Best Credit Cards for Gas: Earn Up to 5% Back at the Pump

If you fill up twice a week and spend $150 a month on gas, the right credit card earns you $90 in rewards annually — the wrong one earns you $36. The difference is whether you pick a card built for gas or settle for a general 2% card. Here's how the top options compare.

By Credit Card Reviews Editorial — Reviewed by Ryan Calloway

How we picked these cards

We evaluated gas rewards cards on four criteria: earn rate at gas stations, whether the rate is always-on or requires conditions (quarterly activation, category selection, specific membership), annual fee relative to gas spend breakeven, and any meaningful caps on gas category rewards. We excluded cards where the "gas" bonus rate only applies at branded stations or requires rotating enrollment every quarter as the primary mechanism. Rates and terms verified as of Q2 2026 — check each issuer's site before applying.

The 5% cards: what "5% on gas" actually means

True 5% back on gas at any gas station, with no strings, is rare. The cards that advertise 5% at the pump typically come with one of three conditions: you must be a Costco member, you must choose gas as your top spend category for the billing cycle, or the 5% is a rotating quarterly category you have to activate. Here's the breakdown:

Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi: 4% on gas everywhere, 5% at Costco gas

The Costco Anywhere Visa earns 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases everywhere (up to $7,000 per year in combined gas purchases, then 1%), and a higher rate at Costco gas stations specifically (as of Q2 2026 — verify current rate at costco.com). The $7,000 annual cap on the 4% rate covers about $583/month in gas — most drivers won't hit it. The card has no annual fee if you have a Costco membership ($65/year for a Gold Star membership as of 2026). If you already shop at Costco regularly, the membership cost is often already justified by grocery and bulk savings, making the 4% gas rate essentially free.

The catch: rewards are paid out once a year in the form of a Costco shop voucher redeemable at Costco stores. You can exchange it for cash at the register, but the annual payout schedule means you're waiting up to 12 months to see the reward. If you want monthly statement credits, this isn't the card. If you're comfortable with an annual payout and already have a Costco membership, this is the highest effective rate for consistent gas spending. [source: cardratings.com, costco.com]

Citi Custom Cash: 5% on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle

The Citi Custom Cash earns 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases per billing cycle in your top eligible spend category — automatically, with no enrollment required. Gas stations are one of the eligible categories. If gas is your single largest spending category in a given month, you earn 5%. If you spend more on groceries than gas that month, groceries get the 5% instead. All other purchases earn 1% (as of Q2 2026 — verify at citi.com).

The math: 5% on $500/month = $25/month = $300/year. No annual fee. That's a clean return for a no-fee card. The limitation: $500 per billing cycle cap means $500/month maximum on the 5% rate. Spend $700 on gas in a month and you earn 5% on the first $500 and 1% on the next $200. For most drivers filling up twice a week, $500/month in gas is realistic but not guaranteed — a month with a road trip pushes past it. Also: if your grocery spending is higher than your gas spending in a given month, you're earning 5% on groceries, not gas. This card rewards your actual highest spending category, which is a genuine advantage for variable spenders, but it means you can't rely on it exclusively for 5% gas every month. [source: citi.com (verified via creditcards.com)]

Chase Freedom Flex / Discover it Cash Back: 5% on gas when it's the quarterly category

Both the Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back offer 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories, activated each quarter, up to $1,500 per quarter. Gas stations appear as a quarterly category roughly once per year on each card's rotation — but the specific quarter changes year to year. In 2025, gas stations have appeared as a Q3 or Q4 category on Discover's calendar historically, though the 2025 schedule varies. Chase Freedom Flex has a similar pattern. You earn 5% on gas only during the quarter that gas is the active category, and only on the first $1,500 in that category.

If gas is the active category for one quarter, that's $1,500 x 5% = $75 maximum in gas rewards for that quarter. The other three quarters, gas earns 1%. These are not gas-specialist cards — they're rotating-category cards that occasionally include gas. If your primary goal is a reliable high rate on gas year-round, neither of these is the right choice. If you already have one for other reasons, treating the gas quarter as a bonus is smart. [source: cardratings.com, discover.com]

The 3% cards: flat-rate gas, always on

Amex Blue Cash Preferred: 3% on U.S. gas stations (flat, always)

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred earns 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations with no cap on the gas category and no quarterly enrollment required (as of Q2 2026 — verify at americanexpress.com). The card's headline is 6% on U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000/year, then 1%), but the 3% flat gas rate is a genuine always-on benefit. Annual fee: $95 (there's often a 0% intro APR promotion on new accounts — check current offer before applying).

