Fuel cards are an essential tool for any business with a fleet of vehicles. They allow managers to have full control over their fleet by providing in-depth reporting, advanced card controls, and extensive fuel expense tracking.
So what are the best fuel cards out there? Well we’ve gathered a list of the top 5 to help you evaluate which card would work best for your fleet.
Table of Contents
1. The Voyager Fuel/Fleet Card (Through C NRG Fleet)
Created and backed by US Bank all the way back in 1997, the Voyager fuel card is arguably the best fleet and fuel card in the industry. Used by companies like Amazon, Verizon, and even the U.S. Postal Service, and known for its nationwide acceptance at over 320,000 stations, (which is 97% of fuel stations), advanced card controls, and incredible in-depth reporting, this card easily tops all of its competitors.
**Please Note: That the following breakdown of this card is based off the features offered by C NRG Fleet which is one of the marketers for Voyager. Other Voyager marketers may offer some other features.
Features
Network & Acceptance:
- Accepted at over 320,000 locations across the U.S.
- Network includes most major retail fuel brands, independent stations, and truck stops
- Access to over 60,000 maintenance maintenance locations
Want to check out all accepting locations? Go here
Pricing Structure & Billing:
- Pay the pump price no discounts or rebates
- Zero fees: No setup, monthly, per card, or transaction fees
- Payment method is through EFT or ACH
- Billing can be weekly or semi-monthly.
- No contracts
Controls & Abilities:
- Advance card controls such as: transaction per day limits, time of day limits, odometer input requirement, etc.. (see full list of controls here)
- GPS tracking integration: The Voyager fuel card can integrate with most major GPS and telematic software programs.
- Has a mobile app to find accepting locations and live pricing. (checkout here)
- Live U.S. based customer service
- An online dashboard to help manage fleet
Fraud Protection:
- Voyager uses advanced AI to monitor transactions in real-time, alerting you instantly if any suspicious activity is detected.
- You can receive a purchase alert via text or email with all the transaction details immediately after every transaction.
- Some Voyager marketers offer zero liability coverage to protect against card skimming.
Reporting:
- Voyager Fleet Commander Online is an advanced online portal with customizable dashboards. (see online demo)
- Through their online portal you can run almost any kind of report you want including: monthly expense reports and quarterly IFTA reports.
This card is best for any business with 5 – 1,000 vehicles that are looking for the best value without having to worry about ongoing fees.
2. WEX Fleet Card
An industry leader known for its broad acceptance and incredible rebates, WEX definitely comes in as a very close second to Voyager. The WEX card can do most of what Voyager can do, it has advanced controls, in-depth reporting, an online portal, etc. However, what puts WEX behind Voyager is their fees which can become costly even with the discounts and rebates.
Features
Network & Acceptance:
- Accepted at 95% of fuel stations
- Network includes most major retail fuel brands, independent stations, and truck stops
- Access to over 45,000 maintenance locations
- WEX EDGE nationwide savings network is comprised of over 12,000 truck stops
Want to check out all accepting locations? Go here
Pricing Structure & Billing:
- Receive $0.03 per gallon for a set period of time
- Can save up to $0.15 per gallon with the WEX Edge card
- Can pay online through online portal
- Monthly per card fees, out of network fees, account setup fees (see more)
Controls & Abilities:
Fraud Protection:
- WEX also uses AI to monitor transactions in real-time, alerting you instantly if any suspicious activity is detected
- WEX employs an in-house team of fraud experts constantly improving detection models and supporting clients
- You can receive a purchase alert via text or email with all the transaction details immediately after every transaction
- Dynamic Prompt requires drivers to enter a mobile-generated code before fueling
Reporting:
- Has an advanced online portal with customizable dashboards
- Through their online portal you can run almost any kind of report you want including: monthly expense reports and quarterly IFTA reports
This card is best for large fleets that are either regional or over-the-road looking for nationwide coverage and added savings that can also handle sometimes pricey fees.
