10 Fuel Cards Facts You Must Know

Written By Andrew Brooks Published on November 4, 2022 Fuel Cards

Business gasoline cards are popular with these companies because they provide a way to automate fuel expense reporting, minimize risks like gas theft, and track and manage fuel costs in real time.

For companies that rely on their vehicles, offering drivers a flexible payment option for gas and other driving-related costs is an integral part of everyday activities. In addition, controlling these payment options and costs is an essential workflow that has a tangible impact on the business’s bottom line.

What Is A Fuel Card And Why Should I Get One?

Maintaining your company’s fleet while staying within your budget might be difficult with the constant increase in gas prices. In addition to the rising rates, it is simple for your drivers to overspend at some outlets without noticing it.

Keeping your finances in check by monitoring and controlling your gas expenditure may significantly reduce your overall prices.

Fuel cards can authorize the buying and selling of products and services related to on-the-road transportation, such as refueling, vehicle servicing, maintenance, parking, and tolls, among other things. Business owners can use them to buy conventional fuels, alternative energy sources, and energy for refueling electric vehicles. Transport businesses typically utilize fuel cards for their fleets. Thus, the contractual connection is one of business to business.

Saves Money

A gas card can help your business keep tabs on the money spent on gas and vehicle maintenance for company vehicles and those used by employees. Your organization can use this card to purchase fuel and pay for repairs from participating service stations.

Cyber Security

Fleets can have more discretion and protection at the gas station using fuel cards. For many fleets, using a credit card to pay for petrol means having access to fraud protection around the clock. To help identify and stop fraudulent employee transactions, your organization will receive real-time alerts for each one.

Compatibility

Any fleet can use gas cards to get fuel rebates. But remember, only a few companies have the widest variety of fuel brands that accept their cards. Pick a more widely used and accepted card. Likewise, the payment choices and terms for each card are unique.

Fuel Card: Interesting Facts You Should Know

We explain how business gasoline cards operate and why they are effective for various organizations. We concentrate on a few essential qualities when evaluating potential business gasoline cards for your company.

Cashbacks And Rewards

Customers who use these cards to purchase can accrue gift cards and loyalty points. You can apply those points to purchases made at specific websites or stores. Every time customers make a minimum purchase at one of the many petrol stations across the country; they will receive cashback. The user’s bank account further receives the cashback sum.

Cyber Safety

Fuel cards allow fleets to enjoy more privacy and security at the gas station. For many fleets, paying for gas with a credit card gives them access to round-the-clock fraud protection. Your firm will get immediate alerts for every fraudulent employee transaction to assist in identifying and stopping it.

Savings On Fuel Costs

As an owner, driver, or fleet manager, one of the most significant advantages of fuel cards is that they can lower expenses by offering businesses a discounted gasoline cost rate based on the fuel card. Gas fleet cards can boost productivity and result in cost savings. Using a gas card, your company can save up to 15% on fuel costs. It cuts down on maintenance expenses and the time you spend scrambling to get your finances in order.

Management

One of the critical advantages of gasoline cards for companies would be that employees don’t need to gather receipts or keep track of their expenditures. Utilizing gasoline cards enables more controllable gas expenditures. The total amount invested in fuel for the fleet could also be restricted. When, where, what, and how much money employees can spend on petrol is all under your control. Including additional crucial elements like restricting cardholder access, altering employee data, and fully utilizing approved vendor fuel savings. You can also establish a daily or weekly spending cap on how much gas you buy.

Payment Assurance

Registered members can only use fuel cards to buy fuel. Thus, if you lose your fuel card, no one can purchase anything with it. A further advantage of utilizing a gas card is that they are frequently set up only to allow you to buy petrol and relevant fuel-related items. As a result, you can relax knowing that your budgets will stay intact and no unforeseen expenses will arise. If there has been a questionable transaction for gasoline, you will be alerted in real-time. You may also track how much someone is spending on gas for vehicles and employees.

Waivers

Additional significant advantages that many banks offer customers this card include a service fee waiver at specific associate locations. Surcharges make up a sizable portion of the cost of fuel. Therefore, the card will still be helpful even if it only lowers a tiny part of the charge.

A waiver is added to the annual fuel credit or debit card cost. The lending institution also has the option of increasing the credit limit.

Efficiency

The monthly reports and data generated by fuel cards significantly impact the benefits of fuel cards. With the help of the information offered, you can now comprehend your employees’ driving and fueling patterns and optimize their performance. A fleet of any size can benefit from a gas fleet card. Do not focus on the word “fleet” alone. Fleet cards can also help you save money on the fuel and upkeep of the vehicles used by your small business.

