Gas is often one of the costliest monthly expenses for an average American, so a Shell Credit Card may seem like the perfect solution. There are two options, the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Card and the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard®, and each offers an automatic discount at participating Shell gas stations. However, they're light on additional perks when compared to the best gas credit cards. Read our full Shell credit card review to figure out if you should apply.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | $200 cash rewardsEarn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | 2% cash rewardsEarn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. | Intro:0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers Regular:20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR | |
Discover it® Cash Back | Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.N/A | 1% - 5% CashbackEarn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. | Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular:18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR | |
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card OnBank of America'sSecure Website. | Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars. 4.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | 25,000 points25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | 1.5 points per dollarEarn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. | Intro:0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days Regular:19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) | Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card OnBank of America'sSecure Website. |
Full Shell Credit Card review
These credit cards are a good fit for: Drivers with lengthy commutes who usually fill up at Shell gas stations.
Pros
- Big fuel discount intro offer
- Automatic savings on Shell fuel purchases
- Purchase rebates
- No annual fee
Cons
- Mediocre ongoing fuel discounts
- Rewards can only be used at Shell
- Low rewards rate
How the Shell Credit Card works
Shell and Citi offer two Shell | Fuel Rewards® Credit Cards together:
- Shell | Fuel Rewards® Card: A closed-loop credit card that only works at Shell.
- Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard®: A credit card that works anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Both cards offer the same discounts at participating Shell locations and include complimentary Fuel Rewards® Gold Status with Shell. They're also both no annual fee credit cards.
There are separate applications available for each card, so you can choose which one to apply for. If you apply for the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® and you don't qualify, you'll also be considered for the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Card.
Top perks
It won't come as a surprise that the gas discounts are the main draw of a Shell Credit Card, but these cards also offer purchase rebates. Here's how these benefits work.
$0.30 off per gallon introductory offer
Both versions of the Shell Credit Card offer savings of $0.30 per gallon on up to 35 gallons, which applies to your first five Shell fuel purchases. The offer is available to new accounts only through Dec. 31, 2023. The five fuel purchases must be made by April 30, 2024.
Although this is a good fuel savings offer, it's worth noting that it doesn't stack up very well to other introductory credit card bonuses. Several no annual fee cards offer sign-up bonuses of $200 or more if you spend enough.
With a Shell Credit Card, you can save up to $10.50 per fuel purchase ($0.30 off per gallon multiplied by the 35-gallon maximum). Spread across five fuel purchases, that's $52.50. To get the full maximum offer, you would likely need to fill up a truck or SUV, or somehow fill up two cars in the same transaction. It's certainly better than nothing, but other top credit cards get you much more back.
COMPARE OFFERS: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards
Save $0.10 per gallon at Shell
After the introductory offer ends, your Shell Credit Card saves you $0.10 per gallon on up to 35 gallons. Technically, the credit card itself saves you $0.05 per gallon. Fuel Rewards® Gold Status, which comes with the card, saves you another $0.05.
That's an important distinction, because you could join the Fuel Rewards® program without a Shell Credit Card. Then, you'd get $0.03 just for being a member or $0.05 by reaching Gold Status. To reach Gold Status, you just have to fill up with 10 gallons or more six times within three months, which isn't a major feat for drivers with lengthy commutes.
Up to 10% back in Shell rebates
The Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® earns:
- 10% in Shell rebates on your first $1,200 in Shell non-fuel purchases per year
- 2% in Shell rebates on your first $10,000 in dining and grocery purchases per year
- 1% in Shell rebates on other qualifying purchases
The Shell | Fuel Rewards® Card also earns 10% on your first $1,200 in yearly non-fuel purchases at Shell. It doesn't offer the other rebates, since it can't be used at non-Shell locations.
Rebates are automatically applied as a statement credit against Shell purchases made with your card in future billing cycles.
What could be improved
There are a few major flaws that you should know about before applying for a Shell Credit Card.
Mediocre ongoing fuel discounts
At first glance, it might seem like $0.10 off per gallon is a good deal, which is why it's important to calculate the actual percentage you're likely to save. For a straightforward example, let's say gas is $5 per gallon. In that case, a $0.10 discount would be 2% off. Some credit cards offer 3% or more cash back on gas purchases. You could potentially come out ahead with one of them, depending on the price of gas.
We also need to take into account that half of the $0.10 savings is because of the Fuel Rewards® Gold Status you get automatically with a Shell card. You could qualify for that status on your own. Even if you don't qualify, you save at least $0.03 per gallon just for being a Fuel Rewards® member. At best, a Shell Credit Card is saving you an extra $0.07 per gallon.
The bottom line is that you could most likely save more at Shell by simply signing up for Fuel Rewards® and paying with another gas credit card. It's worth evaluating how much you'll truly save with different options when choosing a credit card.
Rewards can only be used at Shell
The rebates earned by a Shell Credit Card can only be redeemed towards Shell purchases. That won't be an issue if you visit Shell regularly, but it's still harder to use these rebates than it is to use cash back.
Low rewards rate
Compared to other cards, the Shell cards don't offer much back on your purchases. Although 10% on Shell non-fuel purchases is very high, most consumers won't spend much in this category. The Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® has two bonus categories, dining and groceries, but 2% back isn't a high rate.
To put it into perspective, there are cards that offer 2% cash back across all spending categories. If your goal is maximizing credit card rewards, there are better options available.
SEE TOP PICKS: Best Rewards Credit Cards
Suggested credit score
A FICO® Score of 600 or higher is recommended to apply for a Shell Credit Card. The Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® has stricter approval requirements, and if you're interested in that card, a FICO® Score of 670 or higher is recommended.
These are only guidelines based on the credit scores of approval applicants, and your credit score alone won't guarantee either an approval or a denial. The card issuer evaluates your creditworthiness using a variety of factors.
IMPROVE YOUR ODDS: How to Increase Your Credit Score
A Shell Credit Card is right for you if:
You spend a large part of your monthly budget on gas and you normally choose Shell gas stations.
Before you decide to apply for a Shell Credit Card, make sure to check out more credit card reviews, particularly for gas cards. While this card could work for drivers who stop at Shell stations often, most consumers can get more value from other, more versatile gas credit cards.
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
You can use the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® anywhere Mastercard is accepted. The Shell | Fuel Rewards® Card, on the other hand, can only be used for purchases at Shell locations.
You typically need a FICO® Score of at least 600 to qualify for a Shell Credit Card, or at least 670 to get the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard®. Although your credit score isn't the only thing that matters, most approved applicants have at least fair or good credit.
No, there's no annual fee for a Shell Credit Card.