3. The CFN Fleet Fuel Card (Through C NRG Fleet)
Strongest in the West coast but still has a nationwide presence and acceptance, the CFN fuel card’s greatest asset is its cardlock fueling stations that offer wholesale based pricing. It also offers some of the strictest card controls in the industry. Where this card is lacking however is in the technology department. Most of its competitors have a far better user portal and mobile applications.
**Please Note: That the following breakdown of this card is based off the features offered by C NRG Fleet which is one of the marketers for CFN. Other CFN marketers may offer some other features.
Features
Network & Acceptance:
- Accepted at over 65,000 retail stations including most major truck stops & retail brands
- The CFN Cardlock Network has over 2,500 locations
- Highest concentration of cardlock stations are in the West Coast (see here)
Want to check out all accepting locations? Go here
Pricing Structure & Billing:
- Pump price at all retail locations
- Wholesale-based pricing which is often $0.10 – $0.20 cheaper than retail at cardlock stations
- Zero card fees (no per card fees, no transaction fees, no account fees, etc)
Controls & Abilities:
- Strict card controls such as: fuel type limits, gallons per transaction limits, merchant limits, etc (see more here)
- Has mobile app to find locations (see here)
- Cardless pay with CFN Pay App (see here)
- Get access to red dye diesel
Fraud Protection:
- You can enable e-receipts for every purchase
- You are covered up to $25,000 for stolen cards
Reporting:
- You can run almost any kind of report you want including: monthly expense reports and quarterly IFTA reports.
This card is best for fleets in the West Coast with access to cardlock stations.
4. Fuelman Mixed Fleet Card
Around the bloc since 1985 Fuelman offers some of the greatest discounts especially for new customers. With all the bells and whistles of other card providers and a network of over 60,000 locations, what brings this card down on the list is its high and sometimes ridiculous amount of fees.
Features
Network & Acceptance:
- Accepted at over 60,000 retail stations including most major truck stops & retail brands
- Covers most metropolitan areas and major highways
- Smaller network than most of its competitors
- Cards accepted at over 25,000 maintenance locations
Want to check out all accepting locations? Go here
Pricing Structure & Billing:
- New customers can receive $0.08 per gallon rebates for the first 12 months
- With certain diesel cards you can get $0.15 per gallon for the first 12 months
- Fuelman charges a flat monthly membership fee ranging from $39-$99. They also charge a $3 per transaction fee for extended or “out-of-network” transactions. As well as a fee for certain payment types.
Controls & Abilities:
- Card controls such as: gallons per transaction limits, time of day restrictions, geological restrictions, etc (see more here)
- Has mobile app to manage cards (see here)
- Customizable online dashboard to manage cards, run reports, and manage fleet
Fraud Protection:
- You can enable real-time alerts
- Fraud protection covers losses (on accounts with 10+ cards) for skimmed, lost, or stolen cards up to $10,000 per card or $25,000 per account per year on Plus and Premium
- Some plans also include identify theft monitoring and dark web scanning
Reporting:
- You can run almost any kind of report you want including: monthly expense reports and quarterly IFTA reports.
- Fuelman can also do driver safety reports
This card is best for fleets that are needing deep discounts or rebates and are less concerned about network coverage and higher monthly fees.
5. Comdata Fleet Card
The Comdata card excels mostly within the trucking industry with its network of over 8,000 truck stops including the big named brands like Pilot, Loves, TA Petro, and others. Comdata has cards for fleets big and small and even advertises great discounts for fleets under 20 vehicles.
Features
Network & Acceptance:
- Accepted at over 8,000 truck stops including most major brands
- Can also be used at over 170,000 retail stations
Want to check out all accepting locations? Go here
Pricing Structure & Billing:
- Cash plus pricing and up to $0.40 per gallon of diesel off at TA Petro and $0.08 off at Pilot Flying J, Loves, Casey’s, 7-Eleven, etc. for fleets of 20 or less.
- $8 per-card monthly fee and a one time $50 setup fee.
