It’s becoming increasingly popular for small businesses to use fuel cards, which can often lead to significant savings and other benefits. We offer a whole range of fuel cards and our expert team is on hand to guide you through this process and help you to decide which fuel card best suits your needs.
Below, we have answered some frequently asked questions to help provide an insight into how our fuel cards can benefit your small business. If you would like more information about our services, you can contact a member of our team here.
To get a fuel card, how long do I need to have been trading for?
It doesn’t matter if you’re a completely fresh start-up or a well-established small business, you can apply for a fuel card with Right Fuel Card.
What does the application process look like?
All you need to do is either complete our online application form or give our expert team a call on 0113 202 5110. We’ll then assess the information you’ve provided, such as your typical fuel spend and the number of vehicles you have, before matching you to the right fuel card. We will also perform a credit check and request your bank details unless you’re applying for a pay-as-you-go RightPay fuel card.
We may also ask for further information, including documentation that proves your trading address, or a completed direct debit mandate. Then, once we’ve received all the information we need and we’ve approved your application, we’ll set up your account and give you access to our online account management system.
Finally, we’ll send your chosen fuel cards through the post so you can start to reap the benefits.
What are the main benefits of a fuel card?
Many small (and larger) businesses still use cash or credit/debit cards to pay for fuel and then claim it back as an expense. Often, this is because the business or its directors and employees don’t know any different. But fuel cards can offer so many more benefits that are particularly useful for small businesses.
These are some of the benefits that you can experience when you choose one of our fuel cards:
Save money at the pump
Choose a fixed weekly price fuel card and every litre of fuel you buy on that card will be charged at a fixed price on a weekly basis. This means you can benefit from competitive pricing, manage your finances with no fluctuations, and stabilise your overall fuel cost.
Alternatively, you could choose a pump price fuel card where fuel is always charged the price at the pump. This type of card makes payments simple and transparent and is widely accepted for diesel and unleaded petrol purchases across the UK – a perfect combination if your main priority is driver convenience.
Less time spent on admin
If you’ve ever used cash or a card to pay for business fuel, you’ll know it can generate a substantial amount of receipts at the end of the month. Sorting through all these receipts for tax returns and VAT can be a laborious and time-consuming process and that’s where our fuel cards can help.
Instead of handling vast quantities of paperwork, you will receive a single invoice that provides a clear breakdown of your fuel purchases. The payment for this invoice is then automatically taken by direct debit.
In addition, the invoices you receive from Right Fuel Card are HMRC approved and are designed to help make processing your VAT much easier. This is useful for small businesses looking to save time and money.
No nasty interest charges
Those that use a credit card to pay for their company’s fuel risk incurring some hefty interest charges on purchases. However, with a fuel card, you can say goodbye to these fees because your payment is taken care of every month by direct debit.
Dedicated account manager
Even if you’re a small business once you successfully apply for one of our fuel cards then we will provide you with a dedicated account manager. Our team of experts can answer all your questions and help you make the most of your fuel card. This is a benefit that cannot be experienced when using cash or a credit/debit card to pay for your fuel.
Improve fleet and fuel management
Our fuel card customers have access to our online account management system which allows small businesses to manage their fleet and fuel in a more convenient way. This system makes it simple for you to manage multiple fuel cards, monitor every fuel transaction, view, and print new and historical invoices, and run reports so you can analyse your expenditure and identify ways to save money.
As a small business, is there anything else I should know about a fuel card?
On top of the main benefits listed above, a fuel card also offers a small business owner and their employees the following:
Huge choice of stations
We have a great selection of fuel cards to choose from that can give you access to thousands of fuel sites across the UK. These cards cover single fuel suppliers and whole fuel networks, as well as a wide range of supermarkets. All you need to do is get in touch with one of our experts and we’ll find the right card for you.
Excellent security
We know that for small businesses, in particular, every penny counts. For this reason, all our fuel cards are either chip and PIN, swipe and PIN, or swipe and signature, as this ensures you can make fuel purchases quickly and safely.
It is also harder for employees to commit fuel fraud because your small business is charged directly for every fuel purchase and you can track every transaction with our account management system. In addition, our dedicated team monitor for any irregular behaviour on our customers’ accounts, offering greater security for your business.
No minimum spend or non-usage fees
Some small business owners may be concerned that they’ll need to spend a minimum amount of their fuel card or use it a certain number of times per month. However, with Right Fuel Card, you can spend as little as you want on a fuel card and we do not charge non-usage fees.
Tonnes of rewards points
Many of our fuel cards are linked to supermarket fuel stations or major fuel suppliers that have points schemes, allowing you to reap the rewards. This means that you could enjoy free groceries or even a break away because of what you’ve spent on your fuel card.
How do other businesses typically use fuel cards?
There are various ways that businesses can use fuel cards, and this depends on the size of their fleet and the nature of their business. However, with Right Fuel Card, our main aim is to help our customers better manage and control their fuel costs, no matter what size their business is.
Small businesses are increasingly turning to fuel cards to help manage their costs. Research by GlobalData predicts that the number of fuel cards in Europe is likely to grow by 8.9% between 2018 and 2024, with the main source of growth coming from small businesses.
Can I give my employees a fuel card?
Yes, it’s absolutely fine to give an employee a fuel card, however, if they use it for personal travel then you will be required to pay for tax charges.
What is the best fuel card for a small business?
When it comes to fuel cards, you certainly have a lot of choices, from single fuel providers such as Shell, BP, and Esso to fuel cards from large fuel networks. We, therefore, recommend that you get in touch with our experts so we can help you find the right fuel card for your small business.
In addition, we’ll also keep regularly reviewing the performance of your card to make sure it’s meeting the needs of your business. This may lead us to suggest that you change your card, which is something you can do easily and without any hassle.
 | David JamesDavid has worked in the fuel card industry since 2008. His financial insights have been featured in various publications, such as The Sun, the Daily Express and The Yorkshire Times where he provides money-saving tips for motorists. David is passionate about charity work and regularly raises money through running events, including the London Marathon and the Leeds Abbey Dash. |
