Fleet fuel cards can be a valuable tool for your businesses — regardless of the size and number of vehicles on the road. Some of the best fleet cards can help you save money on fuel, track your spending, and manage your mobile assets more efficiently.
But with so many different fuel cards on the market, it can be tough to know which one is right for your business.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best fleet and fuel cards on the market today to help you make the choice that works for you and your drivers.
Table Of Contents
Key Features Of Fleet Cards
Fleet and fuel cards go by many different names: fleet cards, fleet credit cards, fuel cards, fleet fuel cards, gas cards, and business gas cards. You may even see them referred to as corporate fuel cards (or just corporate cards, for short).
Regardless of what you call them, they all make it possible for your drivers to purchase fuel and services at filling stations, gas stations, truck stops, and other locations while they’re on the road and away from the office.
So, how can you choose the right fuel card for your business? Find one with the services and tools that will make your fleet run smoothly. Here are a few key features to look for.
1) Open Loop
Perhaps one of the most important features to look for when considering a fleet and fuel card is access to an open-loop network.
An open-loop fuel card acts just like a regular credit card, so drivers can use it to pay for goods and services anywhere Visa (or other widely accepted card network) is accepted.
Many cards are closed-loop cards that restrict purchases based on fuel brand and even geography. That means your drivers will have to constantly be on the lookout for fuel stations that accept the card they have with them.
On the other hand, the unrestricted access to fuel that an open-loop fleet card provides makes it much easier for drivers, field service technicians, and salesmen to find and utilize the stops along the way that offer the best prices.
This flexibility can help your business save time and money, not to mention allowing drivers to make the best decisions for them, the route, your clients, and your business. It all starts with implementing an open-loop fuel card into your workflow.
2) Spending Controls
For managers and owners, spending controls are one of the most important features of a good fuel card.
The right card will give you the power to:
- Restrict purchases to fuel only
- Limit spending by day of the week
- Restrict spending by time of day
- Set caps on transaction amounts
- Add additional expense categories (such as parking or maintenance)
More advanced fleet cards even come with tools that allow you to set expense limits based on the location of the vehicle, the size of the vehicle’s fuel tank, or the route being driven.
These advanced features can help you reduce unauthorized and non-business purchases that may get lost among the many fuel transactions on your monthly statement.
3) Rewards
Another key feature to look for is the rewards that come with the fuel card you choose.
Some fleet cards offer:
- Sign-up bonuses
- Referral incentives
- Discounts with partner businesses
- Per-gallon discounts (check for caps or limits)
4) Fees
Extra and unexpected fees can quickly add up. Be on the lookout for hidden fees, including:
- Transaction fees
- Credit-risk fees
- Out-of-network fees
- Per-gallon service charges
- Electronic payment processing charge
- Check processing charge
- Phone-payment charge
- Higher late charges for balances above a certain level
- High credit risk charge
- High subscription and use charges
- Extended network pricing
- Setup charges
- Program maintenance charges
- Research charges
Choose a card that doesn’t charge an extra fee for activities that your drivers and your business do every day.
Best Fuel Cards For Fleets
1) Coast
The Coast fleet and fuel card comes with a long list of features that can benefit businesses and fleets of all sizes and types, including:
- Open loop
- No personal guarantee
- Real-time visibility
- Automatic fuel data collection
- Customizable controls
- Dedicated customer service
- Online dashboard
- Advanced security
- Unauthorized-purchase protection
- Per-gallon discounts
- Rewards and rebates
- Integrations
- Additional spend categories
2) WEX
WEX offers a variety of fuel cards for fleets and includes features such as:
- Customizable report options
- Spending controls
- Wide acceptance network
- Balance carryover (interest rates apply)
- Per-gallon rebates
- No annual fee
- No setup fee
- Automatic accounting
- Online and mobile platforms
3) Comdata
Features of the Comdata fleet card include:
- Per-gallon discounts (depending on where your drivers purchase fuel)
- Analytics
- Per-card monthly fee
- Setup fee
- Fuel-price-by-location tool
- Online account management
- Purchase controls
- Fuel tax management
4) Fuelman
Fuelman is another fleet card that offers a variety of features, including:
- Competitive gas prices
- Wide acceptance network
- Online account management
- Fuel management tools
- Fleet savings programs
- Tax reporting
- Per-gallon discount at select locations
- Monthly fee for each card you carry
5) EFS
With the Electronic Funds Source (EFS) fuel card, fleet managers and drivers can access features such as:
- Spending limit controls
- Discounted fuel purchases
- Card acceptance at a wide variety of locations
- Rebates and rewards
- Online tools
- Vehicle maintenance
- Roadside assistance
6) BP
The BP fuel card is a branded option that allows purchases at BP and Amoco service and fuel stations both locally and out of state.