Controls & Abilities:
- Card controls such as: amount per transaction limit, gallon amount limits, type of fuel limits, time of day restrictions
- Has mobile app to manage cards (see here)
- Has a tire program where you can get tires at a discounted rate
- Comdata FleetAdvanced helps fleet managers manager payroll and other financial needs (learn more here)
- Online dashboard and management system
Fraud Protection:
- You can enable real-time alerts
- Fraud protection covers losses (on accounts with 10+ cards) for skimmed, lost, or stolen cards up to $10,000 per card or $25,000 per account per year on Plus and Premium
- Cards on mobile app can be locked and unlocked through app only
- Cards connected to telematics will only work if driver is near station and the gallons are low
Reporting:
- You can run almost any kind of report you want including: monthly expense reports and quarterly IFTA reports.
This card is best for trucking fleets that are small to mid size that can utilize the great discounts and handle the monthly per card fees.
Fleet Fuel Cards vs. Gas Credit Cards
When reviewing possible fuel card options you may come across cards like Coast, AtoB, and may brand cards like the Shell Fleet Card. They often offer good discounts and savings and they do have fees but their acceptance is almost 100%.
These cards are really a different type of fuel card as they act more like gas credit cards and in fact many are Mastercards.
The issue however with a gas credit card is that they don’t have as many card controls that traditional fleet fuel cards have, and they don’t provide the same level of reporting or insight.
They also are not part of a closed loop fuel network. Closed loop fuel cards have more control and less loop holes than fleet credit cards because merchants (gas stations) are required to enforce the controls on the cards where fleet credit card controls can sometimes be bypassed as they are authorized as Mastercards.
Fuel Card Recommendations:
Fleet Size Based Recommendations:
Fleets of 1-4 vehicles:
- Priority: Lower costs of fuel & minimal fees
- Recommendation: A gas credit card such as: Coast, AtoB, Visa Fleet, etc
- Key Features: Great discounts, minimal complexity, and basic reporting
Fleets of 5-15 vehicles:
- Priority: Lower costs of fuel but better control
- Recommendation: Comdata or CFN card (through C NRG Fleet)
- Key Features: Great discounts/rebates, advanced card controls, and in-depth reporting
Fleets of 15 – 50 vehicles:
- Priority: Balance of lower costs and advanced features
- Recommendation: Voyager (C NRG Fleet), Wex, or Fuelman
- Key Features: Vast & detailed reporting, easy to use online dashboards, excellent fraud protections
Fleets of 51+ Vehicles
- Priority: High level of control and insight
- Recommendation: Voyager (C NRG Fleet)
- Key Features: API integration, custom reporting, strict card controls, and online account management
Location & Travel Considerations
- National (Across State Lines) Travel: If your fleets primarily travel across state lines and all over the U.S. then getting cards with the broadest acceptance like Voyager (C NRG Fleet), and WEX may be best.
- Local or Regional Travel: If your fleets primarily travel in one area or just a few areas within a state or region then getting cards with a high density of stations in your area may be best. For example if your fleet mainly operates in California then getting a CFN card (through C NRG Fleet) would be best since most of its cardlock stations are in California.
Industry-Specific Recommendations
Search for fuel cards based on industry here.
- Trucking Companies: Comdata or Voyager (C NRG Fleet) are probably the best suited for trucking companies that travel long distances across multiple states and need vast reporting
- Construction: WEX or Voyager (C NRG Fleet), for the low fees
- Government Fleets: Voyager (C NRG Fleet) with is large fleet management capabilities
Conclusion
There is a lot that goes into choosing the right fuel card. You have to make sure that the card will meet all of your fleet’s operational needs such as geographic coverage, accurate reporting, and fueling efficiency. All while keeping within your budget. The five cards listed in this article all have different strengths and weaknesses in different areas, so you’ll need to make your choice based on your specific circumstances.
For maximum value and zero fees: Voyager Fleet Card (through C NRG Fleet) provides the best overall combination of features, network coverage, and cost structure for most businesses.
For broadest acceptance: WEX Fleet Card offers the highest probability of acceptance nationwide, though with associated fees.
For specialized savings: CFN card (through C NRG Fleet) and Comdata provide industry-specific advantages for West Coast operations and trucking fleets respectively.
For new account incentives: Fuelman’s generous 12-month rebate program can provide substantial first-year savings.
