Fuel cards are among the most effective tools for controlling business fuel spend, but as their use has grown across UK fleets, so too has the range of ways they can be exploited. Some threats come from outside your business entirely: skimming devices, cloned cards, stolen data. Others come from within, when a legitimate card is used outside company policy. Both cost money. Both are avoidable.
This guide explains exactly what separates fuel card fraud from fuel card misuse, how big a problem each one is for UK businesses right now, the warning signs to watch for, and the specific, practical steps that reduce your risk, whether you're running two vans or two hundred.
How can I avoid fraud and misuse when using fuel cards?
To avoid fraud and misuse when using fuel cards, UK businesses should implement these essential measures:
Assign one fuel card per driver – never share cards between drivers or vehicles.
Set daily and transaction spend limits to prevent excessive purchases.
Restrict purchases to fuel only using card controls.
Protect PINs properly – never write them down or store them in vehicles.
Use telematics integration to cross-check transactions against actual vehicle locations.
Review statements weekly, not just monthly, to catch problems early.
Choose a provider with built-in fraud protection and 24/7 card blocking.
These steps work together to prevent both external fraud (skimming, stolen cards, cloning) and internal misuse (personal use, unauthorised purchases). The key is combining technology controls with clear driver policies and regular monitoring.
In a hurry? Here's our summary...
Fuel card fraud is a growing concern for businesses, but there are practical steps you can take to protect your fleet and your bottom line. Always assign each fuel card to one named driver, and set clear daily spend and transaction limits. Restrict purchases to fuel only, and make sure drivers keep their PINs secure. It’s also important to regularly review fuel card transactions and verify they match actual vehicle activity; this helps you spot any misuse or suspicious patterns early.
When choosing a business fuel card provider, look for features like PIN protection, the ability to instantly block cards online, and built-in fraud monitoring. Right Fuel Card, for example, includes fraud protection up to £5,000 per account as standard, offering extra peace of mind.
By following these steps and choosing the right provider, you can help prevent fuel card fraud and keep your fleet running smoothly.
Fuel card fraud vs. fuel card misuse: what's the difference?
These two terms get used interchangeably, but they describe different problems with different fixes.
Fuel card fraud (external)
Fraud involves a third party, someone outside your business, gaining unauthorised access to a card or its data. Common forms include:
Skimming and copy-card fraud: a small device installed on a card reader captures the card number and cardholder name during a genuine transaction, and the data is then used to produce a cloned card.
Lost or stolen card fraud: a physical card is stolen and used before it can be reported and blocked.
Shoulder surfing: a criminal watches a driver enter their PIN, or breaks into an unattended vehicle to find written-down PIN and card details, a particular risk for HGV drivers who may leave fuel cards and notes inside the cab.
Phishing: fraudsters impersonate a fuel card provider or retailer to trick a driver or admin into revealing card details online.
Fuel card misuse (internal)
Misuse, sometimes called slippage, involves an authorised cardholder using the card outside agreed policy. It's rarely reported as fraud, but the financial impact is identical. Common forms include:
Personal use: fuelling a personal vehicle, or a family member's vehicle, on the company card.
Non-fuel purchases: buying food, drinks or other forecourt items on a card that should be restricted to fuel.
Off-schedule fuelling: topping up outside working hours, at weekends, or at locations well outside a driver's normal route.
Excess volume: fuel purchases that don't match a vehicle's tank capacity or recent mileage, often a sign a card is being shared or used for a second vehicle.
The distinction matters because the fix is different. Fraud prevention is mostly about card and data security. Misuse prevention is mostly about colleague management policy, limits, and data visibility.
How big a problem is fuel card fraud in the UK?
It's a bigger and more urgent issue than most business owners assume. Research commissioned by Shell's Fraud Matters report found that almost two-thirds (65%) of UK fleet managers now see fuel-related fraud as a major issue for their business, and 48% admit they need to do more to tackle it because Shell's own research suggests closing it could unlock fuel cost savings of more than 5%.
Fuel card fraud also doesn't sit in isolation. According to UK Finance's Annual Fraud Report, total losses from fraud on UK-issued cards reached £572.6 million in 2024, a 4% rise on the previous year, underlining that card fraud as a whole is a growing, not shrinking, threat across every sector, including fleet and fuel.
