The 5 Best Fuel Cards for Small Businesses

fleet management
Julia Watts author headshot photo
Maïté Bouhali

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The best fuel cards for small businesses are BP Fleet Cards, offering impressive gas rebates, and useful features like purchase limits and 24/7 access to transaction information. But that's just one out of five options.

With our research, we focused on the most important factors for small businesses, including the number of fuel sites where you can use the card, rewards, and redemption methods. The four remaining best fuel cards for small business are provided by Texaco, Wex, AtoB, and Shell.

Whether you decide to go for regular credit cards, charge cards, co-branded gas cards, or fleet cards, this page will guide you through the best choices, so you know your money is being well invested into your small business.

Short on time? No problem. Use our free quote-finding tool to get matched with the best fuel card providers for your small business, who'll be in touch with tailored, no obligation quotes for you to compare. Alternatively, read on to compare these best fuel cards for small businesses in the US.

What are the Best Fuel Cards for Small Businesses

These are the providers we recommend based on our research. Use our comparison tool to find the best service for your business.

  1. BP Fleet Cards – Best overall
  2. Texaco Fleet Cards – Best value
  3. WEX Fleet Cards – Best for coverage
  4. AtoB Fleet Cards – Best for spending limits
  5. Shell – Best for customer service

Swipe right to see more
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BP

Texaco Fleet Cards

WEX

AtoB

Shell

Best for

Best overall fuel card for small business

Best for

Best value

Best for

Best for coverage

Best for

Best for spending limits

Best for

Best for customer service

Key Features
  • Rebates up to 7 cents per gallon
  • Set purchase limits
  • view 24/7 activity on cards
  • Mastercard partnership
  • Huge inner-city coverage on west coast
Key Features
  • Large rebates for big fuel consumers
  • 5,000 Valero stations
  • Accepted at 95% of US gas stations and 45,000+ service stations
Key Features
  • 95% of US gas stations and 45,000+ service locations
  • No setup fees
  • Discounts on fuel, tires, and hotels
  • Driver ID authorization
Key Features
  • Quickbooks integration
  • Full control over spending limits
  • Low barrier to entry
  • Able to buy repairs, parts, and road tolls
Key Features
  • 24/7/365 customer service
  • Extensive US coverage
  • Rebates up to 6 cents per gallon

Prices correct as of February 2023

1. BP Fleet Cards: Best Overall for Small Businesses

Quick overview

BP has the best fleet cards for small businesses, offering rebates up to seven cents per gallon at BP stations when you buy at least 300 gallons of fuel in a month, unlike Texaco which requires your fleet to fill up 50,000+ gallons per month to get a rebate. You can also set purchase limits to stop unauthorized spending, ideal for small businesses looking to cut costs.

If your small business operates within a particular city, especially on the west coast, you'll benefit from BP's vast inner-city coverage, enabling your fleet to operate seamlessly and grow quickly within the boundaries of a city.

Strengths

Rebates up to 7 cents per gallon at BP stations

Set purchase limits to stop unauthorized spending

Activate and deactivate cards easily through the online dashboard

View 24/7 transaction info on cards, including fuel usage and vehicle performance

Weaknesses

BP station coverage very limited on the east coast

Variety of admin fees to consider

Pricing
FeesCost
Annual fee Up to $120 per year
Late fee Up to $10 per account, per month
Returned payment fee $50 per occurence
Paper statement and reports fee $15 per month, per account
Standard account late fee $75 or 5% of the new balance (whichever is greater)
High-risk account late fee $75 or 9.99% of the new balance (whichever is greater)
EFT setup $50

2. Texaco Fleet Cards: Best Value

Quick overview

Texaco offers the best value fleet card for small businesses, with zero fees on the Business Card, and very low fees on the Business Access Card, starting from just $40 in set up costs. In terms of fees, this is much cheaper than BP's fleet cards.

Texaco also offers better fuel savings per gallon than Shell, offering rebates up to eight cents per gallon if your fleet uses over 50,000 galls per month, which is ideal for small businesses with big fuel consumption. If your fleet consumes little fuel, you might want to choose BP's fleet cards that offer more accessible rebates.

Strengths

Large rebate for big fuel consumers

Enormous station coverage

Weaknesses

High fuel-consumption requirements to access maximum rebate

Pricing
Business CardBusiness Access Card
Zero set up fee $40 setup fee
Zero monthly fee $2 monthly fee, per card
Minimum $75 late fee Minimum $75 late fee
Did You Know?