The math at $150/month in gas spend: 3% x $1,800/year = $54/year in gas rewards. If you're also spending $500/month on groceries, the 6% grocery rate adds $360/year. Combined, that's $414 in annual rewards — more than enough to offset the $95 fee. This card makes the most sense if you're already going to carry it for the grocery rate; the gas reward is a meaningful bonus, not the primary reason to get it. If you spend less than $135/month on gas and nothing meaningful on groceries, a no-fee card may beat it on net. [source: creditcards.com, cardratings.com]

PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature: 5 points per dollar on gas

The PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature earns 5 points per dollar at gas stations (as of Q2 2026 — verify at penfed.org before applying, as PenFed periodically updates its rewards structure). PenFed points are redeemed through their travel portal or for cash equivalents at approximately 1 cent per point, making the 5 points/dollar rate roughly equivalent to 5% back on gas. No annual fee. PenFed is a credit union — membership is required, but membership is open to most people through a one-time $17 donation to the National Military Family Association or by other qualifying methods.

The catch: PenFed's points ecosystem is more limited than Citi or Amex. Redemptions through the travel portal can deliver good value, but there's no transfer to airline miles programs, no points-maximizer play the way Chase or Amex points allow. If you want to earn points you'll actually redeem easily for cash-equivalent value, PenFed works. If you want aspirational airline partner transfers, look elsewhere. [source: cardratings.com (PenFed reward structure)]

How to pick between flat 3% and conditional 5%

The decision comes down to three questions:

1. Do you already have a Costco membership? If yes, the Costco Visa's 4% flat gas rate is the clearest win for heavy gas spenders. The math: at $150/month in gas = $1,800/year x 4% = $72 in rewards, paid out once annually as a Costco voucher. No fee beyond the membership you're already paying.

2. Is gas consistently your single largest monthly spend category? If yes, the Citi Custom Cash's 5% automatic selection works in your favor — and the no-fee structure means every dollar of reward is net gain. At $400/month in gas (the $500 cap, safely below it): $4,800/year x 5% = $240 in cash back annually.

3. Do you want simplicity without tracking anything? The Amex Blue Cash Preferred's flat 3% at U.S. gas stations never changes, never needs activation, and applies at virtually every gas station. Pair it with its 6% grocery rate and the $95 fee disappears quickly. At $150/month in gas + $400/month in groceries: ($1,800 x 3%) + ($4,800 x 6%) = $54 + $288 = $342 in annual rewards against a $95 fee. Net: $247/year ahead.

A note on coverage: the Costco card only works at Costco gas and general gas stations — it doesn't work at Costco warehouses for non-gas purchases as the primary card for most purchases outside Costco's ecosystem. Verify merchant acceptance before relying on it as a daily driver.

Cards we considered but didn't rank

Chase Freedom Flex: The 5% gas quarter is real, but you can't count on it year-round. Good if you're already in the Chase ecosystem for other reasons.

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards: Offers 3% in a category you choose (including gas), with 6% cash back in the first year on up to $2,500 in combined choice category and grocery store purchases each quarter. The first-year boost is significant, but the ongoing rate is 3% — similar to the Amex Blue Cash Preferred without the grocery add-on, and it requires BofA Preferred Rewards status for higher tiers. Worth considering if you're a BofA customer already.

The bottom line

For most drivers, the practical choice comes down to two cards: the Citi Custom Cash if gas is your top monthly spend and you want 5% on up to $500/month with no annual fee, or the Amex Blue Cash Preferred if you also spend significantly on groceries and want the combination of 6% groceries plus 3% gas under one card with a $95 fee that the grocery rewards more than cover. The Costco Visa wins for Costco members who want the highest flat gas rate and are comfortable with annual reward payouts. PenFed's Platinum Rewards is worth a look for no-fee 5% gas if you don't mind the credit union membership process and a more limited redemption ecosystem.

The 5% gas promise is almost always conditional. Read the conditions before applying. Verify current rates, fees, and terms at each issuer's website. Card terms change.

This article was AI-assisted and reviewed by our editorial team.