Many small business owners can benefit from earning gas rewards. If you put a lot of miles on your vehicle to go to showings or make deliveries, a credit card with a gas rewards program could be a big help. Although the Shell Fuel Rewards Credit Card isn’t a business credit card, it can help small businesses earn rewards — as long as they are customers at Shell stations. But there are two distinct Shell credit cards, so you’ll want to understand the differences before applying.
If you’re searching for the best gas credit card for your business, don’t miss our full credit card review of the Shell gas card written by Nav’s experts.
*All information about the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Card and the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® has been collected independently by Nav. This card is not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit Nav to see your best options instantly.
Shell Fuel Rewards Credit Card
Let’s take a look at a breakdown of the Shell credit card. In reality, Shell offers two distinct credit cards: the Shell Fuel Rewards Card and the Shell Fuel Rewards Mastercard from Citi. The main difference is that the Mastercard can be used at any location like a standard credit card, but you can only use the Rewards Card at Shell gas stations.
Furthermore, you don’t have a choice of which one you’re applying for — it’s one application, and Citi chooses which card you qualify for based on your creditworthiness. This could be a dealbreaker for a small business owner who wants to know for sure what they’re applying for.
We highlight the other key differences between the Shell Fuel Rewards Card and the Shell Mastercard below.
Shell Fuel Rewards Card vs. Shell Fuel Rewards Mastercard
Shell Fuel Rewards Card | Shell Fuel Rewards Mastercard | |
Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
Interest Rate | 29.49% | 29.49% |
Sign-Up Bonus | Save $0.30 per gallon (up to 35 gallons) on your first five Shell gas purchases | Save $0.30 per gallon (up to 35 gallons) on your first five Shell gas purchases |
Gas Rewards Rate | Save $0.10 per gallon on every fill up at a Shell gas station | Save $0.10 per gallon on every fill up at a Shell gas station |
Everyday Rewards Rate | Get $0.10 per gallon for every $50 you spend using a linked debit or credit card from another bank at participating restaurantsGet $0.10 per gallon for every $50 you spend using a linked card on live tickets through FuelRewards.comGet shopping rewards for every $50 you spend using a linked card at top brands | Get 10% Shell rebates on the first $1,200 in non-fuel Shell purchases each yearGet 2% Shell rebates on the first $10,000 in dining and grocery purchases each yearGet 1% Shell rebates on everything else |
Foreign Transaction Fee | N/A | 3% of each purchase |
Usable Anywhere? | Use at Shell gas stations only | Yes |
How the Shell Gas Card can benefit your small business
The Shell Mastercard credit card offers small business owners the opportunity to earn rewards on their Shell gas purchases. It’s not a standard cash back credit card because you can’t get a statement credit to use toward any purchase or gift cards. Instead, cardholders get a rebate on Shell gas purchases and non-fuel purchases at Shell that is posted to their card as a statement credit. So, if you shop at Shell frequently, the fact that you can only use perks as statement credit for Shell station purchases may not be an issue.
What bank backs the Shell Gas Card?
The Shell gas card is one of the credit cards offered by the financial institution Citibank. Citi has been around since 1812 and is headquartered in New York City. The bank ranks in the middle in terms of customer satisfaction with their national credit card issuers, according to J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study. Citi got a score of 808 out of a possible 1,000, which is up a few points from last year.
Pros and cons of the Shell Credit Card
When considering any business credit card, it’s important to weigh the positives and negatives before applying.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Fuel rewards program
Cons
- Complicated and limited rewards
- You’ll pay a foreign transaction fee
- High interest rates
What credit score is needed for a Shell Card?
Citi doesn’t have a minimum credit score requirement readily available. But since most of Citi’s credit cards require good credit or excellent credit to qualify, you’ll probably want to have at least a good score before applying. A good FICO score falls between 670 and 739, and anything above that is considered excellent. Bad credit is usually considered a FICO score of 580 or below, and some lenders won’t accept a fair score of 669 or below. There are other credit scores like VantageScore, though, that lenders may use to determine your creditworthiness.
Keep in mind that your credit score is only one part of your application. Just because your credit score isn’t exactly in the good range doesn’t mean you can’t qualify for the Shell gas card. Other qualifications like your payment history, annual income, and credit utilization rate also factor into your application.
Credit card providers don’t usually look at your business credit when they evaluate your application, but it’s a good idea to build your business credit to open up other financing opportunities. See our guide on how to establish business credit from Nav’s experts to get started.
How can I get a Shell Gas Card?
The easiest way to get this Shell credit card is to apply on Shell’s website. You can send in a digital application completely online, so there’s no need to go into a Shell store or a bank. When you apply for the Shell Fuel Rewards Mastercard but don’t qualify, you may automatically receive the Shell Fuel Rewards Card in its place.
Where can I use my Shell Credit Card?
The answer depends on which of the two Shell cards you end up with. The Shell Mastercard works like a regular credit card — you can use it anywhere, including all U.S. gas stations outside of Shell. You’ll get rewards on qualifying purchases, and more for Shell non-fuel purchases.
However, you can only use the Shell Rewards Card at Shell gas stations. That card won’t work outside of these specific purchases, so it may not be the right fit for your business.
How to make a Shell Credit Card payment
You’ll get your credit card bill every month that will have a due date of at least 25 days after the end of your billing cycle. You can either make your minimum payment or pay off the entire bill. Paying off the entire bill will allow you to avoid paying interest. If you do get charged interest, Citi charges a minimum of $2.00. And if you fail to make your minimum payment on time, you’ll have to pay a late fee and it may damage your credit score.
You can pay off your Shell credit card in three ways:
- Online: Register an account or log in on Shell’s login page. After you sign on, follow the prompts to make a payment.
- By mail: Send a check or money order to Shell Card Payments, P.O. Box 9001011, Louisville, KY 40290-1011. You can also mail to a separate expedited payments address if needed.
- By phone: Call 800-331-3703 and follow the prompts to make a payment over the phone using your account number and bank information.
Alternatives to the Shell Fuel Rewards Credit Card
When you’re looking for the best credit cards for gas station purchases, it’s a good idea to shop around and look at different business credit cards. Whether you want a flexible cash back credit card, you prefer a Visa over a Mastercard, or want a 0% intro APR for a balance transfer, there is probably a card out there for you.
Here are our top options to earn rewards on your business’s gas purchases.
Intro APR
Purchase APR
Annual Fee
Welcome Offer
A great card for those looking to maximize their rewards across several categories. This card has high rewards rate and a generous bonus offer but spending on bonus rewards are capped.
Pros
- Generous rewards on certain spending categories.
Cons
- The annual fee may not be worth it if you don't spend much in the bonus categories.
Intro APR
Purchase APR
Annual Fee
Welcome Offer
All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav. This card is not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.
Pros
- All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav
- This card is not currently available through Nav
- To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.
Cons
- All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav
- This card is not currently available through Nav
- To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.
Intro APR
Purchase APR
Annual Fee
Welcome Offer
All information about the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav. This card is not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit Nav’s credit card page.
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Tiffany Verbeck
Digital Marketing Copywriter, Nav
Tiffany Verbeck is a Digital Marketing Copywriter for Nav. She uses the skills she learned from her master’s degree in writing to provide guidance to small businesses trying to navigate the ins-and-outs of financing. Previously, she ran a writing business for three years, and her work has appeared on sites like Business Insider, VaroWorth, and Mission Lane.