11 Best Credit Cards in India For Fuel Spends

[bhavyegoel]

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Last Updated 5th Dec 2023.

Do you use your personal vehicle to commute and rising fuel prices are burning a hole in your pocket? I am here to help you take that extra mile by getting you some rewards and benefits on your existing fuel spending. This article will help you choose the best credit cards for fuel spending.

Best Fuel Credit Cards in India​

Here I am listing all the credit cards in India for fuel spending and will also recommend some of the cards as per a broad classification.

AMEX Gold Charge​

• More Details
• Variant: AMEX
• The reward rate on fuel is a minimum of 6.66%(Amazon Vouchers) and approximately 10%(Travel Redemptions) if you can do 6 transactions of ₹1,000 each.
• Joining Fee: ₹1000+GST
• Annual Fee: ₹4999+GST
• Surcharge Waiver: Full waiver at HPCL bunks on transactions max up to ₹5000.

AMEX Membership Rewards​

• More Details
• Variant: AMEX
• The reward rate on fuel is a minimum of 6.66%(Amazon Vouchers) and approximately 10%(Travel Redemptions) if you can do 4 transactions of ₹1500 each or 4 or more transactions greater than ₹1500 each totalling ₹20,000.
• Joining Fee: ₹1000+GST
• Annual Fee: ₹4500+GST (Waived off on annual spends of ₹1.5L).
• Surcharge Waiver: Full waiver at HPCL bunks on transactions max up to ₹5000.

SBI BPCL Octane​

SBI BPCL Octane Credit Card

• More Details
• Variant: VISA Signature
• The reward rate on fuel is 6.25% value back on a maximum of up to ₹4000/transaction and ₹10,000/month.
• Joining Fee: ₹1499+GST
• Annual Fee: ₹1499+GST (Waived off on annual spending of ₹2L).
• Surcharge Waiver: 1% up to ₹100/Month on a transaction max up to ₹4000.
• Milestone Benefits: E-Gift Voucher worth ₹2000 on 3L spends.

SBI is running an exciting welcome offer for credit card applications via referral. You will get an e-voucher worth ₹500 on spending min ₹500 within 30 days of card issuance. APPLY NOW!

IDFC First Power Plus​

• Variant: Rupay
• The reward rate on fuel spends is 4% cashback up to ₹400/month when swiped on any bank POS or HP Pay Application.
• Joining Fee: ₹499+GST
• Annual Fee: ₹499+GST (Waived off on annual spends of ₹1.5L).

BOB HPCL Energie Credit Card​

• More Details
• Variant: Rupay
• The reward rate on fuel spends is 4% cashback up to ₹250/month when swiped on any bank POS or HP Pay Application.
• Joining Fee: ₹500+GST
• Annual Fee: ₹500+GST (Waived off on annual spends of ₹50K).

ICICI HPCL Super Saver​

• Variant: Visa Platinum
• The reward rate on fuel spends is 4% cashback up to ₹200/month when swiped on any bank POS or HP Pay Application.
• Joining Fee: ₹500+GST
• Annual Fee: ₹500+GST (Waived off on annual spending of ₹1.5L).

Union Bank Uni Carbon​

• Variant: Rupay Platinum
• The reward rate on fuel spends is 4% cashback up to ₹150/month when swiped on any bank POS or HP Pay Application.
• Joining Fee: ₹499+GST
• Annual Fee: ₹499+GST (Waived off on annual spending of ₹1.5L).
• Surcharge Waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver up to ₹100/month on a minimum of ₹200 per transaction.

ICICI HPCL Coral AMEX​

ICICI Bank HPCL Coral AMEX Credit Card

• Variant: AMEX
• The reward rate on fuel is 2.5% cashback up to ₹100 and 6 PAYBACK points (~net 4%) only when swiped on ICICI EDC Machines for a minimum of ₹500/transaction.
• Joining Fee: ₹199+GST
• Annual Fee: ₹199+GST (Waived off on annual spends of ₹50K).
• Surcharge Waiver: 1% up to ₹100/Month on a transaction of max up to ₹4000.

Kotak IndianOil​

• Variant: VISA Signature/RuPay
• The reward rate on fuel is 4% cashback up to ₹300 per month.
• Joining Fee: ₹449+GST
• Annual Fee: ₹449+GST (Waived off on annual spends of ₹50K).
• Surcharge Waiver: 1% on spending between ₹200 to ₹5000 per month.

