whichever is higher)

Coast Card Pricing and Fees

Coast is notably transparent about its pricing compared to other fuel card providers I have assessed. It has the following short, straightforward list of costs and fees associated with its use (and misuse).

  • Subscription fee: $4 per active card per month.
  • Late payment fee: The greater of 1% of all amounts past due or $35.
  • Returned payment fee: $35.
  • Shipping fee: None, unless you opt for Express Shipping (via FedEx within 5 business days) or Priority (FedEx within 2 to 4 business days).
coast card pricing
Coast displays its pricing front and center for potential customers to explore - Source: Expert Market via Coast website

Does the Coast Card have any hidden fees?

As far as my research is concerned, there are no hidden fees to consider with Coast besides those listed above. In fact, the fleet card provider goes as far as to list the fees it won’t charge you so that you can be sure that it won’t be charging you in any hidden ways.

fees Coast do not charge
Coast makes a big point of its transparent pricing and lack of any hidden fees when you browse its website - Source: Expert Market via Coast

Is the Coast Card good value for money?

Given the potential rebate rates, as I detail below, the lack of any setup fees or hidden fees, and the relatively small cost of $4 per card, per month, I’d argue the Coast Card is a solid value option for US fleets.

How appealing it is depends on the rebate rates of the gas stations you frequent most, however. That’s because, unlike some other fuel cards, the rebate rates are based on location. Jump to our full comparison with other fleet cards for a deeper look at how Coast compares to the competition.

Coast Card Rebates and Discounts

Now let’s dive into the reason you would want a Coast Card to begin with: its rebate rates on fuel purchases and extra discounts on non-fuel purchases.

Fuel rebates with Coast

With the Coast Card, you’ll get a $2 per gallon rebate at every gas station as standard. However, Coast has also partnered with several gas station brands to bring even more enticing rebate rates between $4 and $10 per gallon.

According to Coast, there are over 29,000 of these partner gas stations in the US. Let’s break down what rates each of them offers.

Coast Card Reward Partners: Highest rebate gas stations

With the Coast Card, you’ll get the following rebate rates with these Coast partners across the US.

  • 7¢ per gallon: 7-Eleven, Speedway, Sheetz (limited locations).
  • 6¢ per gallon: Casey’s, Turkey Hill, Cumberland Farms, Minit Mart, Loaf ‘N Jug, Kwik Shop, Tom Thumb, Quik Stop, Certified Oil, Fastrac, Sprint.
  • 5¢ per gallon: Maverik, Kum and Go.
  • 4¢ per gallon: Exxon, Mobil, RaceTrac (+2¢ additional discount available).

Coast also partners with gas stations on a local level. By collaborating with local fuel providers, Coast says it can negotiate discounts that are more advantageous in those regions. These local rebates are higher and at present, they are restricted to the Northeast and Houston, Texas.

  • 8¢-10¢ per gallon: Exxon, Mobil.
  • 6¢-8¢ per gallon: BP, Global, Alltown Fresh, Sunoco, 76, Citgo, Shell.

Finding Reward Partners near you

To find Coast’s reward partners and their participating gas stations, Coast has a map on its website. You can input your ZIP code to find stations near your home address or navigate the map manually to find stations along your regular business routes or in your working areas.

map of coast pay partner gas stations across the US
Coast Pay partners are fairly evenly distributed across the US though there are comparatively fewer stations in the Midwest and Mountain States - Source: Expert Market via Coast Pay

While I find it annoying that you can’t filter by rebate rate, you can select to only show a specific brand of gas station on the map. And with sufficient zooming, you can hover over a gas station to see the exact rebate rate it offers.

coast card partner gas stations map filtered by Mobil gas stations
Filtering the map by gas station brand is simply done in one click but you can't select more than one at a time, unfortunately - Source: Expert Market via Coast website

However, after zooming in on the map, I couldn’t find any gas stations with a rebate rate of between 8¢-10¢ per gallon in the Northeastern region of the US or Houston, Texas no matter which gas station I hovered over.

