WEX Fleet Cards Review: Are They Right for Your Fleet?

WEX is a fleet card provider, offering four branded cards. Its customer service team is US-based and WEX has tons of US site coverage, making it a great choice for US-based businesses.

We know how important it is for customers to find a fleet card provider that is affordable, provides fuel savings, and has a wide station coverage. That's why we've done a deep dive into WEX's fees, coverage, and pros and cons.

With 10 years of experience in the world of fleet cards, we’re uniquely placed to put WEX under the microscope and examine why it shines, and what it lacks. Read on for our expert advice on WEX’s different fleet cards, and whether or not they’re right for you.

Wex's fleet card: Fees and Discounts

WEX's pricing isn't readily available to the public, which means you'll need to get a direct quote. This does mean that you'll be able to get tailored pricing depending on your business' needs.

We know that you’ll pay zero setup, annual, or card fees for WEX’s FlexCard, which is a pretty good offer. We also know that WEX charges either $75 or 6.99% of the outstanding balance (whichever is greater) for late payments.

To compare fleet card pricing, use our free quote comparison tool. Just give us a few details about your business and we'll do the rest. You'll then receive obligation-free quotes from trusted suppliers.

The Pros and Cons of WEX

Pro: US-based customer service

WEX's customer service team is US-based, which means that your drivers can access support when they need it.

Pro: Large US-site coverage

If you have a large fleet, you'll likely need as much station coverage as possible to ensure your drivers aren't left without fuel. As WEX's fuel cards are accepted at 95% of US gas stations, a WEX fuel card will ensure your vehicles are always fuelled up.

Pro: Cards can limit or allow spending on fuel accessories such as oils and parts

WEX's fleet cards can also be used for drivers to purchase fuel accessories, such as oils, parts, and merchandise. This way you can easily track expenses and limit spending on fuel accessories.

Con: Low fuel saving

WEX's fuel savings are lower than some other fuel providers, which can be limiting despite its expansive coverage and perks. If your drivers consume a large amount of fuel, 3 cents off per gallon isn't as high of a saving.

WEX's cards explained

Let’s take a look at how WEX’s fleet cards are similar. All four of the fleet card programs we compare below include:

✓ Acceptance at 95% of the US’ fuel stations (that’s over 160,000 retailers) and 45,000 service centers across the country

✓ 24/7 access to WEX’s US-based customer support team, which says it answers 75% of calls within 20 seconds

✓ Use of WEX ClearView, an analytics platform that reports on the specifics of your fleet’s transactions and spending behavior

✓ The option to sign up to WEX Telematics, WEX’s fleet management software

✓ Use of WEX’s apps:

• DriverDash – drivers can use this to make mobile payments at the pump
• FleetSmartHub – used to track spending, manage your fleet cards, make payments, check your credit, and more
• WEX Connect – drivers can use to find nearby fuel stations and service centers; filtering them by price, fuel type, open hours, and other criteria

But how, exactly, do the WEX-branded fleet cards differ, and which should you choose? Let’s compare them:

WEX’s Other Fuel Cards

In addition to its four flagship fleet cards, WEX provides cards in partnership with a variety of major fuel and retail brands, such as 7-Eleven, Gulf, and Stripes. 

These partner-branded cards come with their own benefits. These vary by retailer and often include fuel rebates, discounts of 5-7 cents per gallon, and the ability to limit drivers’ purchases by dollar amount or purchase type.

Are Any of WEX’s Fleet Cards Right for My Business?

“I want consistent gas station coverage”

One of the first things to note about WEX’s fleet cards is that they offer excellent coverage as they can be used to buy fuel at 95% of US fuel stations (and WEX says that includes every major station). Here are some of the biggest names on WEX’s widespread partner network:

• 7-Eleven
• 76®
• Chevron
• CITGO
• Conoco®
• ExxonMobil
• Marathon
• Maverik
• QuikTrip
• Shell
• Stripes
• Wawa

This means that, no matter where you’re based, your drivers should always be within a reasonable driving distance to a partner gas station.

