The Ultimate Fuel Card Guide
Fuel cards can save you money, improve your security, and slash your outgoings. Here’s how they
Top 5 Fuel Card Providers in the UK
We explore the top five fuel card providers to help you make an informed decision on which is best for your business.
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Top 5 Fuel Card Providers in the UK
We explore the top five fuel card providers to help you make an informed decision on which is best for your business.
Fuel cards are essential for businesses looking to streamline their fuel expenses, reduce costs and simplify the administration process within their fleet. From self-employed taxi drivers to fleet managers overseeing multiple HGVs, choosing the right card for you can save you both time and money.
In this guide, we’ll explore what fuel cards are, their benefits, and cards from five of the UK’s top providers to help you make an informed decision. Whatever your situation, there’s a fuel card for you!
What Are Fuel Cards?
Fuel cards, also known as fleet cards or petrol cards, are a type of payment card that allows businesses to pay for fuel at a cheaper rate. They work exactly like any other bank or store card, except they can only be used in petrol stations. Some cards will be locked to specific stations, while others can be used across a range of locations.Â
Mose providers will also have software linked to the cards that allows you to monitor fuel usage, consolidate bills, and track your spending.
What Are the Benefits of Fuel Cards?
Save on Fuel Costs
Fuel cards can save up to 12p per litre, resulting in substantial annual savings with fleet operators able to save thousands. Real-time tracking helps spot unusual fuel use, and all fuel purchased with a fuel card is tax-exempt for even more savings!Â
Simplified Administration
Fuel cards consolidate invoices, reducing admin time and the possibility of errors. Fixed weekly rates help with forecasting and bring stability to an often fluctuating market. HMRC-compliant invoices simplify VAT reclaims, eliminating the need for individual receipts and manual reimbursements.
Enhanced Security
The ability to place spending restrictions helps reduce misuse by drivers. PIN-protected cards add accountability, and lost cards can be blocked to prevent unauthorised spending.
Data and Reporting Insights
Fuel card software provides insights into fuel consumption, driver habits, and spending. Optimised routes and better planning can reduce fleet costs by up to 20%, improving overall efficiency.
Compliance and Carbon Footprint
Fuel cards can track carbon emissions to ensure compliance with UK regulations, avoiding fines of up to £50,000. Some cards offer carbon offset schemes to help improve your business’s carbon footprint.
Reward Schemes
Many fuel card providers offer rewards such as cashback, discounts, and loyalty points. These typically offer fuel discounts and in-store perks.
Improved Cash Flow
Fuel cards offer interest-free credit and some include flexible weekly invoicing, making expenses more manageable and improving cash flow for businesses working with tighter budgets.
Top 5 Fuel Card Providers: Our Verdict
Before we get started, we just need to make something clear. This isn’t going to be a straight shootout of which is the best. Instead, we’ve categorised the top options based on what they do best for different types of businesses.
So, for example, we have one that’s best for larger fleets. While there’s another that’s best for the self-employed. You can find the list below. Just clcik on a provider if you want to find out more about them:
| Provider | Best For | Network Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Right Fuel Card | All-Round | 3,400+ stations (diesel, etrol, EV) |
| Allstar | Hybrid Fleets | 7,500+ stations, 59,000+ EV chargers (Combined Fuel & EV) |
| Shell | Wide Coverage | 3,900+ Shell & partner sites (diesel, petrol, EV) |
| BP | Larger Fleets | 3,500+ stations, (diesel and 12,000 EV points) |
| fuelGenie | Self-Employed | 2,220 supermarket stations (petrol, diesel) |
Right Fuel Card: Best All Round Supplier
On a mission is to simplify the fuel management of businesses across the UK.
As an independent provider, it works closely with major fuel brands like Shell, Esso, Keyfuels, UK Fuels and BP. This allows it to provide 11 different fuel cards accepted at over 3,400 stations across the country.
Its cards can see you benefit from discounts of up to 6p per litre and offer fixed weekly pricing to protect you from daily fluctuations. However, its cards come with a minimum spend of between £300 – £500 per month, so it may not be suited to part-time drivers.
