Help With GAS CARD!

[Drifter73]

Since I'm blacklisted from Amex for a direct line of credit for their BCP 6% cb gas card up to $6k spend, I went with the credit one 5% gas + 5% grocery Amex card up to $5k spend and I pair it with the Kroger store card that also gives fuel discounts (averages 10c per gal off for every 100 grocery spend).

Today at the pump, I scanned my kroger card and got 30c off per gal. Then paid with my c1 Amex and got an additional 5% off gas.

Win win for me.

[JamP]

We are using our Sams Club MC for 5% cash back on the first $6000.

We mix in our Discover IT cards when it's gas at 5% cash back. 

We will be looking at getting a Sams Club MC for the DW if we start hitting 6k. 

Shell has a free rewards program that gives 3 cents or 5 cents per gallon depending on usage.

Any kind of savings is appreciated at these prices.  

[unsungivy]

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@kilroy8 wrote:

NFCU MoreRewards has no AF and is uncapped 3% on gas. A great all-around card, too.

You would hit caps quickly with any of the 5% cards.

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Most listed have caps that won't help the OP with their need. Spending over 1k a week in gas would eat through any spend cap in less than 2 months, leaving them juggling cards.

This might SEEM like a random card, but it doesn't appear to have a cap on 4x gas when I examine the fine print (also 4x restaurants and bars): https://www.cardless.com/cards/pelicans?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Applications+-...

Pretty solid card overall, despite the random sports team affiliation. Better than the popular GO altitude imo, since it gives 4x dining AND gas, also for no AF.

(Currently states that points are equal to 1 cent each, and can be used for statement credit, so its 4x is equivalent to 4% for anyone who might get their nose in a twist about that.)

[Bockrocker]

Just a note about Upside if you didn't know - promo codes stack.  There are a few out there for 6c, 7c, 35c etc. (check DoC).  I finally used the app to fill up last week and got 85c/gallon back.

[Johnsmith2]

Your gas spend is obviously enormous. Most recommendations here are ignoring that. It is not practical to get multiple cards to manage just for gas. You have 4 options that don't have caps on gas rewards:

1) Abound CU Visa 5% Gas plus rotating categories. With a yearly spend of approximately $72k annually on gas (WOW), this would net you roughly $3600 per year in cashback. You may have issues joining and as a smaller regional CU, they could change terms or flag your account. No annual fee. 

2) Penfed Platinum Rewards Visa. 5x points on gas, 3x groceries and dining. Unfortunately, redeeming these points is either through travel purchases or gift cards. I certainly would not want to deal with spending down $3600 in gift cards each year. But that's personal preference. No annual fee. 

3) US Bank altitude connect. 4% cash back travel and gas. 2% dining and groceries. This has a $99 annual fee but waived for the first year. Pure cash back in either statement credits or deposits if you open a US Bank bank account. $2880 annual rewards vs $3600 via Abound CU. But as a national bank, may be less chance of issues with your huge spending. 

4) Wyndham Business Earner. 8x Wyndham points on gas and Wyndham. 5x Utilities. This is would work if you regularly stay at Wyndham properties, which have an enormous footprint. Anything from Wyndham Grand all the way down to Super 8/Travelodge. $95 annual fee but you'd earn enough points for up to 60 free nights per year by doing this. You can disregard this card if you don't stay at any Wyndham properties or only want cash back. Plus points expire 4 years after earning them. You may not be able to spend down the huge cache of points you'll earn before they expire. So take these facts into consideration. 

With the 4 options above, if you want cashback, I'd shoot for Abound 1st. While normally, the US Bank Altitude Connect's $500 SUB would outweigh years of spending, your unique case makes it practically irrelevant. 1% extra would net more than the SuB in less than a year. If that doesn't work out, then US Bank Altitude Connect. Penfed platinum last due to redemption of points mainly through gift cards. 

However, if you interested in Wyndham points, the business earner card will be the most lucrative in terms of monetary value. While you'd earn $3600 in cashback via Abounds 5%, you'd earn 576,000 Wyndham points annually due to the 8x on gas. Valuing Wyndham points at about 1 cpp, this is worth about $5760 per year, IF you end up using all these points before they expire (4years from date of earning). And IF you are ok staying at Wyndham properties for future travel. 

[Taurus22]

There has been plenty mentioned above, but I thought I would add something....

1) My friend religiously shops at Kroger grocery stores which has a very good Gas points rewards program evidently. If you have one of those in your area, you may want to check that out.

2) I personally have a Costco membership. But I don't have the Costco credit card. I use a grandfathered FNBO Ducks Unlimited card there (Costco accepts Visa only) for 5% cashback. Costco also has the cheapest gas prices around here by far. So if you do find a good CC like Abound CU (5% cashback) it would work well there if you are a member.

3) Another thing that I don't think was mentioned....The Shell Fuel Rewards program is really good. You can get the app on the Google Play Store for your phone and check it out. Mathematically, because our Costco is so much cheaper than most gas stations Costco works better for me, but otherwise, I would be using this in conjuction with the Upside app and the Trunow app which both offer cashback on gas. You can stack these with the Shell Fuel Rewards.

[Anonymous]

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@Johnsmith2 wrote:

2) Penfed Platinum Rewards Visa. 5x points on gas, 3x groceries and dining. Unfortunately, redeeming these points is either through travel purchases or gift cards. I certainly would not want to deal with spending down $3600 in gift cards each year. But that's personal preference. No annual fee. 

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You can redeem for $500 Visa gift cards.   Still a bit of a pain, but much easier than dealing with a bunch of specific store gift cards.   This pushes down the value a little more (you will get no rewards using the gift card, instead of say using a 2% card).

If there is any travel planned, I would still consider the Altitude Reserve, as potentially giving an uncapped 4.5% on mobile wallet which works for many gas stations (and gas apps) plus (unlike Abound!) many other places.

[W261w261]

I have the PenFed 5% gas card, no limit. They'd like to redeem your points at .85¢, but have sales on some cards where you can get a full penny. Penfed is not super-difficult to get into I think. Not Navy, but few are. 

[ptatohed]

Not to get too far away from credit cards, but to help with the gas price sting.... if you have one of these MyVegas apps on your phone and run the slot (or other variation) games (you don't need to actually play, either set it to auto spin or sometimes just leave the app open), you earn loyalty points which can be used to get free or discounted real things.  I seriously just used them for a 100% free 3-night stay at Sycaun Resort and Casino in San Diego.  Anyway, there is one offer for 20 cents off per gallon from Circle K.  Circle K has some of the lowest prices around here (SoCal) to begin with.  It's a meager 5,000 loyalty points which is nothing because you'll have 100s of thousands of them.  It's a bit of a pain because you have to wait until you are at the gas station (once activated, you have 15 minutes).  Using your phone, you click a button in an e-mail sent to you when you "purchased" the deal with your loyalty points.  That then sends you a text.  Then you reply to the text with your zipcode.  Then they text you a link.  You open the link and their is your barcode to use at the register.  You need to "prepay" meaning walk in and say "$80 on Pump 5" (of course pay with your best gas rewards credit card).  Not all Circle Ks participate and this may not be in all areas but if 20 cents per gallon is worth it to you to do all that, there you go.          

[Hotcoals91]

Hey I'm looking for ideas on the best credit cards to use at gas stations when my discover card enters the new quarter next month. I also have the Barclays AARP but that comes with the drawback of having a $25 redemption threshold if I remember correctly.