The fact that WEX offers this coverage on its card programs aimed at small fleets is a real boon for SMBs. Many of the popular fleet card programs in the US are provided by gas station chains, which tend to limit cards aimed at small businesses to their own branded stations. But WEX is a payment services provider, not gas – and would have no vested interest in limiting users to just one of the many gas station brands it has partnered with.

“I run a small fleet”

If you’re sold on getting a WEX-branded fuel card, you have the Fleet Card and FlexCard to choose from.

Affording you advanced control and analytics, as well as a variety of discounts on the EDGE Savings Network, the Fleet Card is our favorite. If some (or all) of your vehicles are trucks, and your drivers tend to make use of truck stops, you may as well upgrade to the Fleet Cross Roads Card, which comes with the same benefits but it can also be used at a variety of truck stops.

However, if you’re eager to save money, the simpler FlexCard is also a solid option. There are zero annual fees, no setup charge, or card fees to pay. Another plus is the ability to carry a balance to ease your cash flow. It is worth noting that rebates larger than 3 cents can be found with other providers, so if rebates are the key USP for you, you shouldn’t end your search here.

Did you know that you can use our free comparison tool to find a fleet card provider that's been matched to your business? Give us a few brief details and we'll do the rest. You'll then be contacted by trusted suppliers with an obligation-free quote.

“I run a large fleet”

WEX’s Large Fleet Card is a good choice if control and insight is your thing, with advanced spending analytics that can help you action changes to your drivers’ spending habits and, as a result, save some money.

The only downside here is that, as far as we can tell, this card program doesn’t grant you any discounts or rebates on fuel. While such savings may not be your number one priority anyway, they can be a nice bonus – there are other large business cards out there that do sweeten the pot with such rewards. 

“I run a fleet of trucks”

Depending on your fleet’s size, you could benefit from any of the WEX-branded fleet cards. If your drivers tend to use truck stops, it’s worth investigating the Fleet Cross Roads Card specifically. This card boasts all the benefits of the WEX Fleet Card, but can also be used to make purchases at a variety of truck stops across the country – from independent spots to chains like TA, Love’s, and Pilot Flying J.

How does WEX's fleet cards compare to its competitors? 

Price

While WEX doesn't have annual, setup, or card fees, it does charge fees for late payment, payment processing, and account fees. It does offer a discount of 3 cents per gallon, but this is one of the lowest in our research. Other providers, such as BP, offer up to 7 cents per litre.

WEX's fuel savings are fairly low, which isn't very suitable for larger fleets as other providers, such as Texaco, offer large rebates for higher fuel consumption. Texaco offers up to 8 cents per gallon if your business uses over 50,000 gallons of fuel per month. The less fuel used, the less rebate you will receive.

Overall, WEX isn't as cheap as the other major providers, but it still offers great perks with hotel discounts, large station coverage, and the ability to purchase fuel accessories on its fleet cards.

Station coverage

WEX's cards cover 95% of the gas stations in the US, which is a pretty hefty amount. Shell and Texaco also provide this much station coverage, giving you access to over 45,000 stations. It's worth noting that BP, another top provider, gives you limited coverage to just over 6,800 stations – and its cards can only be used in supermarket forecourts, making it less suitable for larger fleets.

Our independent researcher compared six different fleet card providers to find the best on the market. Our researcher then used a number of criteria, such as card fees, discounts, and station coverage, to provide an in-depth analysis of each of these fleet card providers.

What Do WEX’s Customers Say?

There aren’t a great many user reviews online that specifically cover WEX’s fleet card service. However, from what we have read and heard, we know that users like WEX’s customer service and flexibility.

We have, however, come across a handful of mixed reviews regarding the WEX Connect app. While some drivers love it, others report that it sometimes displays inaccurate pricing, tends to sort results by price instead of location, and can have inconsistent refresh rates for both maps and prices.

We’ve also seen some complaints from businesses that have been charged late fees that were heftier than expected – but we’re reassured to see that in each of these cases WEX has responded with a clear explanation. The best way to avoid surprises like these is to read the business account agreement you’ll be issued if you sign up for a WEX fleet card program. Make sure you understand the obligations on both sides, and ask about anything that seems unclear.

Our Methodology: How Did We Do Our Research?

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.