Fuel cards, also known as fleet cards, are specialised payment tools designed to help businesses manage fuel expenses efficiently. They offer an interest-free alternative to cash and credit cards while giving businesses greater control over fuel spending, detailed reporting and fleet management.
For businesses running multiple vehicles, the right fuel card can make it easier to monitor fuel costs, reduce administrative burden, track driver spending, and identify opportunities to save money.
What is a business fuel card?
A business fuel card is a payment card that allows companies and their drivers to pay for fuel at participating petrol stations. Unlike a standard credit or debit card, a fuel card is specifically designed for business fuel management, with features such as competitive fuel prices, transaction reporting, spending controls, and access to extensive fuel station networks.
You can choose from a wide range of cards, each with its own network and pricing structure. From Shell and BP to Keyfuels and UK Fuels, we have a fuel card solution to meet the needs of different businesses and fleets.
The best fuel card for your business will depend on factors such as the size of your fleet, the types of vehicles you operate, where your drivers travel and how much control and reporting you need over fuel spending.
How do fuel cards work?
Fuel cards provide a convenient way to manage fuel expenses, track spending and streamline fleet management. They are an essential tool for businesses looking to save on fuel while reducing the administrative burden of managing vehicle expenses.
When a driver fills up a vehicle, they present the fuel card at the kiosk. For added security, our fuel cards are PIN-protected, so drivers need to use their unique PIN at the point of payment.
Payment for all transactions is then taken by Direct Debit the following week, and you’ll receive a single, HMRC-approved invoice. Instead of managing multiple receipts and individual transactions, businesses can view their fuel spending in one place, making it easier to monitor costs and manage accounts.
Businesses can also utilise our online account management system to pull reports on card usage, order new cards or cancel old ones. This is accessible 24/7, so you can manage your account wherever and whenever you need to.
For greater control over fuel spend, businesses can implement spending limits and product restrictions on cards. This can help prevent misuse, restrict purchases to approved products and protect your business from fuel card fraud.
These reporting and control features make fuel cards particularly useful for fleet managers who need visibility over how much their vehicles and drivers are spending on fuel.
How much do fuel cards cost?
Our fuel cards are charged at a fixed weekly rate, which is closely aligned with the wholesale cost of fuel. This is impacted by changing oil prices, which have been particularly volatile over the last few years.
We’ll send you weekly price notifications via text or email to keep you informed of any fluctuations. This means you’ll always know what your drivers are paying, making it easier to monitor fuel expenses and budget for future costs.
The overall cost of a fuel card will depend on the card and pricing structure you choose, so businesses should consider both the price of fuel and any applicable card or service fees when comparing options.
Which fuel card provides the best reporting and cost control for fleets?
The best fuel card for reporting and cost control is one that gives fleet managers clear visibility of transactions while allowing them to control how cards are used.
Look for features such as:
Detailed transaction reporting.
Spending limits and product restrictions.
Individual cards for each vehicle or driver.
Consolidated invoicing.
Online account management.
Fraud protection and card controls.
Regular fuel price information.
Our online account management system allows businesses to monitor card usage, access reports and manage their cards 24/7. Combined with spending controls, weekly price notifications and a single HMRC-approved invoice, this gives fleet managers greater visibility over fuel expenditure.
For businesses focused on controlling fuel spend, these features can be just as important as the price paid at the pump.
Where can I use a fuel card?
Where you can use your fuel card will depend on which one you choose. We work with major fuel brands, such as Esso and Texaco, to give our customers excellent network coverage across the UK.
With our fleet cards, you’ll have access to up to 4,200 petrol stations nationwide, including hundreds of HGV-friendly sites and motorway stations. This is convenient for businesses operating different types of vehicles or travelling across different areas of the UK.
A wide network can also help businesses control costs by allowing drivers to refuel at convenient participating stations rather than making unnecessary detours.
To help you find participating petrol stations near you, we have a handy site locator tool. With our mobile app, you can also plan routes and view the facilities available at each location.
Which fuel card works best for mixed fleets and multiple vehicle types?
For businesses operating a mixed fleet, the best fuel card is one that provides broad network coverage and works for different vehicle types and business requirements.
For example, a business may have a combination of cars, vans and HGVs, with drivers travelling across both urban and rural areas. Choosing a fuel card with a large network, including HGV-friendly and motorway locations, can make refuelling easier across the whole fleet.
