
Fuel Card
What you need to know about fuel cards and fuel card providers
Fuel card…, is this a thing now? Due to the steep rise in prices for fuels and energy, more and more companies are resorting to fuel cards. However, there are several things to consider. Not every fuel card suits every company, and the market seems to be quite opaque.
We have navigated through the jungle of fuel card providers for you and present to you the test winners among fuel cards.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Providers
1. DKV Card
Universal fuel network (Shell, Aral, Esso, Jet, OMV, BP, TAMOIL and more local and small fuel stations)
Approximately 64,000 gas stations throughout Europe.
Over 500,000 charging points throughout Europe.
Discount: 2 cents per liter*
2. UTA Card
Universal fuel network (Shell, Aral, Esso, Jet, OMV, BP, TAMOIL and more local and small fuel stations)
Approximately 63,200 gas stations throughout Europe.
About 515,000 charging points throughout Europe.
Discount: Up to 3 cents per liter*
3. Shell Card
Shell fuel network + partners (including: AVIA, Esso, OMV, Westfalen AG, …)
About 30,000 gas stations throughout Europe.
Around 450,000 charging points throughout Europe.
Discount: 2 cents per liter*
*The discounts advertised here are from the providers. The discount sometimes only applies to regular/desired gas stations. The exact discount you receive can sometimes only be determined after requesting a fuel card. Even with DKV and Shell, depending on your company size, a higher discount might be available.
Fuel Card Calculator: Here's how much you can save with a fuel card.
The calculation works as follows:
- We multiply the tank volume (in liters) by the fuel discount (in cents).
- After that, we subtract the costs of the number of fuel cards (in euros).
- The result is the savings in euros.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about the Fuel Card
The fuel card is a kind of credit card for gas stations. Compared to credit cards, the fuel card can only be used for refueling (diesel, gasoline, gas, hydrogen), electricity and, with some providers, for additional vehicle-related services such as tolls, lubricants, repairs, washing, or parking.
The fuel card works like an EC or credit card. You can pay with it at the gas station checkout. You usually receive an invoice from the fuel card provider at regular intervals (e.g., every 14 days) which you have to settle.
The main advantage of a fuel card is that all fuel receipts can be automatically debited from the company account. This saves the hassle of collecting fuel receipts. With some providers, you can also benefit from discounts on diesel and gasoline.
A fuel card usually costs between €0 – €10 per month. It’s hard to give a general answer. Transport companies with trucks often get fuel cards for €0 due to the large sales volume.
The best fuel card for you depends on many factors. Recommendations based on company size can be found in our fuel card comparison. A detailed comparison is worth it: usually, you’ll keep your fuel card for several years.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Fuel Cards
Advantages of a fuel card:
- Convenience: Fuel cards can be used at almost all gas stations and allow payment without cash or credit card.
- Overview: With a fuel card, you get a clear overview of your fuel expenses and can easily manage and track them.
- Bonuses and Discounts: Many fuel cards offer bonuses and discounts on fuel purchases, which can mean significant savings.
- Cost Savings: By using a fuel card, you can save costs by finding the best price for fuel.
Disadvantages:
- Limited Usability: Fuel cards can only be used at certain gas stations and may not be available at all locations.
- Fees: Some fuel cards charge fees for usage or access to specific features.
- Bonuses and Discounts: Bonuses and discounts are not always available and can vary by provider and region.
Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Fuel Card:
- Availability: Ensure that the gas stations in your area are compatible with the fuel card you’ve chosen.
- Cost: Check the fees associated with the use of the fuel card and compare these with the costs of other providers.
- Overview and Management: Review how easy it is to get an overview of your expenses and manage them.
- Additional Features: Check if the fuel card offers extra features such as managing multiple accounts or integrating with billing systems.
- Credit Limit: Depending on your company’s creditworthiness and the provider, different credit limits will be guaranteed. Before using the card, be sure to check the credit limits and, if you need more, contact the provider as soon as possible.
Fuel Card for Companies
A company fuel card is a practical solution to optimize fuel costs in corporate fleet management. With a fuel card, employees can conveniently and securely pay at gas stations without the company having to provide cash. Expense management becomes easier as transactions are automatically recorded, simplifying cost accounting (everything on one invoice). Additionally, the company can better control expenses and take measures to reduce costs.
A company fuel card also offers benefits such as discounts on fuel, which can further reduce costs. Also, the capability to issue the card to multiple employees increases flexibility and simplifies fleet management.
Overall, a company fuel card is a worthwhile investment that helps optimize costs in corporate fleet management and simplify expense management. Almost all medium and large businesses that own company vehicles already benefit from the advantages of a fuel card: cost control, simplified billing, and discounts.
Universal Fuel Card (DKV, UTA) vs. Shell, Aral, Jet Fuel Card
A universal fuel card allows the user to buy fuel at any gas station, regardless of the brand. This means the user isn’t tied to a specific group of gas stations and has more flexibility in choosing where to refuel. They often also offer a larger number of gas stations where the card is accepted.
On the other hand, a fuel card from oil corporations like Aral, Shell, or Jet is limited to the gas stations of these specific corporations. This means the user is forced to refuel at specific gas stations to benefit from the card.
Fuel cards from oil corporations often offer special deals and discounts, allowing the user to purchase fuel at a lower price. This can be particularly advantageous if a company has a large fleet of vehicles and regularly refuels at gas stations of the specific corporation.
So, it really depends on individual needs!
In general, if you operate very locally, don’t travel long distances, and have a gas station just around the corner? Then it might be a good idea to use only the fuel card, for example, from Jet. On the other hand, if you frequently travel nationally or even internationally, or cannot guarantee always refueling with a single brand, you should opt for a universal fuel card.