Fuel Cards: Comparing diesel and petrol fuel cards
Fuel cards enable your company to save money, streamline your financial administration, speed up VAT calculations, save time for your staff, or all of the above. The engines of your fleet vehicles will dictate your choice between petrol and diesel cards.
Diesel fuel cards
Most commercial vehicles like vans and trucks run on diesel fuel. Diesel engines are more durable and efficient than petrol engines, and diesel fuel has traditionally been cheaper than petrol. But the price of diesel has soared in recent years, forcing many businesses to rethink how they pay their bills. This is one of the reasons that diesel fuel cards have become so popular in recent years.
A diesel fuel card works like a dedicated credit card for vehicle fleets that run on diesel. You enter into a contract with a provider such as Shell, BP, UK Fuels or Bunkercard, and your drivers use the issued diesel cards to fill up their vehicles at designated filling stations around the country. Diesel wholesale prices are fixed each week, as much as 4p per liter below pump prices. You’ll also enjoy access to a network of filling stations, many of which are fully equipped HGV sites.
Petrol fuel cards
If part or all of your fleet run on petrol, then petrol cards are also readily available. Petrol bought with a fuel card is more commonly sold at pump price, but with the advantage that there are more forecourts in the network and therefore greater convenience for drivers. Some fuel card suppliers offer petrol at wholesale rate, but such cards may be limited to fewer filling stations.
Bunker fuel cards
If your business operates a large fleet of commercial vehicles you may have considered bulk fuel storage as a way to guarantee access to fuel at wholesale prices. With this process, a fuel card provider delivers your fuel directly to your site, where you take responsibility for storing it and refueling your vehicles as necessary.
Of course you’ll have to maintain a storage tank and have a transfer system installed on your business premises. And you’ll need to comply with British safety standards. Usually you will need a double-layer tank installed a certain distance away from any type of property. Dispensing equipment must be installed by an Oftec-registered plumber.
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