Other features include:
- Set spending guidelines per card
- Individual card control
- Closed loop
- Advanced security (e.g., requiring driver ID and odometer readings)
- Fast card deactivation
- Monthly fee
- Option to carry a balance (interest rates apply)
7) Voyager
The Voyager fleet card is another multi-brand option that drivers can use at a variety of locations across the country and includes features such as:
- Discounts at participating stations
- Wide acceptance network
- Online account management capabilities
- Fleet management tools
- Fuel savings programs
8) Shell
Like the BP fuel card, the Shell fleet card is a branded option that allows purchases at Shell locations locally and across the country.
The Shell card also comes with many of the same options as other cards on this list, including:
- Per-gallon discounts based on the amount purchased
- No monthly fee
- No annual fee
- Driver restrictions
- Time restrictions
- Manager-controlled spending limits
- Access to vehicle maintenance and roadside assistance
- Integration with participating Jiffy Lube locations
9) Chevron
Chevron is another branded fuel card option that allows purchases at Chevron stations (and other participating locations) across the country.
Features include:
- Variety of card types
- Purchase controls
- Real-time tracking
- Reporting
- Customizable card or driver restrictions
- Late fee for balance carry-over
- Rebates
- Per-gallon discounts
10) ExxonMobil
Depending on where your business is located and where your vehicles travel, the ExxonMobil fleet card is another option to consider.
This branded card allows purchases at participating Exxon and Mobil stations and comes with other features, including:
- Tier-based rebate program
- Per-gallon cash back
- Real-time alerts
- Customizable spending limits
- Setup fee
- Monthly card fee
- Reporting tools
11) Sunoco
The Sunoco fuel card is another option for business fleets. Features include:
- Access to the Sunoco network of stations
- No setup fee
- No card fee
- No annual fee
- Per-gallon rebates
- Special offers
- Employee spending limits
- Real-time alerts
- Online and mobile access
- Reporting tools
12) Pacific Pride
Features of the Pacific Pride fleet card include:
- Transaction limits
- Security codes for access control
- Online reporting
- Electronic receipt collection
- Maintenance tracking
- Itemized billing
13) Circle K
If you have Circle K stations in your area, this fuel card might be an option.
Each card comes with:
- No monthly fees
- Tracking tools
- Spending controls
- Per-gallon savings
- Fuel-only option
- Closed loop
- Online and mobile access
- Flexible payment terms
14) Axle
The Axle fleet card is part of the Pilot/Flying J network of fuel and service stations.
Features include:
- No transaction fee
- No account management fee
- No annual or monthly fee
- Customizable spending controls
- Advanced security
- Cost-saving rewards
- Flexible payment terms
- Dedicated customer service
Choose The Right Fuel Cards For Your Business
Fleet fuel cards can be a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes. The Coast fleet and fuel card, for example, can help you save money on fuel, track your spending, and manage your fleet more efficiently.
With Coast’s online dashboard, you can manage expenses, see purchase details right down to the line item, and control every aspect of the card’s activity.
So, whether you operate five vehicles or 500 — and whether those vehicles stay in town or travel across the country — Coast can help you manage everything better.
To learn more about Coast, visit CoastPay.com today.
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