To get some help, I contacted Coast’s support email to retrieve a list of the stations that were included in this bracket. Within half an hour, I received a map (linked here) showcasing the options available, as you can see below. The agent also told me that rebate rate filtering would soon be added to Coast’s website map, which is promising news.

map of high value rebate locations
After requesting the locations of rebate gas stations between 6¢-10¢ per gallon from Coast's customer support, I received a link to this map - Source: Expert Market via Coast
Have 30+ vehicles? Coast Pay may have custom rebates for you

If you have over 30 vehicles in your fleet, then Coast Pay says it may be able to provide a custom rebate program for your fleet, depending on the re-fueling stations available in your area.

Other discounts with Coast

Unlike a lot of fuel cards, Coast offers a flat 1% discount on all non-fuel purchases with no tiers and no caps on your spending. That makes it an enticing proposition for using the Coast Card at other retailers besides gas stations.

Still, there are plenty of brand-specific discounts for retailers that are likely to be used by your fleet drivers:

Supplies

  • Camfil, Koch Filters, Tennant, Leslie’s, John Deere, Sunbelt Rentals: Discounts available (specific rates not listed).
  • HD Supply: Up to 25% off.
  • CE Carrier, Ferguson, ABB, United Rentals: Up to 20% off.
  • Grainger: Up to 24% off.
  • Graybar, AirGas: Up to 18% off.
  • Schneider Electric: Up to 40% off.
  • Home Depot: Up to 22% off.
  • Office Depot: Up to 35% off.

Maintenance

  • Discount Tire: Save up to 8%.
  • Jiffy Lube, Pep Boys: Up to 10% off on maintenance and oil changes.
  • Take 5 Oil: 15% off oil changes.

Fleet Software

  • WhipAround Fleet Management: 15% off the first year’s subscription.
  • Field Complete: 6 months free field service management software.

Roadside Assistance

  • HONK: Save 2% on roadside assistance.

Accounting Software

  • QuickBooks: Save 30% for 6 months.

Coast Card Controls and Security

To help manage and protect your spending, Coast employs several controls and security measures on Coast Cards.

  • Customizable spending controls: Administrators can set specific spending limits and restrictions for each card, such as limiting purchases to fuel only or allowing additional spending categories like maintenance and travel expenses.
  • Assignment flexibility: Cards can be assigned to specific drivers, vehicles, or both, providing flexibility in managing fleet expenses and ensuring accountability.
  • Driver verification via SMS: Relatedly, to prevent unauthorized use, Coast employs driver verification through SMS. That reduces the risk of PIN sharing and means only authorized personnel can use the cards.
  • Real-time transaction monitoring and alerts: The platform lets you have immediate visibility into card transactions to quickly identify any irregularities. You can also set up real-time alerts to notify administrators of transactions as soon as possible, as well as enable automatic odometer readings.
  • Instant card management: If any irregularities are present, cards can be locked or unlocked instantly, even if it’s just a potential security concern.
coast admin platform dashboard for
Via the Coast Platform, you can configure the spending controls discussed here, as well as review expenses with interactive charts and reports - Source: Expert Market via Coast platform demo
  • EMV chip technology: Each Coast card is equipped with an EMV chip which, in practice (by today’s standards), means the cards are more difficult to clone or counterfeit.
  • GPS-based transaction controls: When integrated with telematics solutions, Coast can automatically block transactions if the vehicle’s GPS location is too far from the gas station, preventing unauthorized fuel purchases.
  • Custom policies and rules: Businesses can create tailored policies, such as limiting purchases by time of day or day of the week so that purchases are only made that align with business hours and thereby prevent any potential misuse.
  • One-time purchase authorizations: The system allows for the authorization of one-off purchases when required, which could make for welcome flexibility while still maintaining control over expenses overall.

How Do You Apply for a Coast Card?

Applying for a Coast Card involves going through its online application process and evaluation.

You will be asked to provide personal identification, basic information about your business, and any other individuals who own 25% or more of the company, beneficially speaking, or have a major responsibility in the control, management, and direction of the business.

