Compare fuel cards in Australia

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. "

Richard Whitten

Editor

What is the best fuel card in Australia?

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.
• Other benefits like earning points with the card.

Different fuel cards in Australia

Pros and cons

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is a fuel card a credit card?

  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.

• What else can I buy with a fuel card?

  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.

• How does pre-authorisation work?

  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.

Written by

Amy Bradney-George

Editor

Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald. See full bio

Amy's expertise

Amy has written 565 Finder guides across topics including:

• Credit cards
• Frequent flyer
• Credit score
• BNPL
• Money management
• Sustainability

Co-written by

Richard Whitten

Editor

Richard Whitten is a money editor at Finder, and has been covering home loans, property and personal finance for 6+ years. He has written for Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Homely; and has appeared on various radio shows nationwide. He holds a Certificate IV in mortgage broking and finance (RG 206), a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification and a Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products (RG 146) certification. See full bio

Richard's expertise

Richard has written 562 Finder guides across topics including:

• Home loans
• Property
• Personal finance
• Money-saving tips