Best Gas Credit Cards in Canada for 2023
If you spend a lot of time on the road, whether commuting or shuttling kids around to their various activities, you understand how expensive gas is. Thankfully, you can save a lot of money at the pumps by using a gas credit card.
But with so many credit cards to choose from, how do you know which one will save you the most money at the pump? To help, I’ve compiled a list of the best credit cards for gasoline purchases in Canada.
The Best Gas Credit Cards in Canada
The following credit cards (listed in alphabetical order) have at least one thing in common: they all offer generous cash back rates and/or discounts on gasoline purchases. Some have other benefits that appeal to drivers, like roadside assistance memberships or car rental discounts.
BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite Card
Gasoline & Related Perks:
- 5X points on gas and transit purchases
Other Features:
- 5X points for groceries, dining out, takeout, and delivery
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- $120 annual fee (may be waived in the first year)
- 20.99% purchase interest
- Minimum income requirement $60,000 or $100,000 per household (or minimum $15K declared annual spend)
- Visa Infinite benefits
- Includes three different types of insurance coverage
Like the CIBC Dividend card, the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite offers accelerated point earning for gasoline purchases at 5X the regular rate. The card has a $120 annual fee, which is reasonable given the rewards it provides. In addition to gasoline purchases, you can also earn 5X points when you spend on groceries, dining out, takeout, and delivery. However, there are no gas discounts available with the card.
Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard
Gasonline & Related Perks:
- Earn 5-7 cents per litre in CT Money when you fill up at Gas+ and Essence+ gas stations
- Complimentary Roadside Assistance Gold Plan
Other Features:
- Earn 4% in CT Money at Canadian Tire and its partner stores (Marks, Sport Chek, Pro Hockey Life, etc.)
- Earn 1.5% in CT Money at participating grocery stores (Costco and Walmart not included)
- Earn 0.5% CT Money on all other purchases
- $0 annual fee
- 20.99% purchase interest
- Purchase security plus protection
- Car rental collision insurance
If you live in close proximity to a Canadian Tire Gas+ station, you can save a lot of money by using a Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard to fill up. You’ll earn up to 7 cents per litre in CT money on your gasoline purchases. The card also features a high earn rate of 4% on purchases at Canadian Tire and partner stores. And like the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite, this card includes complimentary roadside assistance.
CIBC Costco Mastercard
Gasonline & Related Perks:
- 3% cash back at Costco gas stations (in addition to Costco’s discounted gasoline prices)
- 2% cash back at all other gas stations
Other Features:
- 3% cash back at restaurants
- 2% on Costco.ca purchases
- 1% on all other eligible purchases
- $0 annual fee
- 19.75% Purchase interest (increases to 20.75% eff. December 2023)
- $15,000 minimum annual income
- 3 different types of insurance coverage included
- Mastercard’s Zero Liability Protection Policy
The CIBC Costco Mastercard makes a good thing even better by paying a 3% cash back rate on Costco gasoline purchases, which are already priced at a significant discount over regular gas stations. The card has no annual fee, and a low $15,000 minimum annual income requirement.
Business owners may prefer the CIBC Costco Business Mastercard. You’ll get the same 3% earn rate on Costco gasoline purchases, but having the card in your business name makes it easier to separate your business and personal expenses.
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite
Gasoline & Related Perks:
- 4% cash back on gas purchases and electric vehicle charging
- Save up to $.10 per litre by connecting to Journie Rewards
Other Features:
- 4% cash back on groceries
- 2% cashback on transportation, dining, and recurring payments
- 1% cash back on everything else
- $120 annual fee (first year rebated)
- 20.99% Purchase interest rate
- The minimum income requirement is $60,000 or $100,000 per household
- 25% rental car discounts through Avis and Budget
- Includes five different types of insurance coverage
The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite is a premium cash back credit card that offers a generous 4% earn rate on gasoline (and grocery) purchases. In addition, if you sign up for the Journie Rewards program and link your CIBC Dividend Visa to your Journie account, you can save up to 10 cents per litre when you fill up at Journie gas station partners, Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar, and Chevron. This includes a 3 cents per litre discount every time you fill up and an additional 7 cents every time you earn 300 Journie points.
PC Financial World Elite Mastercard
Gasonline & Related Perks:
- Earn 30 PC Optimum points per dollar spent at Esso and Mobil stations
Other Features:
- Earn 45 PC Optimum points per dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart
- Earn 30 PC Optimum points per dollar at PC Travel
- Earn 10 PC Optimum points per dollar on all other purchases
- No annual fee
- 21.99% purchase interest
- Minimum annual income requirement $80,000 or $150,000 household
- Travel Emergency Medical Insurance
- Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver Insurance
If you fill up at Esso and Mobile gas stations and like collecting PC Optimum points, the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard should be near the top of your list. You can earn points on gas purchase, then redeem them for groceries, fuel, or other items, making this one of the more versatile cards on our list.
