Best Credit Card for Fuel / Petrol in India (2026)
Almost every credit card in India excludes fuel from rewards. Here are the rare exceptions.
Fuel is the most excluded category in Indian credit cards. HDFC, ICICI, SBI — nearly all major banks give 0% rewards on fuel transactions. The best most cards offer is a fuel surcharge waiver (saving 1% on the ₹500-₹3,000 transaction range).
But two cards actually earn meaningful rewards at the pump.
All cashback figures below are calculated at ₹5,000/month spend in this category, using our cap-aware calculator that accounts for monthly limits and fallback rates.
Our Picks
5% on fuel is extraordinary — most cards give literally 0%. The 5,000 pts/month cap (shared with groceries) limits beneficial fuel spend, but any fuel reward is better than none.
If fuel is your top spending category, OneCard's algorithm may select it for 5x points (~1%). Not guaranteed, but one of the few cards that can earn anything on fuel.
While Axis ACE officially excludes fuel from cashback, the 1.5% base rate may apply depending on the fuel station MCC. Plus fuel surcharge waiver on ₹400-₹5,000 transactions.
Cap: ₹500/mo (you're under it)
RBL ShopRite is the only card worth getting specifically for fuel rewards at 5%. If fuel is a major expense (₹5K+/month), ShopRite earns ₹250/month that you'd get nowhere else. Pair it with any general card for non-fuel spending.
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Try Smart Swipe →❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why do cards exclude fuel?+
Fuel margins are razor-thin (1-2%), and interchange fees are low on fuel transactions. Banks earn almost nothing when you swipe at a petrol pump, so they exclude fuel from rewards to protect their economics.
What's a fuel surcharge waiver?+
Petrol pumps charge 1% extra for card payments (fuel surcharge). Many cards waive this on transactions between ₹400-₹5,000. This saves you 1% but doesn't earn additional cashback.
Should I pay for fuel with a credit card?+
Yes, even without cashback. Fuel surcharge waivers save 1%, you get a 20-50 day payment float, and the transaction builds your credit score. Use RBL ShopRite for actual cashback, or any card with surcharge waiver for the basic benefit.