Four Ways to Make The Most Out Of Credit Card Gas Rebates

It is hard to find things differentiate a gas station from another these days. In a neighborhood gas prices may not stray more than a couple of cents apart among competing stations. A filling station might have cleaner restrooms, yet you may need to have a little more patience with longer queue. In most places, “service” only means that the staffs are more polite or restrooms get cleaned often. That’s why many bigger gas stations partner with major credit card companies. Affinity rebate cards sometimes help create brand loyalty or may even get some people to switch allegiance.

1. Read the small print on gas rebate offers.
Get ten cents per gallon back, earn a dollar per two gallons (for the first 10 gallons) or enjoy a free car wash. Determine the benefits you need the most, for example instant discounts on each gallon, special promotions or annual cash-back rebates. You should get a gas rebate only when you are sure you can reap real rewards before running into any redemption or earning limits.

2. Look beyond rebates
Your gas station uses pump signage to indicate the potential cents-off for each gallon. It might not give you the whole picture. Most gas station credit cards also offer added value benefits, for example roadside assistance, concierge service, lost wallet protection or rental car insurance. The annual service fee could be equal to the membership costs for auto protection or travel clubs plans. You shouldn’t mind with a smaller rebate if the gas card can save you a larger chunk of cash in case of an emergency.

3: Balance the deal
Gas station A may offer you to save four cents per gallon and gas station B wants to save you eight cents per gallon. Even so, gas station B might not be a good choice if it is thirty miles away from your home. For most of us, eight cents per gallon could mean saving almost a buck for each fill-up. Driving out of your regular route for about five miles might eat up that rebate. More savings in theory doesn’t always make your wallet thicker with more green.

4: Choose between loyalty vs. flexibility
Credit card companies have discovered that complementary awards lead to long-term loyalty. That is why many popular credit cards give you the chance to get gift cards by exchanging loyalty points at some gas stations. Reward cards from major banks that allow you to earn plenty of bonus points regardless of where you buy groceries or pump gas, might help you get reward more efficiently compared to a gas rebate card. Even so, if you really need to frequent a gas station each week, look for offers that include special loyalty bonuses.