You may also be asked to provide additional documentation like a government-issued ID to verify your identity, financial documents like a bank statement to show accounting records, or utility bills to prove your address.

coast pay fleet card application first page
When you click the 'Apply Now' button on the top-right hand corner of all Coast pages, you'll be greeted with this page to begin your application - Source: Expert Market

Are there any requirements to get a Coast Card?

The core requirement of Coast Card customers is that they are a business organized and registered as either a corporation, LLC, or partnership. In other words, if you are a sole proprietor you aren’t suitable for a Coast Card at this time.

Beyond that, however, there are no stringent criteria you need to meet (besides proving your identity as outlined above). Coast doesn’t require owners to guarantee company expenses and any applications will never affect your personal credit score either.

How long does a Coast Card application take?

In some cases, your application can be approved in minutes. In other cases, Coast may need to review more information or documents from you, which may add time to the application process.

Once your application is complete (which means you’ve provided any information and documents requested), Coast says it will get back to you by email within 3 to 5 business days (but may get back to you within 1 business day).

Coast Card Platform Agreement & Program Terms

We have reviewed Coast’s platform agreement and program terms to assess if there are any hidden clauses to consider when applying for a Coast Card. While we cannot offer professional legal advice, and encourage you to read both documents carefully, from our experience there is nothing unusual about what is considered.

Still, there are some things worth highlighting about Coast Card usage should you be accepted.

Coast platform agreement

  • Business-only use in the US: The services cannot be used for personal or household purposes. Personal use, cash advances, and transactions outside the US are prohibited. Misuse may result in termination and liability for fees or damages.
  • Liability: Coast’s liability for damages is capped at the greater of $5,000 or the total fees paid in the prior three months. Users bear full responsibility for losses caused by unauthorized access, except in specific circumstances like protection under network card rules or unauthorized use after deactivation.
  • Data sharing and privacy: Coast shares data with third parties for account management, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance. Users must ensure they have obtained proper consent from authorized users before providing personal data.
  • Termination rights: Coast can suspend or terminate accounts at its discretion, even without prior notice, for reasons such as incomplete or outdated information, fraud suspicion, or policy violations.

Card program terms

  • Fees and payment terms: Fees may change with 30 days’ notice. Users must regularly review fee schedules. Payments are due in full on the Due Date. Failure to pay may result in late fees, reduced credit limits, or suspension of account services.
  • Charge disputes: Users must dispute charges within 60 days of receiving the statement. After this period, charges are deemed final and binding. Disputes are subject to Card Network rules and resolution may require detailed documentation.
  • Payment methods: Payments can be made via ACH, automatic debit, or check (if available; timing is essential to avoid penalties or delays in posting).
  • Periodic statements: You’ll receive statements summarizing all charges, fees, and credits. The terms suggest reviewing them promptly for dispute resolution and compliance.
Always read platform agreements and terms yourself

While we’ve provided a quick summary of the Coast Card platform agreement and program terms, all people who sign up for any fleet card should read these documents themselves.

Both documents are made available to users starting any Coast Card application, or you can click the links here to read them for yourself.

How Does Coast Card Compare to Competitor Fuel Cards?

Without context of what other fuel card providers can offer your fleet, it’s difficult to understand just how competitive the Coast Card is. Here’s a topline comparison of the key features you need to know before I provide specific comparisons with two of our top-rated options.

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Coast Card

WEX Fleet Card

Edenred Essentials

Comdata Card

Shell Small Business Card

ExxonMobil BusinessPro Universal Card

Card Fees
  • $4 per active card, per month
  • Zero setup fees
Card Fees
  • From $2 per month
  • $40 set-up fee
Card Fees
  • $3 per card, per month
  • $50 fee for late payment
  • Other fees apply
Card Fees
  • $8 per month
  • One-time $50 set-up fee
Card Fees

None

Card Fees
  • $2 monthly per card (for extended coverage)
  • $40 set-up fee
  • Other fees apply
Savings and Discounts
  • 2¢ at any station
  • Between 4¢-10¢ off per gallon, depending on partner station
Savings and Discounts
  • Up to 3¢ per gallon
  • Access to the WEX EDGE Savings Network
Savings and Discounts