The risk doesn't start once a card is in a driver's hands, either. Shell has also reported that 25% of fleet managers say fuel card details have been stolen in the post while a card was en route to the customer, meaning some businesses are compromised before they've even used their new card.
Warning signs of fuel card fraud or misuse
Fuel card fraud and misuse can be difficult to spot because they often blend in with normal day-to-day spending.
Individual transactions rarely raise alarms on their own, which is why it’s so important to look at the bigger picture. By regularly reviewing your fuel card statements and keeping these warning signs in mind, you can spot unusual activity much earlier and take action before it impacts your business:
Fill-ups that happen more frequently than a vehicle’s usual routes or shift patterns would require; this could mean someone is filling up another vehicle or using the card for unauthorised fuel purchases.
Fuel volumes that don’t match the vehicle’s tank capacity or recent mileage, such as a single transaction that exceeds what the tank can hold, or fuel use that doesn’t align with distances travelled.
Transactions at fuel stations that your driver doesn’t normally use, or purchases far outside their regular route, could be a sign that a card is being used by someone else.
Purchases made outside working hours, on weekends, or on days when the driver isn’t scheduled to work may indicate personal or unauthorised use.
Multiple fuel purchases made with the same card in a short period of time may suggest the card is being shared or used for unauthorised fill-ups.
Non-fuel items (such as snacks, drinks, or car accessories) showing up on statements for a card that should only be used for fuel is a clear sign of misuse. It's worth mentioning this is very unlikely, as most fuel cards will only allow fuel or mobility transactions.
If you spot any of these warning signs, don’t wait for the next invoice cycle. Block the card immediately, review the transactions, and speak directly with the driver to clarify what happened. Acting quickly can help prevent further losses and shows your team that misuse is taken seriously.
How to avoid fuel card fraud and misuse: 10 practical steps
These measures apply whether you're managing two vans or two hundred. Most take minutes to set up and cost nothing beyond the fuel card itself.
Assign one card to one named driver. Never share cards between drivers or vehicles; a shared card makes it impossible to trace who made a given purchase and removes your ability to spot unusual individual behaviour.
Set daily and per-transaction spend limits. Cap the amount a driver can spend per fill-up and per day, giving enough room for a normal tank but no leeway for excess.
Restrict purchases to fuel only. Where a card supports it, block non-fuel items at the point of sale so a card literally cannot be used to buy food, drinks or cigarettes.
Match fuelling days and times to work schedules. Restrict card use to working hours and normal working days, so a card left in a vehicle overnight can't be used quietly.
Protect PINs properly. PINs should never be written down, shared, or stored inside the vehicle — a habit that's especially common, and especially risky, among HGV drivers.
Use telematics to cross-check transactions. Matching the location and time of every fuel card transaction to the vehicle's actual location closes the gap that most internal misuse relies on.
Review statements regularly, not just at invoice time. Waiting for a monthly statement means a month of undetected loss. Weekly spot-checks catch problems while they're still small.
Have a clear reporting and blocking process. Every driver should know exactly how to report a lost or stolen card, and cards should be blockable online in seconds, not days.
Educate drivers on the specific risks. Most drivers have never heard the term "shoulder surfing" or know what a skimming device looks like. A five-minute briefing closes a real gap.
Choose a provider with built-in fraud protection. Not every fuel card comes with this as standard; check what happens, financially, if fraud does occur despite your precautions.
Fighting fuel card fraud requires the collaboration of all parties, be it the driver checking the card reader for signs of tampering or spotting people acting suspiciously on the fuel station; site staff ensuring that fuel is only dispensed to the vehicle linked to the card being used; fuel retailers ensuring that they have video surveillance and online validation of transactions; fleet managers checking their invoices for unexpected purchases while ensuring that their drivers are keeping their cards and PINs secure at all times; fuel card issuers ensuring that they have the correct prevention measures in place and are working together and with law enforcement to share intelligence and stay one step ahead of the fraudsters.
David James Revenue Director
How Right Fuel Card protects your business
Every card we issue is built around the steps above, not as add-ons but as standard features:
Automatic fraud protection up to £5,000 per account. All our customers get protected through CardSure.
PIN protection on every card, with 24/7 card blocking available online or by phone the moment a card is lost, stolen, or behaving unexpectedly.
