Last Updated: 13 Mar 2023
In this article, I am listing the best credit card for fuel in India in terms of reward points or cashback offers.
Best Fuel Credit Cards in India 2023
#1. Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card
Standard chartered super value titanium credit card offers 5% cashback on fuel. You can use the credit card at any fuel station across India to fill the petrol tank.
You need a minimum transaction of Rs 750 to get the cashback. You can get a maximum cashback of Rs 100 per transaction and Rs 200 per month.
This way you can save up to Rs 2400 every year on your fuel spends.
Extra Benefits
- 5% cashback on the phone bill
- 5% cashback on utility bill spends
Annual Fee – Rs 750 (waived on spending Rs 90,000 in the year)
You would also get 100% one-time cashback (up to INR 1500) on fuel spends within 90 days of approval.
#2. Standard Chartered Platinum Rewards Credit Card
SC Platinum rewards credit card offers 5 reward points on fuel spend. There is no monthly cap on the rewards points on the fuel.
The redemption value of 5 rewards points would be Rs 1.25, a saving of 0.80%.
Platinum card is best if you are a first-time credit card applicant and looking for fuel benefit. The approval rate is also good as compared to other cards on the list.
Annual fees or joining fees
Rs 250 joining fees.
Next year annual fees will be waived off on spending Rs. 60,000 in the first year.
Benefits of SC platinum rewards credit card
- 5 reward points for every Rs. 150 on fuel.
- 5 reward points for every Rs. 150 on dining.
- 1 reward point for every Rs. 150 on all other spends.
Annual Saving
- Just on fuel – Rs. 1917.
- For annual expenses of 1,00,000 – Rs. 4417
#3. RBL Platinum Maxima Credit Card
RBL Platinum Maxima credit card is a wonderful credit card to save on fuel spends along with many other attractive offers.
You get 10 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on fuel. You can simply save 2.5% on your fuel expenses (10 reward points = Rs 2.5)
Annual Fee – Rs. 2000 ( you can get the annual fee waiver by requesting to their customer care)
Get 8000 bonus reward points equivalent to the joining fee on making a purchase within 30 days.
Other Benefits
- 10 Reward Points for every Rs. 100 spent (on dining, entertainment, utility bill payments, fuel and international purchases).
- 2 Reward Points for every Rs.100 spent on all your other spends.
- Enjoy one free movie ticket up to Rs. 200 every month on BookMyShow.
- 2 complimentary domestic lounges visit every quarter.
- 10,000 bonus reward points on spending Rs. 2 lakhs in one year.
- Additional 10,000 bonus reward points on spending Rs. 3.5 lakhs in one year.
#4. HDFC Bharat Credit Card
HDFC Bharat credit card offers 5% cashback on the fuel spends on all fuel stations. So, you can freely use the credit card at the fuel station and earn the cashback.
Along with the above, you will also get 1% fuel surcharge waiver off fuel transactions. A total saving of 6%.
Annual Fee – Rs 500 (spend 50,000 and get next year fee waiver).
Other Benefits
- 5% cashback on rail bookings through IRCTC, bill pay, grocery and recharges.
- Additionally enjoy 5% CashBack for all EasyEMI, PayZapp and SmartBUY transactions using the card (Maxi. Rs 150 per month)
The biggest drawback of Bharat credit card is, the maximum cashback capped per month is Rs 150 (combined on fuel, IRCTC and bill payment). This makes the credit card ineffective. You would also not get any reward points on other purchases.
#5. ICICI HPCL Coral Amex Credit Card
You will get 2.5% cashback on fuel purchase at the HPCL pumps (maximum cashback Rs 100 per month) along with 1% fuel surcharge waiver as well.
You will also earn 6 payback points per Rs 100 spent on fuel at HPCL pumps.
If you calculate the total benefit you would end up with 5% saving.
2.5% cashback + 1 % surcharge waiver + 1.5 % payback (redemption value of points) = 5%
Annual Fee – Rs 199 (get a waiver on spending Rs 50,000 per year)
Other Benefits
- 2 PAYBACK Points on all other retail spends.