Axis Bank IOCL Credit Card​

• Variant: VISA Signature/RuPay
• The reward rate on fuel is 4% cashback up to ₹200 per month.
• Joining Fee: ₹500+GST
• Annual Fee: ₹500+GST (Waived off on annual spends of ₹50K).
• Surcharge Waiver: 1% on spending between ₹200 to ₹5000 per month.

Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium​

Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card rewards at all OMCs but a meagre cashback limit.

• Variant: MasterCard
• The reward rate on fuel is 4% cashback up to ₹160/month on a maximum of ₹2000/transaction at any fuel pump in India. The unique thing about this card is that it works even online on fuel wallets and even if you scan PayTM QR at fuel bunks and punch in the card digits.
• Joining Fee: ₹750+GST
• Annual Fee: ₹750+GST (Waived off on annual spends of ₹90K).
• Surcharge Waiver: 1% up to ₹20 cashback per transaction of the maximum value of ₹2000 at any fuel pump in India.

TechnoFino Maximum​

Fuel Surcharge Waiver Condition​

There is a peculiar condition attached to fuel surcharges and their waiver every time you fill your vehicle. For every swipe equal to or less than ₹1000 a 1% surcharge is applicable subject to a minimum value of ₹10 per transaction but reversal is done only for the actual amount of fuel that you have purchased. So this isn’t a big deal for four-wheelers but for two-wheelers where the tank full value is usually below that number, it’s a bit disadvantageous. So keep this in mind while you are fuelling next time. I will also be recommending cards based on this in the recommendation section

Fuel Loyalty Programs​

Enroll in Fuel Loyalty Programs in India offered by various Oil Manufacturing Companies to earn rewards in addition to the above credit card rewards. It's another unique article on TechnoFino that you would not be able to find anywhere. For more such quality content subscribe to our mailer list and be the first one to know about it.

Rewards Summary​

Credit Card	Annual Fees	Reward Rate On Fuel Spends*	Smart Transaction Range^	Maximum Value Back Per Cycle	Ideal For Maximum Monthly Spends	Spends Required For Fee Waiver
AMEX Gold Charge	₹4999+GST	Minimum 6.33%	0/5,000	Minimum ₹380	₹4000	₹50K
AMEX Membership Rewards	₹4500+GST	Minimum 6.33%	0/5,000	Minimum ₹380	₹2500	₹50K
SBI BPCL Octane	₹1499+GST	6.25%	0/4000	₹625	₹10,000	₹2L
IDFC First Power+	₹499+GST	4%	1000/5000	₹400	₹10,000	₹1.5L
BOB HPCL Energie	₹499+GST	4%	0/6250	₹250	₹6250	₹50K
ICICI HPCL Super Saver	₹500+GST	4%	0/5000	₹275	₹5000	₹1.5L
Union Bank Uni Carbon	₹499+GST	4%	200/3750	₹206.25p	₹3750	₹1L
ICICI HPCL Coral AMEX	₹199+GST	4%	1000/4000	₹160	₹4000	₹50K
Kotak IndianOil	₹449+GST	4%	1000/5000	₹300	₹7500	₹50K
Axis Bank IOCL	₹500+GST	4%	1000/5000	₹200	₹5000	₹50K
Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium	₹750+GST	4%	1000/2000	₹160	₹4000	₹90K

Now, this can be your ready reckoner every time you feed your car.

• *Reward rate is exclusive of fuel surcharge waiver.
• ^We are giving a smart range for all the cards so that a user gets the dual benefits of a complete fuel surcharge waiver and reward points.
• For cards like SBI BPCL co-branded cards, BOB HPCL Energie, ICICI Supersaver, and Uni Carbon, we can avoid fuel surcharges even for transactions less than ₹1000 by using wallets of the various loyalty programs.

TechnoFino Recommends​

If you are still confused about which one is the best for you. We will try to help you out but we can only broadly recommend some credit cards as the usage of every person is unique for fuel spending.

If you are holding an AMEX credit card then you purchase fuel using AMEX MRCC/ AMEX Gold Charge get benefits up to 5%-8% by redeeming them for 24K gold collection.

If you commute on a two-wheeler then mostly for a tank full the amount ₹400-₹500 and monthly spends are usually between ₹2000-₹3000 for an average user. So for such users, I highly recommend BOB HPCL Energie or Kotak IndianOil. The fee waiver condition on this card will also be easy to meet if used only for fuel.

For car owners with a very low consumption limited to ₹3000 a month again BOB HPCL Energie or Kotak IndianOil makes a lot of sense due to its low annual fee waiver condition.