Rebate of 1¢-4¢ per gallon, based on fuel consumption

Savings and Discounts

Between 7¢-25¢ off per gallon, depending on station

Savings and Discounts

2¢-6¢ per gallon, based on fuel consumption

Savings and Discounts

Up to 6¢ per gallon, based on fuel consumption

Network

Accepted anywhere that accepts Visa

Network

Accepted at 95% of US gas stations (approximately 185,000 stations)

Network

Accepted anywhere that accepts Visa

Network

15,000+

Network

13,000 stations

Network

95% of US gas stations

Key Features
  • 1% cashback on any non-fuel purchase
  • 2% to 40% off supplies, maintenance, etc.
  • Custom spending limits, restricted categories, and real-time alerts
Key Features
  • 24/7, US-based customer service
  • Discounts on vehicle accessories and hotel stays
  • Can be used for engine lubricants, vehicle maintenance and cleaning
Key Features
  • Costco membership
  • Can be used for EV charging
  • App available in Spanish and English for bilingual fleets
Key Features
  • Discounts on tires and hotels
  • RFID tags for card-free fueling
  • App highlights stations with biggest savings
Key Features
  • 15% discount at Jiffy Lube
  • Station locator via WEX’s Driver Dash app
  • Electronic invoicing
  • 24/7 customer support
Key Features
  • ExxonMobil Rewards+ Points
  • Station locator feature
  • Contactless pay-at-pump
  • 24/7 customer support
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Coast Card vs WEX Fleet Card

Similar acceptance: Both cards are accepted at the majority of US gas stations, with the Coast Card backed by Visa and the Wex Fleet Card accepted at 95% of US gas stations. It’s a dead heat here.

Rebates: Coast offers a flat rebate of 2¢ per gallon on all fuel purchases, with no minimum purchase requirements or caps, and potentially up to 10¢ per gallon depending on location. On the other hand, WEX provides rebates up to 3¢ per gallon, which similarly may vary based on fuel volume and station participation.

My use of Coast’s partner map showed there to be a considerable number of gas stations with at least 4¢ per gallon and many with 6¢ per gallon. And unlike WEX, this isn’t dependent on how much fuel you purchase, so I’d argue Coast is the better pick when it comes to rebate rates.

wex fleet fuel cards rebate rates
You'll get between 1¢ and 3¢ rebate per gallon with the Wex Fleet Card - Source: Wex

Pricing and fees: Coast charges a straightforward $4 monthly fee per active card, with no setup or annual fees. WEX’s fee structure includes a $2 monthly per-card fee and a $40 setup fee. With this information, I’ve calculated that the WEX Fleet Card is more affordable than Coast but only after 20 months of usage given it has that steep setup cost. For periods shorter than that, Coast will be cheaper.


Winner? I’d argue Coast is a better choice than the WEX Fleet Card given it offers the same acceptance, (likely) higher rebates (dependent on region), and zero setup costs. It does have higher monthly fees but it would take 20 months of usage with the Coast Card to match the catch-up with the total cost of the WEX Fleet Card during the same period.


Coast Card vs Comdata Card

Acceptance network: The Coast Card operates on the Visa network, allowing purchases at any location that accepts Visa (which is the majority of the US). In contrast, the Comdata Card is accepted at over 160,000 fuel locations nationwide, including major truck stops like TA Petro, Pilot Flying J, Love’s, AMBEST, Speedway/7-Eleven, and Sheetz. So, you’ll have wider acceptance with Coast, including partnerships with Exxon and Mobil stations.

