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Nearly every gas station out there accepts credit cards. There is a notable exception however: Only select ARCO gas stations accept credit cards. Here’s a quick breakdown of which gas stations accept which credit cards.
Most major gas stations accept credit cards
At most major gas-station chains, you can use your credit card — whether it’s from Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover.
A notable exception is ARCO. ARCO only allows you to pay for gas using your debit card or cash — not your credit card. This long-standing policy helps the company save on credit card processing fees.
Recently, the chain has experimented with accepting credit cards at select locations. As of March 2022, only select ARCO stations in Washington, Oregon and Northern California accept credit cards. The ARCO website doesn’t list these locations, so give your local ARCO a ring ahead of time if you need to pay with a credit card.
*Credit cards are accepted at select ARCO locations.
Consider these credit cards for use at gas stations
When choosing a gas credit card, look for a product that offers bonus rewards on fuel. Your ideal card might also offer elevated rewards for other categories that you spend heavily in. To see the full list of cards that earn accelerated rewards on gas, visit our guide on gas rewards credit cards.
The cards below highlight some options if you’re looking to earn extra points at the pump.
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Do I need a gas station credit card?
Not necessarily. Many “everyday” rewards cards include gas as a category in their offered rewards, usually around 3% back on your gas purchases. The main advantage to getting a gas-specific rewards card is higher earning rate on those gas purchases. The tradeoff is you’re usually restricted to certain gas stations, or there’s an earning cap on your maximum gas rewards each year.
Bottom line
No matter where you go, you shouldn’t have a problem using your credit card to fill up your tank. To make sure you earn the most rewards on your pit stops, compare the best gas credit card options available and pick one that best suits your needs.
What is a gas credit card? A gas credit card offers bonus rewards or discounts on fuel purchases.
Will I receive a signup bonus with my gas credit card?
Not all gas cards have signup bonuses, but many do. A general rewards card usually offers significant rewards after you meet a spending requirement. A gas-station card typically offers steeper discounts on fuel for an initial period.
Can I apply for a gas card with fair credit? With fair credit, you have a better chance of being approved for a gas-station card — a card issued by a major gas chain such as Chevron/Texaco or ExxonMobil. For a general-rewards card, you’ll have better odds with a good to excellent credit score.
Steven Dashiell is a personal finance writer, specializing in credit cards, banking and growing and protecting your income. His insights and expertise has been featured on Nasdaq, U.S. News & World Report, Time, CBS, ABC, Fox Business, Lifehacker and Martha Stewart Living, among other top media. Steve holds a BA in English from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, minoring in composition and rhetoric. In his spare time Steve nerds out on birds, paints and plays a whole lot of Street Fighter.
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