- Get INR 100 off on movie tickets on www.bookmyshow.com, twice each month
- Exclusive dining discount at partner restaurants through the Culinary Treats programme.
The major drawback, all the benefits are applicable only on HPCL petrol pumps.
#6. ICICI HPCL Coral VISA/MasterCard/Platinum Card
ICICI HPCL Coral credit card has 3 variants – VISA, MasterCard and Platinum.
You will get 2.5% cashback up to Rs. 100 and 1% surcharge waiver on fuel purchases at HPCL petrol pumps. You do not get any additional payback points on fuel spends like the Amex variant.
If you are planning to apply for ICICI HPCL Coral credit card, you should go for the Amex variant.
Annual Fee – Rs 199 (get a waiver on spending Rs 50,000 per year)
Other Benefits
- 2 PAYBACK Points on all other retail spends except fuel.
- Get INR 100 off on movie tickets on www.bookmyshow.com, twice each month
- Minimum 15% savings at over 800 leading restaurants across cities in India
The major drawbacks – No extra payback points on fuel spends and all the benefits are applicable only on HPCL petrol pumps.
#7. SBI BPCL Credit Card
SBI has collaboration with Bharat Petroleum for SBI BPCL credit card.
The credit card offers 13X reward points per Rs 100 on fuel purchases at BPCL petrol pumps. The 13X reward points are equivalent to 3.25% of saving.
You will get 1% fuel surcharge waiver as well. This way, you can save up to 4.25% saving on your fuel spends.
Annual fee – 499 ( get next year waiver on spending Rs 50,000 in a year)
Annual Saving
- Just on fuel – Rs. 1955.
- For annual expenses of 1,00,000 – Rs. 3129
Other Benefits
- 5 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent at groceries, departmental stores, movies & dining.
- 5 reward points per Rs. 100 on standing instructions of utility bills payments.
- Get 1 Reward Point for every Rs. 100 spent on non-fuel retail purchases.
- Get 2,000 activation bonus reward points.
Best suitable to you, if you refill your fuel tank at BPCL outlets.
#8. Citibank Indian Oil Credit Card
Citibank Indian Oil credit card offers 4 Turbo points on Rs.150 of fuel purchases at IndianOil outlets.
You will also get 1% full fuel surcharge waiver on your fuel spends. The reward points can be redeemed for fuel, 1 Turbo point = Rs.1 of free fuel.
You would get the maximum reward value equal to 3.76% money on your fuel spends
4 points give you saving of 2.67% (4/150*100) + 1% saving on fuel surcharge.
Annual Fee – Rs 1000 (get a waiver on spending Rs.30,000 per year)
250 Turbo Points on your first spend within 30 days of the card issued.
Annual Saving
- Just on fuel – Rs. 1730.
- For annual expenses of 1,00,000 – Rs. 3249
Other Benefits
- Get 2 Turbo Points on Rs.150 at grocery and supermarkets.
- 1 Turbo Point on Rs.150 on other spends.
- Up to 20% savings on dinings in select restaurants across India.
#9. Amex Membership Rewards Credit Card
You can use a trick to get the maximum benefit on fuel spends with the American Express Membership Rewards card.
Membership reward is one of those rare credit cards that offer reward points on adding money to wallets like Paytm, Amazon Pay and Freecharge.
If you use these wallets to make fuel payment you can save up to 10% on your fuel spends.
The card gives 1,000 Bonus Rewards Points worth Rs 400 every month by doing 4 transactions of 1500 rupees. Add money for 4 times into your wallet and then use that money to make the payment.
Other Benefits
- Earn 1 Membership Rewards Point for every Rs. 50 spent except Fuel, Insurance, Utilities, and Cash Transactions.
- 1% Fuel surcharge waiver.
- Welcome Gift of 4,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points.
- Get 5000 reward points on the first renewal fee of Rs 4,500.
- 20% off every time you dine at select restaurant partners.