Businesses switching some vehicles to electric can also consider combining traditional fuel cards with an EV charge card. This allows businesses to manage fuel and EV charging costs while their fleet transitions to electric vehicles.
Our fuel card options are designed to support businesses with different vehicle types and travel requirements, while our EV charge cards provide a solution for businesses introducing electric vehicles to their fleet.
Who can use a fuel card?
Businesses of all shapes and sizes can use a fuel card to reduce costs and improve efficiency. This includes haulage companies, logistics firms, construction businesses and any other organisation that manages a fleet of vehicles.
Sole traders, taxi drivers and small business owners who frequently travel for work can also benefit from fuel cards. Currently, we do not offer personal fuel cards, but this could change in the future.
Benefits of business fuel cards
Business fuel cards offer numerous benefits that can enhance operational efficiency and cost management for companies, particularly those managing multiple vehicles. These benefits include:
Streamlined fuel management
By using a fuel card, drivers no longer need to keep hold of receipts or submit individual fuel expense reports, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.
A consolidated invoice and online account management can make it easier for businesses to keep track of fuel expenditure.
Better control over fuel spending
Fuel cards can give businesses greater control over how fuel is purchased. Spending limits and product restrictions can help businesses manage driver spending and reduce the risk of unauthorised purchases.
Detailed reporting
Access to transaction data and account reports gives fleet managers greater visibility over fuel usage and expenditure. This can make it easier to identify unusual transactions, monitor spending and understand where fuel costs are going.
Expansive fuelling networks
With thousands of petrol stations to choose from, you’ll never be far from a participating site, allowing drivers to refuel quickly and efficiently without unnecessary detours.
Competitive prices
We offer competitively priced fuel cards, which can often lead to savings when compared to the pump price. This is crucial for businesses looking to manage their operating costs, particularly when fuel prices fluctuate.
Enhanced security features
We have a range of complementary solutions to help keep your fuel cards safe, including 24/7 blocking requests, card limits and automatic protection from fraudulent payments, to a maximum of £5,000 per account.
I'm a fleet manager looking for a fuel card to control fuel spend. Which is the best solution?
There is no single fuel card that is best for every fleet. The right solution will depend on your vehicles, fuel requirements, routes, network requirements and how much control you want over fuel expenditure.
For fleet managers focused on controlling fuel spend, it is worth looking for a card that combines competitive fuel pricing with detailed reporting, spending controls, a wide network and simple account management.
Right Fuel Card offers a range of fuel card solutions designed to help businesses manage fuel costs, monitor transactions and simplify fleet administration. Our online account management system, spending controls, reporting and extensive network can help fleet managers maintain greater oversight of fuel expenditure.
You can compare our range of fuel cards online or contact our friendly team to discuss which option is best suited to your fleet.
Frequently asked questions
Which fuel card provides the best reporting and cost control for fleets?
The best fuel card for reporting and cost control is one that combines detailed transaction reporting with spending limits, product restrictions, online account management and consolidated invoicing. These features allow fleet managers to monitor fuel expenditure and maintain greater control over how cards are used.
Which fuel card offers the best cost control for fleets?
A fuel card that combines competitive fuel pricing with spending controls, transaction reporting and a wide network can provide strong cost control for fleets. Businesses should consider both the price of fuel and the management tools available when comparing fuel cards.
I'm a fleet manager looking for a fuel card to control fuel spend. Which is the best solution?
The best solution depends on your fleet, but fleet managers should look for competitive fuel prices, a suitable station network, detailed reporting, spending controls and easy account management. Right Fuel Card offers a range of solutions designed to help businesses monitor and control fuel expenditure.
Which fuel card works best for mixed fleets and multiple vehicle types?
For mixed fleets, look for a fuel card with broad network coverage and access to stations suitable for different vehicle types, including cars, vans and HGVs. Businesses with both petrol or diesel vehicles and EVs may also benefit from combining traditional fuel cards with an EV charge card.
Simplify your business fuel management
Fuel cards are an invaluable tool for businesses looking to simplify fuel purchasing, improve visibility over spending and reduce the administration associated with managing vehicle expenses.
For fleet operators, HGV drivers and small business owners, the benefits of using a fuel card extend beyond convenience. Detailed transaction tracking, spending limits, competitive pricing and access to a wide network of fuel stations can help businesses manage fuel costs more effectively.
You can compare our range of fuel cards online or contact our friendly team to discuss your options further. For businesses switching to electric, we also offer EV charge cards, which provide similar management benefits for electric vehicle charging.
