Business fuel cards: how to make the right choice?

While it’s true that that more and more companies opt for these fantastic tools called fuel cards, interested users nonetheless have to carefully think their choice of provider over. Indeed, all cards do not come with the same benefits, don’t cost the same price, and don’t give access to the same networks. When choosing a fuel card, it’s necessary to consider a few aspects before selecting the most suited issuer.

An important criterion concerns the number of petrol stations associated with the card. Some only give access to a regional network of stations, such cards as BP’s Supercharge card may be used in over 7,600 petrol stations all across the UK. With networks this large, you can be sure card holders will be able to use their card anytime to get a refuel. Total’s AS 24 card gives you access to over a thousand petrol stations in 28 European countries.

Edenred-owned The Right Fuelcard company distributes fuel cards for Esso, UK Fuels, Shell, as well as the multi-brand Keyfuel cards which works in over 2,800 filling stations, and the Supermarket Card which works in all refuelling sites by Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s, which can be considered as low-cost petrol stations. This brings us to consider the fuel price aspect: network size is one criterion, but the final price of fuel also is important. Final price because, there’s the price advertised in filling stations, and the discounted price, as some cards give cardholders access to special, permanent discounts, and others do not.

There are other cards on the UK market such as the DKV card, accepted in over 1,800 stations, or the fuelGenie Card, which works in major supermarket chains. When the filling station is smaller, the card may be more expensive, with annual card fees up to £24. 

Choosing the right business fuel card is also about choosing the additional services which meet the needs of your business, in order to make fleet management easier. Some fleet managers will therefore prefer fuel cards which include the payment of parking fees (especially when business trips to city centres are frequent) or the payment of toll fees, others will focus on vehicle upkeep with services such as payment for car wash and some petrol station shop items. Finally, some fleet managers will prefer cards which provide some assistance for the payment of fleet-related taxes.

Relying on Companeo’s expertise to choose your business fuel card is a great way to make an informed and effective choice, as the platform brings your detailed fuel card quotes, sent by the best suppliers on the market.