Identifying Abnormalities

Strong cards will include near-real-time analytics enabled by the information produced by your drivers’ cards. These capabilities can assist in highlighting purchasing abnormalities based on specific fuel spending policies. You can anticipate many maintenance issues before a severe failure occurs by spotting automobiles that consume additional fuel than their meter display indicates.

A business gasoline card offers more than simply improved reporting; it also enables businesses to actively manage card usage without interfering with their drivers’ ability to purchase the fuel they require when and where they need it.

Two Way Gain

Fuel cards for businesses have advantages beyond management. By employing a gasoline card, both companies and employees stand to gain. Fuel cards provide motorists with more autonomy. After all, they do not have to justify their path selections or expenditures because they have amassed business cards. Each driver’s journey may be easily seen thanks to the details fuel cards offer, and the spending limit on irrelevant gasoline products removes the need for guesswork.

Added characteristics

Fuel fleet cards assist businesses in time and money savings. You may improve fleet productivity by cutting fuel and maintenance costs, taking advantage of corporate discounts, and growing your business. You can entrust a third-party card firm with fraud prevention, saving you time and hassle. Have a simplified bill for fuel-related expenses. Managers can quickly spot underperforming vehicles and take appropriate action.

Things to Take into Account Before Choosing a Fuel Credit Card

When selecting the most acceptable gasoline cards for small businesses, you should consider the number of fueling locations you may use the card at, rewards programs, and redemption options. The top ones allow you to save money by giving you rebates or refunds at gas stations or rewarding you with points or cash back when you buy gas. Your possibilities include traditional credit cards, charge cards, co-branded gas cards, and fleet cards.

Equity rate and payment schedule – Since fuel credit cards are something people use regularly, customers should search for a card with a low-interest rate and a convenient payment schedule.

Charges – Annual card fees, processing costs, and service charges are all associated with fuel cards. Therefore, looking for a credit card with reasonable prices is crucial. Because paying exorbitant fees will nullify any benefits received from cashback, and vouchers, among others.

Redeeming these cards can involve a lengthy and complicated process. So, before choosing a card, it is best to review all the terms and conditions and the processing time.

In addition, people should consider the available credit limit before choosing a fuel credit card.

TIP– In the context of increased fuel prices, consumers may find fuel credit cards helpful. To avoid damaging their credit score, those choosing such a card should manage their money wisely and stick to the payback schedule.

Do Only Large Fleets Need Fuel Cards?

Well, No. A considerable fleet is not something that is required to qualify for a business gasoline card. A fleet can consist of just one vehicle utilized by a single owner or limited liability corporation (LLC), or it could consist of hundreds of trucks owned by a big business. If you’d prefer not to use a card affiliated with a particular gas provider or are unsure of what your small fleet needs, consider using one of the top small business credit cards with good gas rewards.

Am I Eligible For a Gas Card?

Of course, to obtain the cards you desire, you must be qualified to receive them. Depending on your chosen program, your eligibility may change, but generally, the standards remain the same.

Consider if you fulfill the following standards before requesting a gas card:

Are you older than 18 years old?
Do you own savings and a commercial bank account?
Do you have a phone number where people may reach you?

If you answered “yes” to all of these inquiries, you could apply for a gas card immediately.

How Do I Apply for A Fuel Card

It’s not as tough as you may think to secure gas cards for the drivers employed by your company; you can do everything online.

The procedure is pretty simple, and the system as a whole has advanced significantly over time. Once you’ve chosen the best gas card supplier, all you need to do is complete some accessible forms. You can do this usually online or over the phone. All you need is essential information about you, your business, your fleet of vehicles, your business needs, and some contact information.

Final Words

The card company will check the data you provided once you apply. If approved, you will receive your cards and unique PINs in a few weeks, which you may then distribute to your drivers. The card company will also provide a list of fuelling stations where you and your employees can use your cards, registration information, and all the essential emergency numbers lists.

You can get assistance in choosing the best gas card provider from reputable businesses like Matrack. Matrack has collaborated with Amex to bring you the Matrack Amex Fuel Card. Most factoring companies pay in two installments, the first covering most of the receivables and satisfying your demand for quick cash flow, and the second when your client pays their bill, less any factoring fee.

After determining eligibility, the factoring company will buy the unpaid invoices for a portion of their value and take care of the debt collection process. The factoring provider will refund the remaining sum owed to your business for the invoices once they have collected the total amount of the invoices from your clients.

You can obtain a 1.5% early-pay discount and a 60-day interest-free repayment period with Matrack’s Amex Fuel card. Additionally, you receive help locating credits, refunds, waivers for your fleet, and much more. You also receive real-time scam alerts.