When choosing a fuel card, it’s tempting to focus on the ones with the biggest fuel discounts. But those same cards often come with hefty fees that eat into your savings. According to an article from FleetOwner, a fleet spending over $1 million per month on fuel might pay more than $10,000 in hidden fees. So are the fuel cards that offer discounts but charge fees really the best way to save, or is a no fee fuel card the better choice?
Common Fees For Cards With Discounts
Many of these extra costs come in the form of per-card fees, transaction charges, and account maintenance fees, which add up over time. Below are some of the most common fees associated with discounted fuel cards.
- Monthly Per-Card Fees – Normally $2-$10 per active card, per month.
- Transaction Fees – Can be up to $2 per transaction.
- Replacement Card Fees – Normally $4-$10 to replace a lost or stolen card.
- Maintenance or Administration Fees – Normally $0.02 – $0.05 per gallon charged for maintaining an account or doing administrative tasks such as, changing or setting limits, updating company info, running reports, etc.
- Account Setup Fees – Normally just a one time fee of $20 – $50 for setting up and activating a fuel card account with the provider.
- Out-of-Network Fees – Normally a higher per gallon charge if you fuel at a non preferred station that is outside the provider’s network.
It’s important to note that these fees, as well as others that are not listed, can be structured very differently from one provider to the next. For example, Fuelman doesn’t charge an account setup fee nor do they charge a replacement card fee but they do charge a monthly per card fee and a monthly membership fee. Fleet managers should carefully examine every fuel card provider’s terms and conditions, as well as their invoices to catch these hidden costs!
Top Fuel Cards That Charge Fees
Here is a chart of the top fuel companies that charge fees.
| Fees | Fuelman | Comdata | Wex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Fee | $0* | $50* | $40* |
| Monthly Per Card Fee | $4-12* | $8* | $4* |
| Replacement Card Fee | $0* | $0* | $8* |
| Monthly Membership Fee | $39-99* | $0* | $0* |
*Pricing based on publicly available information as of [January, 2025]. Actual fees may vary. Please verify with the provider for the most up-to-date pricing.
The Advantage Of No-Fee Fuel Cards
A card with a seemingly attractive discount but recurring fees may not be as beneficial as one with straightforward pricing and no extra costs.
Choosing a fuel card that doesn’t charge fees ensures that your business budgets efficiently while saving on fuel. Here’s how:
- No Extra Costs – Every dollar saved on fuel goes directly back into your business instead of being spent on fees.
- Better Budgeting – Without fluctuating fees, your fleet’s fuel expenses are easier to forecast and manage.
- Transparent Pricing – You know exactly what you’re paying for without surprise deductions from your savings.
At C NRG Fleet, we offer Voyager & CFN Fuel Cards with no card fees, ensuring fleets of all sizes keep more of their money where it belongs – in their business.