The global fuel card market size is projected to reach $1,210.01 billion by 2027.

3. Wex Fleet Cards: Best for Coverage

Quick overview

Wex covers 95% of US gas stations, making it the best fleet card for small businesses that want assurances that vehicles can find a place to fill. For cross-country fleets, Wex is the most reliable option, which is why it's also one of the best fuel cards for truckers.

Unlike BP, there are no set up, annual or card fees to worry about, and you can benefit from discounts on tires and hotels. However, Wex only offers up to three cents per gallon in rebates, which is far less than BP and Texaco, so it's not the most cost-effective fleet card supplier for small businesses.

Strengths

Driver ID authorization

Can allow, or limit, spending on fuel accessories like oils, parts and merchandise

Huge US site coverage

Discounts on fuel, tires, and hotels

Weaknesses

Low fuel saving

Pricing
FeesCost
Setup fee Zero
Annual fee Zero
Card fees Zero

4. AtoB Fleet Cards: Best for Spending Limits

AtoB logo
AtoB Fleet Cards
Quick overview

If you're worried about overspending, then AtoB fleet cards is the best fleet card for your small business. It enables full control over each card, including spending limits per day, per week, and per transaction. Meanwhile, you can use AtoB cards anywhere which uses Visa, so you have lots of flexibility in where users can fuel up.

AtoB can't match BP or Texaco in fuel savings, offering only five cents per gallon in rebates, and, unlike Wex, it enforces setup fees from $25.

Strengths

Superb spending limit features

Quickbooks integration

low barrier to entry

Can also buy repairs, pars, insurance, and road tolls

Weaknesses

Requires setup fee and monthly fee

Relatively low fuel savings

Pricing
FeesCost
Setup fee $0 - $25
Monthly fee $3 per card/month
Card fees Zero transaction fees
Late payment fee (min. $35) 0%-3%

5. Shell: Best for Customer Service

Quick overview

Shell offers 24/7/365 customer service, which is vital for supporting small businesses through logistical roadblocks in the first few years of operation. Shell also supports extensive US coverage, with 3,000 Shell stations or access to 45,000+ service locations using the Shell Fleet Navigator card.

On the downside, Shell's small business fleet card isn't included in its fuel rebate program, so you'll need to look elsewhere, such as BP or Texaco, if want impressive fuel savings.

Strengths

Brilliant customer service 24/7/365

Extensive US network

Weaknesses

Small business card not included in rebate program

High-spending required to access the maximum rebate

Pricing
FeesCost
Setup fees Zero (except on Shell Fleet Navigator)
Card fees Zero (except on Shell Fleet Navigator)

The Benefits of Fuel Cards for Small Businesses

Fuel cards are famous for being the saving grace for large trucking corporations; and now small companies can benefit from their rewarding rebates, too.

The best fuel card companies help you save you money and give you better control over your business. The best fleet cards for small businesses also grant employees greater financial security and peace of mind.

We’ve explained some of the benefits you can expect to see when you invest in a fuel card below. Or scroll down to find out more information on our top picks.

Discounts on Fuel

A fuel card rewards small businesses by offering discounts on the purchase of fuel, oil, and lubricate at certain stations. So the more often you use your card, the more savings you gain. In addition, some cards offer rewards for every dollar spent or for every gallon of fuel purchased, allowing you to earn money back or even enjoy free fuel in the future. Check out our guide to the best fuel cards with discount.

Less Risk of Fraud

Some businesses prefer to use a corporate card for buying fuel. Or they expect their drivers to use cash and then provide a receipt to be reimbursed. These methods mean unnecessary admin, and there’s always the risk that cash can be stolen on the road.

Fleet cards for small business are much more precise and leave much less room for fraud or error. This not only saves your business from theft and legal issues, but makes the entire transaction more convenient.

Greater Control Over Spending

A driver may seek out fuel stations that cost more. Another driver may pay a higher grade of gas than is necessary. Someone else could be overdoing it on the vehicle maintenance. These expenses stack up and could see you losing profits, rather than making them.

A fuel card for small businesses allows you to set limitations on how much is spent, where it is spent, and at what times, so you can have a tight hold on where your money is going. In addition, regular reports on these transactions allow you to keep a close eye on what’s going on in your business.

Did You Know?

You can cut fuel costs up to 15% by investing in a fleet card.

Our methodology

At Expert Market, we aim to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and transparent reviews possible. To help you better understand the best fuel cards for small businesses, we’ve conducted in-depth, extensive research into 13 fuel cards, whittling them down to just five for this article.