Annual Fee
- First Year – 1000
- Second Year onwards – 4500 (spend Rs 1,50,000 and get next year renewal fee waiver. If you spend Rs.90,000 to Rs.1,49,999, get 50% waived off)
#10. SBI Simply Save Credit Card
SBI Simply Save offers regular reward points on the fuel spends.
You get 1 reward points per Rs 100 spent on fuel. You also get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver.
Along with fuel spends if your major expenses are on grocery, departmental stores, and movies, then Simply Save is the best credit card for you.
Annual Fee – Rs. 499 ( annual fee waiver on spending Rs. 1 lakh in a year)
Annual Savings
- Just on fuel – Rs 575
- Saving of Rs. 2424 on annual expenses of Rs. 1,00,000
Other Benefits
- 10 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on dining, movies, departmental stores, and grocery.
- Earn 1 Reward Point for other spends.
#11. SBI SimplyClick Credit Card
SBI Simply Click offers regular reward points on the fuel spends.
You get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transaction values between Rs. 500 and Rs. 3,000 with maximum cap of Rs. 100 per month.
SBI Simply Click is best suitable for online shopping. Along with fuel spends if your shop online, then Simply Click is the best card for you.
Annual Fee – Rs. 499 (annual fee waiver on spending Rs. 1 lakh in a year).
Other Benefits
- Get Amazon gift card worth Rs.500 on joining
- Cleartrip e-voucher worth Rs.2,000 on annual online spends of Rs.1 Lakh
- Another Cleartrip e-voucher worth Rs.2,000 on annual online spends of Rs.2 Lakhs
- 10X reward points on online spends on Amazon, BookMyShow, Cleartrip, Foodpanda, and many more.
- Earn 5X Reward Points for other online spends.
- Get 1 reward point per Rs.100 on all other spends.
How to Avoid Fuel Surcharge on Credit Card
One of the easiest ways to avoid fuel surcharges on your credit card is to look for credit cards that offer fuel surcharge waivers. Many banks and credit card issuers offer fuel surcharge waivers as part of their rewards program or other promotions.
Some credit cards offer a fuel surcharge waiver on a minimum transaction amount, while others offer a waiver on a maximum transaction amount per month. You can check with your credit card issuer to find out if your card is eligible for a fuel surcharge waiver.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver Credit Cards
Firstly you have to pay the surcharge @1% along with GST @18% on the surcharge amount.
In case of fuel surcharge waiver, the only surcharge amount is credited to the credit account. But you still have to bear 0.18% tax.
This is a very small amount, but even this can be saved. because “every penny saved is a penny earned”.
For Example,
Suppose you purchased fuel worth Rs. 2,000 using your credit card and the fuel surcharge is 1%.
In this case, the fuel surcharge will be Rs. 20 and GST payable will be Rs. 3.60 which is 18% on the fuel surcharge amount.
So, the total amount you will have to pay for fuel using your credit card will be Rs. 2,023.60 (Rs. 2,000 for fuel + Rs. 20 for fuel surcharge + Rs. 3.60 for GST on fuel surcharge).
However, if you are eligible for a fuel surcharge waiver, the fuel surcharge amount is credited to your credit account which is Rs. 20. But even in this case, you will still have to bear 0.18% tax on the fuel surcharge amount, which comes out to be Rs. 0.36.
So, by avoiding the fuel surcharge, you can save fuel surcharge amount through credit cards.
Credit Cards for Fuel Surcharge Waiver
There are some credit cards that offers only 1% fuel surcharge waiver.
- ICICI Platinum
- AMEX Rewards
- Kotak Royale Signature
- Yes First Exclusive
- SBI Prime
- IndusInd Iconia American Express
- HDFC Regalia
- SBI Elite
- ICICI Sapphiro
- Amex Travel Platinum
- Yes Bank First Preferred
- Ola SBI Money Credit card
Conclusion
If you are still confused which credit card you should choose, let me help you.
In case you are applying for the first time you should apply for SC Platinum Rewards credit card.
If you already have a credit card and want a credit card especially for fuel purpose then go with SC Super value titanium credit card, because you can use this credit card at any fuel station.