For consumers in the range of ₹3K- ₹6K a month I would again recommend BOB HPCL Energie. Also, Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium can be considered in this range which will give you the option to fuel at any OMC.

If your consumption is nearly ₹10K a month then SBI Octane is a no-brainer for you. And if you are crossing even that limit then you can club the spending with the recommendations given above with the SBI Octane Credit Card. With SBI’s generous sales offer and 2.5% reward rate on grocery and dining, you will easily cross the fee waiver threshold.

Which one is your favourite fuel card? Share your experiences and issues faced while redemption in the comments below

 

[doomlord]

HDFC IOCL is not good?

 

[maheshspanicker]

I have the SCB Super Value Titanium and I like the no-nonsense structure of the card. Don't have to go looking for particular provider, no difficulty of redeeming points for fuel as it is a cashback card. Can accumulate cashback and redeem it together as well. The upper limit of cashback is rather too low, and the reward rate of the card otherwise is pretty poor. But a better all-round option in my book. The SC Smart and the Titanium are the only worthwhile cards from SCB India as of now.

 

[rishis90]

Indian oil CITI ?

 

[coolguy1]

I've been filling up the tank using my Amex Gold and MRCC and they come in very handy with the multiplier offers for shopping as well!

 

[sushilyadav]

Amex Platinum Charge is also a good option. Here you earn 5 reward points/100 Rupees.

 

[bhavyegoel]

HDFC IOCL is not good?

Capping is quite low.

 

[sushilyadav]

Also you can get upto 5000 reward points per month with Platinum Charge Card depending upon spends. So for high volume usage on fuel this is also a good option.

 

[bhavyegoel]

Indian oil CITI ?

Too low valueback.

Amex Platinum Charge is also a good option. Here you earn 5 reward points/100 Rupees.

Whats the reward rate?

 

[sushilyadav]

Only problem with amex is that you have to spend on HPCL pumps only to get the 1% fuel surcharge waiver.

 

[sushilyadav]

Too low valueback.

Whats the reward rate?

Depends on how you use your reward points.

 

[sushilyadav]

So i think its the best. 1x RP per 100₹ you get instant. Rest 4X Bonus RP within some 90 days

 

[Subhajeet]

how about axis iocl?

 

[coolguy1]

Also you can get upto 5000 reward points per month with Platinum Charge Card depending upon spends. So for high volume usage on fuel this is also a good option.

Indeed, Platinum Charge is great but the yearly fee makes it an exclusive premium card only for the top 1% of the population.
Paying 60k in fees isn't feasible for most but if one can afford it, indeed there's nothing better than that.

 

[RishiKiDev]

So nobody here is going to state the obvious problems with Fuel cards that are particular to a oil marketing company?

1. They don't use/have the correct POS machines
2. Not getting the correct points and always contacting customer care for points disbursal.
3. They most of the times don't know how to redeem the points/vouchers.
4. It's not worth the pain to keep these fuel cards just for fuel purposes.

Unless you own a fleet of cars for rental or in transportation business, none of these specific fuel company cards is worth for money and the pain in the backside.

 

[sousnake]

One more way would be to use HP Pay app with AMEX to pay for fuel described in this thread -

GYFTR not allowing to use Amex cards (outside rewards multiplier)?

Able to but from hp pay app Cool, Did you get MR points and was there any additional charge or surcharge?

www.technofino.in

 

[bhavyegoel]

So nobody here is going to state the obvious problems with Fuel cards that are particular to a oil marketing company?

1. They don't use/have the correct POS machines
2. Not getting the correct points and always contacting customer care for points disbursal.
3. They most of the times don't know how to redeem the points/vouchers.
4. It's not worth the pain to keep these fuel cards just for fuel purposes.

Unless you own a fleet of cars for rental or in transportation business, none of these specific fuel company cards is worth for money and the pain in the backside.

No such problems with SBI Octane which I am using.

 

[RishiKiDev]

No such problems with SBI Octane which I am using.

Can't be extrapolated to everyone else as experience is very much subjective. There are too many variables involved.

Most of the people would agree that they face too much troubles with these Fuel Cards at Petrol Pumps especially in Tier 2 & 3 cities.

 

[image]

I have ICICI HPCL Coral Visa since ages (50k spends required for fee waiver, which I never needed to pay). Can it be changed to ICICI HPCL Super Saver? I am not interested in payback points, only cashback. Anybody changed it?

or

I also have a BoB - Premier JCB RuPay CC LTF. Can that be converted to BOB HPCL Energie?

 

[gobsy]

Aren't fuel spends excluded from rewards on MRCC?