Instant online stopping, so a card can be suspended the moment a driver hands in their notice or a card goes missing, cutting off use immediately rather than waiting for a call centre.
Telematics integration that lets you check whether the location and time of every transaction matches the vehicle it's assigned to, turning a monthly guessing game into a five-minute weekly check.
Configurable spend controls, so you can set the daily limits, purchase restrictions and usage rules that fit your fleet, not a generic template.
The role of insurance in protecting your business
Even the best prevention measures can't eliminate risk entirely, which is where insurance provides a second layer of protection. Commercial crime insurance, fraud coverage, and cyber liability insurance can all help offset losses from theft, embezzlement, or fraudulent transactions, and many insurers also offer risk assessments to help identify vulnerabilities before they're exploited.
Insurance won't prevent fraud, but it ensures that if it does occur, your business can recover and continue operating with minimal disruption. It works best alongside the practical steps above, not instead of them.
Frequently asked questions
How can I avoid fraud and misuse when using fuel cards?
Assign one card per driver, set daily and transaction spend limits, restrict purchases to fuel only, protect PINs, use telematics to cross-check transactions against vehicle activity, and choose a provider that includes fraud protection as standard. Regular review of statements, weekly rather than monthly, is what catches most problems early.
What's the difference between fuel card fraud and fuel card misuse?
Fraud involves a third party gaining unauthorised access to a card or its data, such as by skimming, cloning, or using a stolen card. Misuse involves an authorised driver using a legitimate card outside company policy, such as personal fuelling or non-fuel purchases. Both cost money; they require different prevention approaches.
Can a stolen fuel card be used without the PIN?
It depends on the retailer and card type, but PIN protection is one of the strongest deterrents against a lost or stolen card being used fraudulently. This is why PINs should never be written down or stored in the vehicle, and why instant online blocking is important; the faster a card is stopped, the smaller the window of exposure.
What should I do if I suspect fuel card fraud or misuse?
Block the card immediately rather than waiting to investigate first; most providers allow this online or by phone in minutes. Then review recent transactions for the flagged card against vehicle activity or driver schedules, and speak to the driver directly if the card was assigned to one person.
Does Right Fuel Card offer fraud protection?
Yes. Every Right Fuel Card account includes fraud protection up to £5,000 through our CardSure product. This sits alongside PIN protection, 24/7 online card blocking, and telematics integration for transaction verification.
Is fuel card fraud increasing in the UK?
Yes. Shell's Fraud Matters research found 65% of UK fleet managers now see fuel-related fraud as a major issue, and UK Finance's Annual Fraud Report recorded a 4% year-on-year rise in UK card fraud losses. As cashless payments become the default, the opportunity for both external fraud and internal misuse continues to grow, making proactive prevention more important, not less.
Staying protected from fuel card fraud
Fuel card fraud and misuse both pose a real, growing threat to UK businesses, but neither is inevitable. Clear policies, the right spend controls, driver education, and a provider that builds fraud protection in as standard can close most of the gaps fraudsters and careless use rely on. Insurance and regular audits add a further layer, so that if something does slip through, your business isn't left exposed.
Staying protected isn't a one-off task. It's a habit of vigilance, reviewing statements, updating policies as your fleet grows, and choosing tools that make oversight easy, not optional.
About Right Fuel Card
Right Fuel Card is a leading UK business fuel card provider dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes, from sole traders to large fleets, take control of their fuel costs and simplify fuel expense management. With access to over 98% of UK fuel stations, competitive pricing, and HMRC-approved digital invoicing, we make fuel management effortless whilst helping you save money. Our comprehensive service includes detailed online reporting, dedicated customer support, and optional RightProtect legal support for complete peace of mind on the road. Whether you're managing a single vehicle or an entire fleet, Right Fuel Card provides the tools and support you need to operate efficiently and compliantly.
Ready to start saving on fuel costs? Compare fuel cards online to find the perfect solution for your business. It takes just minutes to see how much you could save, and our expert team is ready to help you get started today.
This article was originally written and published on January 15, 2025, and last updated on Thursday, 30th July 2026. All information contained within is correct at the time of writing. We try our best to continue to update our guides, but not all guides are regularly reviewed - for the latest news and insight visit: rightfuelcard.co.uk/news-insights