For this article, we looked at each fuel card's:

  • Fuel savings
  • Fees
  • Station coverage
  • Choice of payment schemes

Our independent researchers then used these criteria to evaluate each fuel card in terms of how they can best help small businesses.

Did You Know?

A recent study pointed out that in October 2022, the US consumed a staggering 8.7 million barrels per day in October 2022.

Our Methodology: How Did We Find the Best Fuel Cards?

Five researchers carried out in-depth research into US fleet cards according to a comparison framework designed by our research team leader. For each card we've asked these questions:

  • How convenient is it to use?
  • How helpful is it for managing fuel expenses?
  • What can it do to ensure your company's funds are secure?
  • What extra benefits do you receive from using it?

We've also broken down each card by fee structure, fuel type, network coverage and more to offer you the easiest choice.

Verdict

The BP Fleet Card is the best fuel card for small businesses, offering everything your small business needs to grow, such as fuel savings, an extensive network, and a partnership with the financial giant Mastercard. To get fuel rebates of up to seven cents per gallon with BP, you simply need to buy at least 300 gallons per month, compared to Texaco's requirement of 50,000+ gallons. This is just one of the many reasons why BP is the best fuel card for small businesses.

However, BP might not be perfect for your specific business. It's hard to work out exactly what's right for you when there are so many different features and benefits on offer, which is why we recommend using our free quote-finding tool.

Simply answer a few questions about your small business, and we'll match you up with the fuel card providers that meet your needs best. They'll then be in touch with tailored, no-obligation quotes so you can compare and save.

Save by comparing free quotes from the best fuel card providers for your small business
Does your business already use fuel cards?
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FAQs

How Much Money Does a Fleet Card Save?
A survey held by Automotive Fleet magazine determined that by investing in a fleet card, businesses could save up to 15% on their entire fuel costs. This is not only on the price of fuel itself, but in the associated management expenses.
How Many Vehicles Do I Need For a Fleet Card?
There is no limitation on how many vehicles are needed to use a fleet card. Of course, the more drivers and vehicles you have, the more savings you can gain from a card. However, even a few vehicles will earn you savings over traditional corporate cards.
How Much Does a Fuel Card Cost For Small Fleets?
The price of fuel cards for small fleets differs from provider to provider – some require an annual fee and a card fee, while others do not.

The important thing to consider when choosing a card is your location and the different stations your card supports. This is because the price of gas you see on the sign may not be the price you’ll pay with your card. And on the flipside, going to the wrong station can mean you miss out on your promised discount!

Which fuel card is best for small businesses?
The best fuel card for small businesses is BP, offering generous fuel savings, an extensive network (especially on the west coast), and a variety of helpful features like 24/7 access to transaction information via the online dashboard. In short, BP's fleet cards have everything your small business needs to grow.
Which gas card is the easiest for small businesses?
BP is the best fuel card for small businesses because it offers a user-friendly dashboard, providing 24/7 information on your transaction info, Driver IDs, and fuel usage. AtoB is another user-friendly option, supporting a variety of integrations, such as Quickbooks, to make running your small business a little easier.
Is it worth it for a small business to have a fuel card?
Yes. Fuel cards give your small business a smarter way to pay for gas, allowing you to track fuel spend and vehicle maintenance. Essentially, fuel cards can help your small business save money on otherwise expensive overheads, such as gas, maintenance, and repairs.
Compare tailored prices from leading fleet card suppliers
Written by:
Julia Watts author headshot photo
Julia Watts Software Expert

Specialising in business software, Julia writes jargon-busting guides about VoIP, fleet management, dash cams, fuel cards, and more. Having spent almost a decade writing for entrepreneurs and reviewing business solutions, she loves helping exciting ventures – big or small – to flourish.

Reviewed by:
Maïté Bouhali
Maïté Bouhali Business Software Editor

Maite began her career with Expert Market nearly four years ago as a writer. She quickly developed a passion for the challenges faced by small businesses and now endeavours to help them make informed decisions for their future.

In her current position as Business Software Editor, Maite works closely with writers to ensure that each article is informative, well-researched, engaging, and actionable for readers. With extensive knowledge of CRM, vehicle tracking devices, and fuel cards, she is meticulous in her review of each article and provides detailed feedback before publication.

Whether you’re seeking to stay informed on the latest trends in business software or need guidance in selecting the most appropriate software for your organisation’s needs, Maite is here to help. With her sharp eye for detail and commitment to quality, she is dedicated to supporting businesses in achieving their goals.