Rebates: Coast and Comdata are similar in that they both offer rebates based on location rather than how much fuel you purchase. While Coast has rebates of up to 10¢ per gallon, Comdata provides tiered discounts of up to 25¢ off per gallon at TA Petro, 10¢ at Pilot Flying J, 8¢ at Love’s, AMBEST, Speedway/7-Eleven, and 7¢ at Sheetz locations.

comdata smartphone application showing a map of fuel prices at US gas stations on the comdata app
Something useful Comdata offers is its DrivenforComdata app which we found incredibly handy to see where the cheapest gas is located in your local area - Source: Expert Market

Pricing and fees: Comdata’s fee structure includes an $8 monthly fee per card and a one-time $50 setup fee, which is a little more steep compared to Coast’s $4 monthly fee per card and zero setup costs. Because of this, no matter how long you use either card, Coast will be cheaper.


Winner? It’s a little more difficult to assess the winner of Comdata and Coast. I’d argue it’s dependent on the area in which you live/work since accessing the higher tier rebates of either option is based on the location of gas stations.

Should you work in a suitable area for Comdata, particularly near any TA Petro stations, you’ll get far higher rebates. If you want to spend less money upfront, however, Coast will always win given its lower monthly fees and zero setup costs. The Coast Card is also the better choice if you always want to be able to pay with a fuel card since it has near-universal acceptance and you’ll always get at least 2¢ off per gallon anywhere you re-fuel (and frequently 4¢ to 6¢).


How We Reviewed Fleet Cards Like Coast

We researched 13 fleet fuel cards to evaluate them in terms of how affordable they are, and if they have features that can help control and manage fuel spending, all so we could provide the most useful recommendations to US fleets.

Our rigorous testing process means these cards have been scored and rated in five main categories of investigation and 13 subcategories – this means 43 areas of investigation in total. We then gave each category score a ‘relevance weighting' to ensure the product's final score perfectly reflects the needs and requirements of Expert Market readers – and that's our algorithm.

Our main testing categories for fleet fuel cards are:

  • Security: Refers to the measures in place by the card provider to ensure the safety and protection of your information.
  • Customer Support: Includes the assistance the card provider offers, such as phone support, email or chat support, documentation, knowledge bases, and online forums.
  • Expense Management: Refers to the features of the fleet fuel card, such as transaction tracking, expense reporting, receipt storage, integration with accounting systems, and customizable expense categories.
  • Convenience: Refers to the ease of use and accessibility of the fleet fuel card, including factors such as the acceptance network of gas stations, availability, price comparison tool, contactless payment at pumps, and more.
  • Card Specific Information: Refers to the details associated with the fleet fuel card itself, such as card fees, accepted fuel type, card type, fee structure, network coverage, plus the cards' potential to pay for items and services other than gas.
Verdict: Is the Coast Card for You?

While Coast is a recent entrant to the US fleet card industry, when considering all the fuel card providers out there, it’s clear to see why it has attracted a growing user base.

Clear, transparent pricing with higher rebates (between 4¢ and 10¢ via its partners) than many other fuel cards we’ve researched brings base appeal, while some of the most customizable spending controls out there make for a functional card users should find frictionless.

I would like Coast to make it easier for drivers to locate high rebate stations, however. At present, its partner map requires you to search around manually to find them by hovering over individual stations to check their rates.

But by offering base 2¢ rebates for any gas station, Coast is an excellent choice no matter where you find yourself, unlike fleet cards with much smaller, brand-specific networks such as Comdata or Shell Small Business cards. Likewise, its location-based rebate pricing should appeal to fleets that don’t spend enough on fuel each month to make ‘gallons-spent’ based cards, like WEX Fleet Card or Edenred Essentials, worthwhile.

Ultimately, the exact card for you depends on how many vehicles are in your fleet and the amount of fuel each vehicle is purchasing every month. We recommend using our quote comparison form to get exact quotes on the pricing you can expect with our top-rated providers to find out. It’s free, takes 60 seconds and you’ll get no-obligation quotes in your inbox thereafter.

Written by:
Matt Reed is a Senior Writer at Expert Market. Adept at evaluating products, he focuses mainly on assessing fleet management and business communication software. Matt began his career in technology publishing with Expert Reviews, where he spent several years putting the latest audio-related products and releases through their paces, revealing his findings in transparent, in-depth articles and guides. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism from City, University of London, Matt is no stranger to diving into challenging topics and summarising them into practical, helpful information.