4 Fuel Cards for Small Business
Managing fuel expenses for business vehicles can be challenging, but the right fuel card can streamline operations while providing significant cost savings. Business fuel cards offer specialized features that traditional credit cards lack, including detailed reporting, purchase controls and fuel-specific rebates. This article provides a comprehensive look at the top fuel cards for small business, and large companies.
1. WEX FlexCard
WEX FlexCard stands out as the best fuel card for small businesses in the US, offering reasonable fees and fixed rebates. This card provides extensive network coverage and sophisticated expense management tools that make it ideal for businesses of all sizes. The card is accepted at over 90% of gas stations nationwide and features a fixed rebate structure with predictable savings. WEX FlexCard also includes comprehensive reporting and expense tracking capabilities, real-time transaction monitoring and customizable purchase controls that give business owners complete visibility into their fuel expenses.
The cost structure includes a monthly fee of $4 per card, with setup fees that may apply depending on account size and competitive transaction fees. Businesses can set spending limits per card or driver, restrict purchases to fuel-only transactions, control hours of operation for card usage and implement geographic restrictions as needed.
2. Coast Card
The Coast Card offers exceptional value for businesses seeking maximum fuel savings and comprehensive fleet management tools. The card provides $0.04–$0.10 cents per gallon at every participating Exxon, Mobil, 7-Eleven, Casey's, Circle-K and 40 additional brands across 30,000 stations nationwide. Beyond fuel savings, the Coast Card offers unlimited 1% cash back on all other nonfuel purchases, making it versatile for businesses with diverse expense needs.
The Coast manager portal provides robust controls with real-time spending alerts, automatic receipt matching and a mobile app for easy management. There are no monthly fees for basic accounts and no setup fees, with a competitive pricing structure based on usage. Purchase controls include fuel-only transaction restrictions, spending limits per card, time-based restrictions and category-specific controls. The network coverage spans 30,000+ participating stations including major brands like Exxon, Mobil and 7-Eleven, with nationwide coverage and strong urban presence.
3. Chevron and Texaco Business Cards
When you refuel at nearly 8,000 Chevron and Texaco stations, you can save up to $0.06 cents per gallon, making these cards attractive for businesses with routes that align with these station networks. The cards feature a tiered discount structure based on monthly volume, detailed expense reporting and online account management. Additional benefits include emergency roadside assistance programs and integration with fleet management software for seamless operations.
Monthly fees vary by account type with volume-based pricing available and no setup fees for qualifying accounts. The purchase control features allow for driver-specific spending limits, fuel-only purchase restrictions, time and location controls and detailed transaction monitoring. The network coverage includes nearly 8,000 Chevron and Texaco locations with strong presence on major highways and concentration in western and southern U.S. regions.
4. Shell Fleet Cards
Shell's cards can reduce time spent refueling by allowing payment at the pump, with no surcharges when purchasing fuel. The provider's dashboards allow fleet managers to easily monitor their fuel expenses in real-time. Shell Fleet Cards offer competitive fuel pricing, discounts or special offers along with detailed transaction reports and real-time expense monitoring. The mobile app access and integration with accounting software make these cards particularly convenient for busy fleet managers.
The cost structure includes monthly fees based on account size with volume discounts available and no transaction fees at Shell stations. Customizable spending limits, product restrictions for fuel versus merchandise, driver authorization controls and geographic usage restrictions provide comprehensive expense management. The network coverage includes thousands of Shell locations nationwide with strong highway and urban presence, plus international acceptance for global fleets.
Choosing the Right Fuel Card
When selecting a business fuel card, consider your fleet size, typical routes, fuel volume and specific control needs. The best fuel cards for small businesses offer rebates between $0.02–$0.08 cents per gallon of gas and come in both prepaid and credit card formats. Fuel cards come with PIN protection, spending limits and detailed reporting, which reduces the risk of fraud and gives you more peace of mind.
Key factors to evaluate include network coverage in your operating areas, discount structures that match your fuel volume, reporting capabilities that integrate with your accounting systems and purchase controls that align with your fleet management policies. The right fuel card can significantly reduce administrative burden while providing measurable cost savings and improved expense visibility for your business operations.