Picking a credit card for gas should be easy. You buy gas and earn cash back. How complicated can it be?

Very.

Some cards earn a high cash back rate but also have annual fees or spending caps. Others have no annual fees but smaller rewards.

So I compared dozens of gas rewards cards and ran the numbers. When it comes to cash back on gas, minus annual fees, a handful of cards earn a lot more than most.

Three things to know first

1. Non-gas perks don’t count

Travel rewards, dining credits, and other side benefits are nice. But we’re looking for the best gas cards here.

I’ll mention the extras, but they’re not a factor in my choices.

2. I’ve left out credit union cards

There are some credit unions that offer great gas cards — but only for their members. To join, you may need to live in a certain area, belong to a certain organization, or pay a membership fee.

On top of that, these cards often have low or no sign-up bonuses. So I’ve left them off my list.

3. There’s no one-size-fits-all gas card

The best gas card for you depends on where you fill up, how much you spend, and more. So I’ve listed my top picks in a few different categories.

Here they are.

Biggest rewards in the first ~18 months: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

If you want maximum cash back for the next year or two, then this is the card to start with.

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card lets you earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice — and gas can be that category. After year one, it drops to 3%.

Key details:

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Welcome offer: Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • 6% cash back: 3% cash back plus a 3% first-year bonus in the category of your choice
  • 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

After you spend $2,500 per quarter across grocery stores, wholesale clubs, and your chosen bonus category, all purchases earn 1% cash back. So if you only use the card for gas, you’ll probably never hit the cap.

You can always switch to a different card for gas after year one, then change your Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card’s bonus category. That way it’ll still earn 3% in a category of your choice.

Best for Costco members: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

If you get your gas at a warehouse club, then this card might be your best bet. Note: It pays you back in the form of store credit, not cash.

This card for Costco members earns up to 5% back on gas, plus 2% in store.

Key details:

  • Annual fee: $0
  • 5% cash back on gas at Costco and 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter
  • 3% cash back on restaurants and travel, including Costco Travel
  • 2% cash back on Costco purchases
  • 1% cash back on other purchases

There’s no official sign-up bonus, which hurts its short-term value. Still, it’s a great option for people who buy most of their gas at Costco — especially since Costco only accepts Visa cards, which rules out the next card on our list (a Mastercard).

Best long-term gas card for most people: Citi Custom Cash® Card

This is the “set it and forget it” gas card.

Each month, it earns 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent). Gas stations count.

Most people spend well under $500 a month on gas. So, use this card only for gas, and you’ll likely earn 5% cash back every time you fuel up.

Key details:

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Welcome offer: Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent)
  • 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal.
  • 1% cash back on other purchases

Why do these cards “win”?

There are more gas rewards cards than you can shake a nozzle at. Many of them have similar rewards to the cards above.

But most of those cards have something working against them, like…

  • An annual fee that makes them a worse value overall
  • A low welcome offer (or no welcome offer)
  • Funky membership requirements
  • A small issuing bank with less robust customer service and apps

The cards on my list offer generous, simple gas rewards, and they all come from big, trusted banks. And with no annual fees, there’s little downside, so you can apply with confidence.

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