If you're searching for the fuel card with the best pricing, the answer depends on where your fleet buys fuel. Some fuel cards offer their strongest discounts at retail gas stations, while others focus on truck stops or cardlock networks. A fuel card that saves one company thousands of dollars per year may provide little value to another if its drivers don't fuel at the right locations.
That's why it's important to compare fuel cards based on the stations your fleet actually uses, not just the largest advertised discount. Fuel card pricing can vary significantly based on the fuel network, station type, fee structure, and whether discounts are applied to cash or credit prices.
In this guide, we'll break down the fuel cards that offer the best fuel card pricing at gas stations, truck stops, and cardlock locations. We'll also show you how to compare discounts and fees so you can choose the fuel card that delivers the lowest overall fuel costs for your business.
Table of Contents
- Get the best fuel card pricing at the stations your fleet actually uses
- Fuel cards with the best prices by station type
- Fuel cards with the best prices at gas stations
- Fuel cards with the best prices at truck stops
- Fuel cards with the best prices at cardlocks
- How to choose the fuel card with the best pricing for your business
Get the Best Fuel Card Pricing at the Stations Your Fleet Actually Uses
The first step to getting the best fuel card pricing is choosing a card that offers discounts at the fuel stations your fleet actually uses. Many businesses make the mistake of choosing a fuel card based solely on its advertised discounts, only to discover those savings are available at locations that don't fit their fueling patterns.
For example, a local plumbing company with service vans won't benefit from large diesel discounts at truck stops because its vehicles are likely gasoline-powered and rarely travel on interstates where most truck stops are located. Instead, that company would save more with a fuel card that offers discounts at retail gas stations.
To choose the right fuel card, it helps to understand the three main types of fuel stations in the United States.
3 Types of Fuel Stations
1. Gas Stations
Gas stations are the most common fueling locations and are used primarily by companies operating cars, pickup trucks, vans, and other small to midsized vehicles. Because gas stations are located everywhere from major cities to small rural towns, they offer the greatest convenience for fleets that travel locally or regionally.
2. Truck Stops
Truck stops are primarily used by over-the-road trucking companies, and other businesses that operate larger vehicles on interstate highways. In addition to fuel, truck stops offer amenities such as parking, showers, restaurants, and driver lounges, making them the primary fueling locations for drivers that spend long periods on the road.
3. Cardlock Fuel Stations
Cardlock fuel stations are commercial fueling locations commonly used by local and regional fleets operating in the Western United States. They are designed to accommodate everything from service trucks and delivery vehicles to semi-trucks and heavy equipment. The largest cardlock networks are concentrated in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, making cardlocks a popular fueling option for West Coast businesses seeking cost-plus pricing and easier access for larger vehicles.
Best Fuel Station by Type of Fleet
Here’s a general recommendation of the best fuel station types based on the type of fleet you operate.
| Fleet Type | Best Fuel Stations |
| Local and regional trucking | Truck stop or cardlock |
| Over-The-Road trucking | Truck stop |
| Construction | Gas station or cardlock |
| Large buses | Truck stop or cardlock |
| Small buses | Truck stop, cardlock, or gas station |
| Government | Gas station or cardlock |
| West Coast fleets | Cardlock |
| Home service | Gas station or cardlock |
Fuel Cards with the Best Prices by Station Type
Now that you know which type of fuel station best fits your fleet, the next step is comparing the fuel cards that are accepted at those locations and offer the strongest pricing there. Below are some of the most popular fuel cards on the market, organized by the type of stations where they typically offer the best pricing.
| Best Pricing for Gas Stations | Best Pricing for Truck Stops | Best Pricing for Cardlocks |
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Now let's compare the discounts and fees for each category of fuel card.
Fuel Cards with the Best Prices at Gas Stations
| Fuel Card | Discount | Monthly Fee | Late Fee | Out-Of-Network Fee | Accepting Locations |
| Voyager | 3-8¢/gal at select locations | $0 | $0 | $0 | 97% of gas stations and truck stops |
| WEX | 3-15¢/gal at WEX nationwide savings network locations. 1-3¢/gal at other participating locations. Up to 8¢ with branded cards | Up to $4 per card | 11.99% | Up to $3 per transaction at truck stop diesel lanes | 95% of gas stations and truck stops |
| Coast | 4-10¢/gal at select locations | $4 per card | 2.5% | $0 | Anywhere Visa is accepted |
| Motive | Up to 21¢/gal | $5 per card | 5% | $0 | Anywhere Mastercard is accepted |
| Fuelman | 8¢/gal for mixed fleet card; up to 12¢/gal for diesel fleet card | $39-99 for the account | 17.99% | $3 per transaction at select sites/merchants | 60,000 stations |
| RoadFlex | 2¢/gal at all locations; up to 25¢/gal at select partner locations | $3 per card, additional fee for premium features | 3% | $0 | Anywhere Visa is accepted |
| AtoB | Estimated 5¢/gal at gas stations | $3-6 per card | 9% | $0 | Anywhere Mastercard is accepted |
Typical gas station fuel card pricing structure: Credit pump price minus the discount or rebate.
