Gas Credit Cards Q&A

June 22, 2010

Here’s a review of a variety of questions people have had about rewards and saving money with gas credit cards.  The one about registering for gas for a wedding gift was my favorite!

Can a gas card save you money?

If you get a gas card with no annual fee then it should save you some money even if you only use it occasionally.  The gas rewards card isn’t costing you anything and it’s earning you rebates on your gasoline.  Of course the card you choose and how you use it will determine how much money it saves you.

Can anyone get a gas credit card?

You have to get approved for a gas credit card, just the same as you do for any other credit card.  A bank wants to know that you’re likely to payback the money you charge on the card.  You’ll have to fill out a credit card application and the bank will check your credit history before they decide whether to issue you a card.

Do I need to keep my gas receipts?

I’ve never used or heard of a gas rewards card that required you to keep your gas reciepts.  That’s one of the benefits of the digital nature of a credit card, all the transactions are automatically recorded by a computer somewhere.  You can login whenever you’d like to see a history of your purchases and any gas rebates that you’ve earned.  The company that issued you the card uses that same data to determine how many reward points you’ve earned.

Can I use a gas credit card anywhere?  Can I only purchase gas with it?

The real question isn’t where you can use the card but where do you get rewards for using the card?  Most of the credit cards that offer cashback for gas will also give some cashback for other purchases.  However, if you’re earning 3% or 5% on gas but only 1% on everything else, you might want to use the card just for gas and use a different rewards card for other purchases.

If you’re using gas cards from companies like ExxonMobile, Chevron, BP, Shell, or Conoco you’ll want to read the terms and conditions to see if it’s just a gas card or if you can use it for other purchases.

Can a college student apply for a gas credit card?

Students can apply for a gas card but if you have a limited credit history you might not get approved.  Be sure to check out common college student credit card mistakes and avoid them. Some companies do offer student versions of their cards:

  • Citi Dividend Platinum Select Visa
  • Citi mtvU Platinum Select Visa
  • Citi Forward
  • Can you register for gas for your wedding?

    Sure, that’s not a bad idea, you know for sure you’ll use the gas gift.  One easy way to do it is to ask for a gift card from a store like Hy-vee (regional) or Costco (national) that sells gas and groceries so you can use it for both. 

    I carpool, will a gas card still save me money on gas?

    Carpooling is a great way to cut your gas bill and to help the environment, so way to go.  Of course when you carpool you still drive some of the time and using a gas card for those trips will save you money.

    What’s the best card for gas rewards?

    The best gas credit cards are the ones that give you the most cash back for each dollar you spend on gas.  Of course there are several different cards that offer similar rebates and each has it’s own strengths and weaknesses.  It also depends on how much money you spend on gas each month and how you use the card.   For more detail on the cards available you can check out gas rewards card review.

    Ben

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    Ben
    Ben Edwards, the founder of Money Smart Life, saved up enough to buy a Nintendo back when he was 12 years old. When he used the money to buy shares of Wal-Mart stock instead, he knew he wasn't like the other kids... His addiction to personal finance has paid off for his family and now he's helping you to afford the life that you want. Check him out on the web at Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook.

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Comments

3 Responses to Gas Credit Cards Q&A

  • James

    i have never had a gas card, so i don’t really know much about them but based on what you are saying it sounds like as long as their are not fees then it total makes sense get a card and enjoy the benefits.

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