If you have a poor or limited credit history, you’re in luck. Four types of payment methods come with different stipulations based on your credit history. It offers cards for:Â
- Cars
- Vans
- HGVs
- EVs
- Mixed fleets
Its cards come with tailored software that helps you manage fuel spending across multiple devices. You will also have access to a dedicated app to help find fuel stations close to you that are compatible with your card. It can also offer fleet insurance and legal protection through its partnerships, streamlining your operational expenses.
Right Fuel Card offers customer support via email and phone. Its phone lines are open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Thursday and from 9 am to 3 pm on Friday.
Allstar: Best for Hybrid Fleets
Gives you access to over 7,500 stations and 59,000 EV charging stations.
EVs are becoming more popular each day and if your business relies on them, then Allstar could be the provider for you. With over 50,000 businesses on its books and 1.2 million cards in circulation, it knows a thing or two about fuel cards. Its six cards grant you access to over 7,500 Although stations and 59,000 EV charging stations.
Its site appears to have tailored pricing and savings, we have found that its Allstar One card can offer an 8p saving per litre.
All cards come with their ServicePoint fleet management software to help streamline your operations. But the cherry on top is its Allstar Co-pilot app. This shows you all eligible petrol stations and EV charging stations compatible with its cards and gives you the ability to pay directly through the app.
Our Pick: Allstar Charge PassÂ
Fuel Type: Combined fuel and electric chargingÂ
With the Allstar Charge Pass, you can benefit from discounted prices for conventional fuel and Electric charging. This gives you access to 85% of UK motorway charging sites, so you’re always within reach of one.
Admin has never been easier with the Charge Pass.
Firstly, you’ll always receive an HMRC-compliant invoice, and you can use its Allstar Homecharge deal for an extra fee. This allows your drivers to charge their vehicles at home while Allstar automatically pays its energy suppliers.
Shell: Best For Network Coverage
Use its cards at over 2,600 partner networks such as Esso, Texaco, Gulf and more.
With its extensive fuel network across the UK, Shell cards give you access to over 3,900 sites. Given how common they are up and down the country’s motorways, Shell’s great strength is its accessibility. You can even use its cards at over 2,600 partner networks such as Esso, Texaco, Gulf and more.Â
It can save you up to 10p per litre on Shell’s high-quality fuel, and the company also offers EV options with access to 32,000 charging stations.
For customer service, its phone lines are open between 8 am and 5 pm from Monday to Friday, and it has email and web chat available.
Our Pick: Multifleet Fuel Card
Fuel Types: Diesel and petrolÂ
In addition to accessing over 3,900 Shell and partner sites across the county, you will also benefit from Shell Go+ rewards. This gives you discounted rates on food and drink services for Shell’s on-site services. You’ll also get extra money off fuel every 10th visit, making it perfect for easy fleet-level savings.
Multifleet Fuel Cards have a weekly fixed price for more accurate forecasting and protection from market fluctuations. You can also easily claim the VAT back with its HMRC-compliant invoicing.Â
Customer support comes in the form of email and phone. Its phone lines are open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Thursday and 9 am to 3 pm on Friday.
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BP: Best For Larger Fleets
Access to 3,500+ petrol stations and 12,000+ EV charging stations nationwide.
Shell’s main rival, BP, grants you access to 3,500+ petrol stations and 12,000+ EV charging stations nationwide. Its advanced software allows you to monitor fuel transactions 24/7 and analyse fleet performance with a single online dashboard or customisable reports.Â
Our Pick: BP Bunker Fuel Card
Fuel Type: Diesel onlyÂ
Designed specifically for larger HGV and LCV fleets, the BP Bunker can save you up to 10p per litre on diesel fuel. Although you can use this at regular stations, you can also save at BP’s Bunker sites. These are stations specifically designed for larger vehicles, and there are 600 of them across the UK.
Bunker Fuel Cards offer you a fixed weekly price when paying for diesel. They also come with advanced security features, including 24/7 alerts and 100% online authorisation of fuel transactions.
FuelGenie: Best For Self-Employed
Saves you 3p per litre and comes with no hidden fees.
Last but certainly not least, we have FuelGenie. An independent fuel card provider with 17 years of experience and partnerships with Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and Shell. This gives you access to over 2,220 supermarket stations, saves you 3p per litre and comes with no hidden fees.
You can manage your accounts online or with a dedicated app that provides HMRC-approved VAT invoices. As a Brucey Bonus, you can earn supermarket loyalty points on fuel purchases, helping you save on your weekly shopping. What’s not to like?