You'll notice that fuel card discounts at gas stations are usually much smaller than discounts at truck stops. That's because most gas stations already operate on thin margins and offer competitive pricing, leaving less room for fuel card companies to negotiate large rebates.
Because gas station discounts tend to be smaller, it's important to look at both discounts and fees when comparing fuel cards. In some cases, a fuel card with lower fees can save your business more money than a card with higher discounts.
Fuel Cards with the Best Prices at Truck Stops
| Fuel Card | Discount | Monthly Fee | Late Fee | Out-Of-Network Fee | Accepting Locations |
| Mudflap | Estimated 57¢/gal at in network locations, 2¢/gal everywhere else | $0 | 3-6% | $0 | Anywhere Visa is accepted |
| Comdata | Cash price and 7-40¢/gal at select truck stops | $0-129 per account | 13.99% | $0 | 8,000 truck stops |
| EFS | Cash price at in-network truck stops, discounts vary by customer agreement | Fees vary by customer agreement | Fees vary by customer agreement | Fees vary by customer agreement | 16,000 truck stops |
| AtoB | Estimated 42¢/gal at truck stops | $3-6 per card | 9% | $0 | Anywhere Mastercard is accepted |
| Open Roads | 25-40¢/gal off diesel at in-network locations | $7.95 per account | 6.99% | In-network: 65¢, out-of-network: $3 | 16,000 truck stops |
| Fleet One | 15¢/gal average at 2,200 discount locations | $8 per card, $7.95 | 6.99% | $2 | 12,000 truck stops |
| Axle (Pilot/Flying J) |
27¢/gal average discount | $0 | 20% | N/A | 850+ Pilot, Flying J, and One9 Fuel Network truck stops |
| Love's | Cash price discounts of up to 25¢/gal, or up to 50¢/gal with Love’s Freight Factoring | $0 | N/A | N/A | 600+ Love's truck stops |
Typical truck stop fuel card pricing structure: Credit or cash pump price minus the discount or rebate.
One thing to pay close attention to is whether the fuel card discount is based on the credit price or the cash price. The cash price is usually already 10-20¢ per gallon lower than the credit price, so make sure you factor that into the total savings when comparing fuel cards.
Fuel Cards with the Best Prices at Cardlocks
| Fuel Card | Discounts | Monthly Fee | Late Fee | Out-Of-Network Fee | Accepting Locations |
| CFN | Estimated 35¢/gal at discount locations | $0 | $0 | $0 | 3,000 discount locations; 65,000 gas stations and truck stops |
| Pacific Pride | Estimated 10-35¢/gal at discount cardlock locations (varies by card provider) | Varies by card provider | Varies by card provider | Varies by card provider | 1,400 discount cardlock locations; 65,000 gas stations and truck stops |
Typical cardlock fuel card pricing structure: fuel cost plus a fixed markup from the station and fuel card provider.
Cardlock fuel stations are concentrated in the Western U.S. and primarily belong to either the Commercial Fueling Network (CFN) or Pacific Pride. These fuel networks rely on independent fuel card companies to issue cards, manage customer accounts, and provide pricing.
One of the biggest differences between cardlock networks and retail fuel stations is that many cardlock locations operate on a cost-plus pricing model. Instead of offering rebates off the retail price, fuel is often sold at the network's cost plus a fixed markup that is determined by the fuel card provider. As a result, CFN and Pacific Pride fuel card providers can often offer lower fuel pricing than retail fuel cards.
To get an idea of potential savings, review the quarterly CFN fuel price report or request a fuel quote from a CFN or Pacific Pride fuel card provider for stations near your business.
How to Choose the Fuel Card with the Best Pricing for Your Business
Step 1: Identify the Types of Stations Your Fleet Fuels At Most Often
You've probably already done this by now, but if not, start by identifying whether your fleet primarily fuels at gas stations, truck stops, or cardlock locations. Then compare the fuel cards that offer the best pricing at those specific locations.
Keep in mind that some fuel cards are accepted at all three types of stations. However, most fuel card companies focus their best discounts on one type of location. To maximize savings, choose a fuel card that aligns with where your fleet buys the majority of its fuel so the largest discounts are applied where most of your gallons are purchased.
Step 2: Compare Fuel Card Discounts and Fees
Once you've identified the type of stations your fleet uses, compare the discounts and fees of the fuel cards that offer the best pricing at those locations.
Start by estimating your monthly fuel card costs by applying all applicable fees to your fleet size. Then calculate your expected monthly fuel savings by multiplying the card's estimated per-gallon discount by your monthly fuel volume. Subtract the fees from the fuel savings to determine your estimated net savings.
Be sure to read the fine print on both discounts and fees. Some fuel card discounts may be subject to volume tiers, specific station brands, or other qualifying criteria.
Step 3: Consider Fueling at Lower-Priced Brands
If your fleet fuels at gas stations or truck stops, the brands you choose can have a major impact on fuel costs. Fuel prices in the same area can vary by up to 50¢ per gallon. In some cases, a discounted price at a high cost station may still be more expensive than the regular pump price at a lower cost competitor.
Use fuel price comparison tools to help identify the lowest-priced fuel stations in your area. Combining the right fuel card with lower-priced fuel brands is often one of the easiest ways to maximize savings.
