As Gas Prices Rise, Credit Cards Can Help — But Choose (and Use) Wisely

Shortly after the war in Iran began in March 2026, gas prices in my area rose seemingly overnight by almost $1 per gallon. The increase was so sudden and dramatic that my husband felt compelled to text me after getting gas under the new prices: “Had my first tank fill-up since … the war,” he wrote. “Prices are rather steep.”

“Steep” indeed. According to AAA, the national average price of a gallon of gas in the United States topped $4 at the end of March 2026.

But I won’t take these price hikes lying down. As someone who writes about credit cards and personal finance for a living, I’ve been leveraging credit cards to save money on gas so that each fill-up doesn’t sting quite as much.

Here are some tips to help you do the same.

1. Choose the right credit card

Gas credit cards are not created equally. Co-branded gas cards — those affiliated with a particular company such as Exxon or Shell — tend to offer incentives on fuel bought at those specific stations, in the form of cents-off-per-gallon discounts. Some can be as low as 3 cents per gallon. Even when gas prices are much lower than they are now — say, $2 a gallon — that’s only a 1.5% discount.

NerdWallet recommends getting a general rewards credit card that earns at least 3% cash back (or 3x back in rewards or points) per $1 spent on gas purchases made anywhere, not just with one specific brand. Several cards on the market earn as much as 5% back and don’t charge an annual fee.

An exception where a co-branded card might make sense? Cards affiliated with wholesalers like Costco and Sam’s Club, whose gas prices tend to be lower than average. Getting gas at one of those retailers combined with the rewards you’d earn on that retailer’s co-branded credit card can deliver meaningful savings. However, while these cards don’t have annual fees, a paid membership to the wholesaler or warehouse club is typically required. Before signing up, try to figure out whether the credit card’s rewards can make up for that membership fee.

When gas prices are as high as they are now, I’m looking for multiple ways to save. In addition to paying for gas with a good rewards credit card, consider the following money-saving tools, many of which can be “stacked” on top of each other:

Card-linked offers. Many rewards credit cards have partnerships with various merchants that give you money back for shopping with their brand. My Chase credit card regularly has offers for gas stations ranging from 3%-5% cash back. Simply click on an offer to activate it. Savings usually appear in the form of a statement credit or extra rewards.

Grocery rewards. Some grocery stores have teamed up with gas companies to offer additional savings. By spending at a particular grocery chain, you can earn discounts at the pump. Of course, the more you spend with the grocery store, the bigger your discount will be on gas.

Gas station loyalty programs. Most gas companies have them, and they’re free to join. Be sure to enter your loyalty number or scan your rewards card in order to get the savings, which is usually a cents-per-gallon discount.

Upside app. Of the multiple cash-back apps out there, Upside is what NerdWallet recommends for gas station savings. When I checked my Upside app while writing this article, I saw an offer for 15 cents back per gallon at multiple gas stations near me. To snag the discount, claim an offer within the app, make a purchase, then upload your receipt before the offer expires. (In some cases, you may not even need to upload a paper receipt if you’ve linked your card in the app.)

Other money-saving apps. Apps like Fetch Rewards and Ibotta work similarly to Upside. After taking a picture of your receipt to verify a purchase, you’ll earn rewards that can be redeemed for cash or gift cards. And apps like GasBuddy can help you find the cheapest gas prices in your area.

3. Know when credit cards don’t make financial sense

Credit cards certainly save you money on gas, but in some situations, paying with cash or debit card is better. Some gas stations offer discounts for paying in cash, which may be superior to your credit card’s rewards rate on gas.

For example, say your local gas station offers a 20-cents-per-gallon discount for cash-paying customers. If you get 10 gallons of gas at $4 per gallon, you’ll save $2 by paying with cash. That same fill-up paid with a credit card that earns 2% back on gas would result in only 80 cents of savings. Doing some quick math at the pump can put a few dollars back in your pocket.

And cash or debit is always going to be the smarter choice if you tend to carry a balance on your credit card. The average APR charged for credit card accounts that incurred interest was 22.3% as of November 2025, according to the Federal Reserve. And rewards-earning cards tend to charge even higher rates than that. If you’re carrying a balance at those rates, any rewards you might earn by paying with plastic would likely be overshadowed by the interest you’d rack up in just a single billing cycle.

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