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Fleet And Fuel Cards

Fleet Card Comparison: WEX vs. Fuelman vs. Wawa vs. Shell

It’s important to choose a fuel card that works for your business, but comparing the different options can be confusing. We break down what you need to know. 

Wex Vs. Fuelman Fleet Card

A fuel card is a beneficial tool when you’re looking to reduce the costs of operating a fleet, but there are many options on the market. WEX vs. Fuelman, Wawa vs. Shell, for example. So how can you determine which one is the best fit for your fleet?

We’ll explain the most essential criteria business owners and fleet managers need to consider when choosing a fuel card, and then take a look at the pros and cons of five popular options.

What Is A Fuel Card?

Fuel pumps

A fuel card, also sometimes called a fleet card, is a specialized type of company credit card that businesses issue to employees who drive company vehicles.

Employees can use their company-issued fuel card to pay for gas instead of paying out of their own pockets and then submitting receipts for reimbursement.

Unlike a normal company credit card that can be used for any type of purchase, a fuel card can only be used for fuel.

What Are The Different Types Of Fuel Cards?

Many fuel cards are offered as a product by large service station chains associated with major oil companies, such as Shell and Wawa. Other fuel card options are available from companies that specialize in providing fuel cards as their main line of business.

Although they’re often referred to as “fleet credit cards,” most fuel cards are charge cards, which means the balance must be paid off every month. And while other fuel cards allow businesses to carry a balance from month to month, these often have reduced rebates.

Some fuel cards can be used at virtually any gas station. These are called “open loop” cards. Others, called “closed loop” cards, can only be used or only offer rebates within a network of gas stations associated with a particular company.

Why Use A Fuel Card For Small Businesses?

If your business operates a company vehicle fleet, using a fuel card can save you significant amounts of money and time.

Fuel cards often give discounts or rebates on purchases made at participating gas stations. While this is usually only a few cents off per gallon of gas or a few cents back per dollar spent, these rewards can add up to significant savings.

Using fuel cards can also reduce the administrative work of operating a company fleet. Managers no longer have to collect and process receipts and cut reimbursement checks to drivers, and all of the fleet fuel and maintenance expenses can be tracked in one statement.

Compared to simply giving every driver a company credit card, fuel cards also offer much greater security since they can only be used at service stations, and many also allow managers to set spending controls.

Things To Consider When Choosing A Fuel Card

Woman searching on line for info on Exxon vs. Shell Fleet Card

If you’ve done even cursory research on fuel cards, you’re probably already aware of several popular options. Trying to compare them head to head (for example, Fuelman vs. Wawa) can be frustrating as you evaluate each option’s individual features.

To make the best choice for your business, a better strategy is to take a step back and consider the factors that will make the most difference.

Open Loop Acceptance

One of the most important things to keep in mind when picking a fuel card for your business is that not all fuel cards can be used at all gas stations.

When you’re comparing two cards, such as Fuelman vs. Shell Fleet Plus, the answer may come down to what gas stations are common in the area where your company fleet operates.

Open loop fuel cards can be used at any gas station, so your employees can fuel up wherever it’s convenient without having to worry about wasting time (and gas) by going out of their way to find a station that accepts their card.

Reporting

The best fuel cards will give business owners and fleet managers access to detailed data about when, where, and how much they’re being used, and provide the information in near-real time.

Usage reporting can give you better insight into your fleet operations so you can find ways to improve efficiency.

Security

security with coast fleet card

As with any other payment method your business uses, you want to have confidence that your company’s fuel card is secure.

This includes not only robust fraud protection measures, such as PINs, but also the ability to set up detailed controls on the amount that your employees can spend.

Customer Service

If you do have a security issue, or if any other questions or concerns about your company’s fuel cards come up, you want to have the assurance that you’ll be able to get effective help.

Make sure the fuel card you select for your business offers personal, prompt support from a real human being.

Integrations

Of course you’ve heard the adage that time is money. Using fuel cards can save your business money, but it can have an even better impact on your bottom line if your fuel cards integrate with other tools you’re using, like accounting software.

Consistent Rebates

Although many fuel cards advertise discounts and rebates for businesses, it’s important to read the fine print and make sure you thoroughly understand the conditions and structure of any discounts, rebates, or other financial benefits that a fuel card offers.

Some fuel cards require your business to spend a minimum amount to qualify for rewards. Others cap rebates at a certain amount.

Analyze how much your business is likely to spend before selecting a fuel card to make sure that you get consistent rebates and don’t miss out if you spend too much or too little.

Top Fuel Cards

Using a Wex vs. Fuelman Fleet Card

Below, you’ll find an overview of some common fuel card offerings, with information based on publicly available resources and materials. For the most up-to-date information, reach out to the fuel card provider.

Coast Fleet Fuel Card

Coast

About
Pros
  • “Open loop” acceptance
  • Real-time reporting
  • Robust spending controls
  • Useful integrations
Cons
  • Possibly not as well-suited to new businesses due to credit requirements
  • Not available in North and South Dakota, Nevada, and Canada
WEX EFS Fuel Card

WEX

About
Pros
  • Accepted at 95% of U.S. gas stations
  • Advanced spending controls
  • Detailed, custom reporting features
Cons
  • A “closed loop” card
  • No dedicated account manager for customer service
  • Many types of fees
Fuelman Fleet Card

Fuelman

About
Pros
  • Rebates that may help your company’s bottom line
  • Fraud protection features with driver PINs
  • Managers can set spending rules based on time of purchase or purchase amount
Cons
  • Limited acceptance
  • May not be usable at your preferred stations
  • “Extended network pricing” could result in fees at certain merchants even within Fuelman’s network
Wawa Fleet Card

Wawa Fleet Card

About
Pros
  • A good choice if Wawa is your preferred gas station chain
  • Ability to set controls by card or driver
  • No setup, annual, or card fees
Cons
  • Other fleet cards offer more rebates
  • Limited acceptance outside Wawa stations
Shell Fleet Card

Shell Fleet Plus

About
Pros
  • A good choice if there are many Shell stations where your business fleet operates
  • Fraud protection with driver PINs
  • Offers rebates
Cons
  • Limited acceptance outside Shell stations
  • No dedicated account manager
  • Tiered rebate structure means the value your business gets from rebates may vary

Research, Compare, And Save With Coast

Research, Compare, And Save With Coast

When you’re trying to pick the best fuel card for your business, assessing the advantages of one option compared to another — for example, the Shell Fleet Plus fuel card vs. Wawa Fleet — can be confusing.

To make the task easier, focus on the most important selection criteria: wide acceptance, detailed reporting, customer service you can be confident in, strong security features, time-saving integrations, and rebate features that will consistently save your business money.

When you compare features, Coast offers a flexible option to help businesses save money on gas no matter what size fleet they operate, with “open loop” Visa acceptance, real-time reporting, powerful spending controls, and integrations with tools like Intuit Quickbooks.

To find out more, visit CoastPay.com today.