Our Pick: fuelGenie+ Fuel Card
Of the two available cards, we’ve gone for the fuelGenie+ card. There’s nothing wrong with the regular card, but you get access to so much more by paying a measly £6 per year card fee.Â
Firstly, you get extra access to Shell and Esso stations (which can be found on the free app), while the regular one only lets you shop at Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s for your fuel. The fuelGenie+ card comes with the added benefit of 24/7 fuelling, while the regular one does not. If you drive a larger vehicle, you get access sites specifically designed to cater to those.Â
You’ll also get HMRC-compliant invoicing, supermarket loyalty points and support from a UK-based team.
How to Choose the Best Company Fuel Card For You
Fleet Sizes
Providers vary in their offerings—some will be more suited to smaller businesses, while others offer bulk fuel discounts perfect for large fleets. Watch out for minimum spending requirements. If you only drive part-time and don’t meet the threshold, you will have to pay a penalty.
Typical Routes
Fuel card discounts are useless if stations don’t align with your routes. Confirm that your card is accepted at locations on your route. The more stations your card is accepted at, the greater the convenience and savings.
Transparent Pricing
Check for clear, accessible fee breakdowns before signing up. If pricing details are vague or hidden, consider switching providers to avoid unexpected charges. See the bottom of this list for more information on typical fees.
Customer Service
Great rates mean nothing without reliable support. Check reviews for complaints about issues like incorrect billing and lost cards. One or two negative reviews are ok, but if you see the same problem mentioned consistently, these should be taken very seriously.
Additional Features
If you value reporting tools, reward programs, or enhanced security, check your provider offers these features at the level you need to manage your operations effectively.
Fuel Types
Confirm the card supports all necessary fuel types if your fleet uses different fuels. Some cards are locked to specific types, which may not suit a fleet of diverse vehicles that rely on other fuel types.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications may require a credit check and proof of business. Poor credit may limit your options to pre-paid fuel cards, which require loading funds before use.
EV Compatibility
If you operate electric or hybrid vehicles, confirm that your provider supports EV charging and has authorised charging points along your routes.
Fees to Be Aware Of
Although each provider may have different additional fees, most will come with these as standard:Â
- Account service charge
- Change payment terms
- Copy receipt
- Electronic invoice
- Fleet control and insights
- Lost/stolen/damaged card replacement
- Monthly card charge
- Inactive account fee
- Paper invoice
- Product switch fee
- Returned direct debit fee
- Site clearance fee
- Transaction query fee
Make sure that you understand the frequency (i.e. weekly, monthly, per use, etc.) and how (card, invoice, event). If you have any doubts about these prices and your provider isn’t transparent with them, look for someone else.Â
How Can I Get Fuel Cards for My Business?
Ok, now you’re a fuel card expert, and there’s only one thing left to do: get one for yourself. Whether you’re a large business or self-employed, we can help here at Commercial Experts!Â
The question below will take you through to our form, which will collect some basic information about your business. Then, using this information, we’ll source a range of quotes tailored to meet your specific needs. Then, all you have to do is pick which one you like the most.Â
The best part? It’s 100% free with no strings attached. So if you don’t like what you see, you just walk away at no cost to yourself.
So tap below now and start enjoying all the benefits of fuel cards!Â
FAQs
What are fuel cards?
Fuel cards are payment cards designed for businesses to purchase fuel. They help track fuel expenses, reduce paperwork, and simplify fleet management by providing detailed fuel usage reports.
What are the benefits of fuel cards?
Fuel cards offer benefits such as discounts on fuel, enhanced security, streamlined expense tracking, and reduced admin tasks. They improve efficiency by consolidating fuel costs into one report.
How do fuel cards help with VAT reclaims?
Fuel cards provide HMRC-compliant invoices, making it easier to reclaim VAT on fuel purchases by offering clear, accurate records of transactions.
Can fuel cards be used for electric vehicle charging?
Yes, some fuel cards support electric vehicle charging at compatible charge points, helping businesses transition to EVs while maintaining efficient cost tracking.
How can I get fuel cards?
Simply tap on one of the links on this page, fill out a quick form with details about your business and then, using this information, we will source a range of free personalised fuel card quotes.Â
You’re then free to choose the best option or, if you don’t like what you see, walk away at no cost to yourself.