Scotiabank Gold American Express
Gasoline & related perks:
- Earn 3X Scene+ points on gasoline purchases
Other Features:
- 6X Scene+ points per dollar spent at participating grocery stores
- 5X Scene+ points per dollar spent on eligible dining in and food delivery services
- 5X Scene+ points per dollar spent on movies and other entertainment purchases
- 3X Scene+ points per dollar spent on transit and rideshare purchases
- 3X Scene+ points per dollar spent on eligible streaming services
- $120 annual fee
- 20.99% purchase interest
- No foreign transaction fees
- Includes nine different types of insurance coverage
If you’re looking for a premium rewards credit card that offers excellent travel benefits while allowing you to earn when you fill up the gas tank, the Scotiabank Gold American Express card may be what you’re looking for.
In addition to earning 3X Scene+ points on gasoline purchases, you can redeem your points through Scene+ Travel, which is a full-service travel agency. But the travel benefits don’t stop there. The card includes discounts on Airport Lounge access through Priority Pass, and up to nine different types of insurance coverage, including Emergency Travel Medical Insurance, and Rental Car Collision/Loss Damage Insurance.
Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard
Gasoline & Related Perks:
- Optional 2% cash back on gas purchases (unlimited)
Other Features:
- No annual fee
- Up to 2% cash back in 2 spending categories of your choice
- Option for a 3rd 2% cash back category with a Tangerine Savings account (terms & conditions apply)
- 0.50% cash back on all other purchases
- Free authorized user cards
- 19.95% purchase interest
- Purchase Assurance and Extended Warranty Protection
The Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard is one of the best no-fee credit cards in Canada due to its flexible rewards program that lets you choose any two of the following spending categories to earn 2% cash back:
- Gas
- Groceries
- Furniture
- Restaurants
- Hotel-Motel
- Recurring Bill Payments
- Drug Store
- Home Improvement
- Entertainment
- Public Transportation and Parking
For example, if you’re highest spending categories are gas and groceries, those are the ones you would want to select. All other card purchases earn 0.50% cash back. The Money-Back credit card also comes with Purchase Assurance and Extended Warranty protection. If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee credit card that pays you for gasoline purchases, this might be the one.
Apply for the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card today!
TD Cash Back Visa Infinite
Gasoline & Related Perks:
- 3% Cash back on gas purchases
- Roadside assistance with Deluxe TD Auto Club Membership
Other Features:
- 3% cash back on grocery purchases and recurring bill payments
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $139 Annual fee (may be rebated in the first year, depending on welcome offer)
- 20.99% Purchase interest
- Minimum income requirement $60,000 or $100,000 per household
- Earn 50% more Stars at participating Starbucks stores
- Visa Infinite benefits
- Up to 10% rental car discount at Avis and Budget locations
- Includes seven different types of insurance coverage
The TD Cash Back Visa Infinite card is one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada. In addition to a 3% cash back earning rate on gas, groceries, and recurring payments, the card comes with 7 types of insurance coverage and a complimentary membership to Deluxe TD Auto Club, one of the best emergency roadside assistance programs in Canada. If you spend a lot of time on the road, this card can be well worth the annual fee.
Is There a Best Gas Credit Card?
The best gasoline credit card for you will depend on your spending habits and preferences. If you spend a lot of money on gasoline purchases, a good place to start is with a credit card that has a high cash back earning rate on gasoline purchases. For example, the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite card pays a whopping 4% cash back on gas and the Costco Mastercard pays 3% cash back.
From there, consider the gas stations that you most often use. For example, if you don’t live close to a Costco gas station, it doesn’t make much sense to use that card. However, if you live near an Esso or a Canadian Tire, then you may want to opt for the cards that will give you gas discounts at those stations (PC World Elite or the Canadian Tire Triangle cards).
With some research, you can find a gas credit card that suits your personal spending habits and helps you make the most out of your gas purchases.
FAQs
Which credit cards offer the highest savings on gas purchases?
The combination of 3% cash back at Costco gas stations and Costco’s standard gasoline discounts (Costco customers save approximately 7 cents per litre or more vs. competing gas stations) is pretty hard to beat. That said, the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite, PC Financial World Elite Mastercard, and the Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard all offer gas discounts through their affiliated gas station partners.
Are there any gas station-specific credit cards worth considering?
There are three gas station-specific credit cards on our list, and all are worth considering (Costco Gas, PC Financial (Esso and Mobil) and Canadian Tire Triangle (Gas+ and Essence +) Your best bet is to choose the card that’s affiliated with the gas station you are most likely to fill up at.
What are the best credit cards for frequent road travellers in Canada?
If you spend a lot of time on the road, chances are you will fill up at a wide range of gas stations, so you may not want to choose a credit card that’s affiliated with a specific gas station. You may want to consider the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card, because it gives you 3% cash back on gasoline purchases and complimentary emergency roadside assistance through Deluxe TD Auto Club.
Another option is the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite card. While you don’t get the roadside assistance, you will get 4% cash back on gasoline purchases, the highest rate of any card on our list.
Which credit card has the highest cash back for fuel purchases?
At 4%, the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite card has the highest cash back rate for fuel purchases. Other credit cards offer gas discounts, and a lower cash back earning rate.