Prepaid Gas Cards For Gas Only
If your constantly filling up with gas, prepaid credit cards for gas only could save you a lot of money and time, plus you could also have a few nice rewards thrown in.
In the past it was the oil companies like Shell, ARCO and Mobil who first offered their customers gas credit cards. By filling up at their pump stations loyal customers would be awarded points and discounts for their loyal service.
However, the old oil company gas credit cards are not as popular as they once where. With high interest rate charges and limited use there demand has been in decline for a long time.
The end of one era usually spurs a new one and this has come in the form of the big financial banks entering the gas market with their own range of Visa and MasterCard embossed credit and prepaid gas cards.
What Exactly Are Prepaid Gas Cards
Think of them as store gift cards. There concept is similar with the only real difference is that you use them at a gas station.
Prepaid Gas Cards And Their Benefits
The major benefit that a prepaid gas card has over a gas credit card is your don't pay interest on the prepaid card. This is because the cardholder purchases a prepaid spending balance with their own money rather than the lender providing a credit balance.
- Enables You To Budget More Effectively
With a prepaid fuel card you can buy a card that has a predetermined amount. For example, if you want to spend no more than $150 then you can buy a card balance with $150. This means that once you have spent the balance you can no longer use it. This is a good way of disciplining yourself to keep within your budget.
- Ease and Convenient To Use At The Pump
Using a prepaid shell gas card for gas only at a shell station is quick and easy compared to using an ordinary credit card. If you cannot use credit cards due to a bad credit rating then, the convenience of paying with a prepaid card makes life easier and safer without having to carry cash around with you.
For example, using the Pumppass prepaid gas cards at ARCO stations saves you time as you all you have to do is insert your card into the gas terminal and pump away. The transaction literally takes seconds and then, you are on your way.
- Discounted Prepaid Gas Cards
You can obtain very good discounts with prepaid fuel cards if you buy them in bulk. Not all suppliers provide these offers but, it is worth shopping around to find a good discounted deal. Certain offers can knock of 1 to 3% off the price of gas. These discounts will depend on the supplier and the amount of gas that you purchase.
Buying a fuel card online can also provide you with a discount and there are number of websites that can offer you discount deals.
A popular approach that many people use is to purchase prepaid gas cards using the reward points that they have built up on their credit card.
- They Make Great Gift Ideas
Buying prepaid cards as gifts for your family and friends is a good idea as they can save money on gas especially, with the prices of fuel on the up and up.
The Drawbacks Of Using Prepaid Gas Cards
It is not all rosy with prepaid gas card as there can be a number of drawbacks that you need to be aware of as follows:
Beware of the expiry date on your prepaid card. If you have a balance on the card after the expiry date the card becomes void and you can no longer spend the remaining balance. Therefore, make sure you clear the card balance before it expires.
With some prepaid credit cards you can only use them at certain gas stations. For example, you are limited to using the Exxon prepaid gas cards for gas only at Exxon and Mobil gasoline stations.
If you run short of gas and the nearest gas station is not one that accepts your prepaid card then, you are going to have to use a credit card or cash.
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