ICICI HPCL Super Saver Credit Card
A fuel card that punches above its weight class. The 2.5% effective return on HPCL fuel (reward rate plus surcharge waiver) delivers ₹2,100 in annual benefit at ₹5,000/month HPCL spend — more than double the ₹1,000 fee. Unusually, it also bundles 8 lounge visits, making it the best lounge-to-fee ratio of any ICICI card in its price range.
By Ashutosh · Updated June 2026
The surcharge waiver math: HPCL charges a 1% fuel surcharge (capped at ₹250 per transaction by RBI). On ₹5,000/month fuel spend, the waiver saves ₹50/month or ₹600/year. Add 2.5% reward rate (₹125/month or ₹1,500/year). Total annual benefit from fuel alone: ₹2,100. Against a ₹1,000 fee: 2.1x return. The 8 domestic lounge visits add another ₹5,200 in potential saved lounge fees. If you use even 4 lounges, the total benefit exceeds ₹6,000 on a ₹1,000 card.
A vehicle owner who fills up primarily at HPCL pumps (HP branded petrol stations), spends ₹3,000-10,000/month on fuel, and travels domestically 2-4 times per year wanting lounge comfort.
You predominantly refuel at non-HPCL stations (Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, or private stations) — the 0.25% base rate on non-HPCL spend makes this a poor general card.
2.5% at HPCL (cap ₹200/mo), 0.5% dining/grocery, 0.25% other · 1,000 welcome points
PROS
- Good fuel savings at HPCL
- Decent lounge access
CONS
- Fuel cap at ₹200/month
- Low non-fuel rates
- Only useful at HPCL stations
- HPCL Petrol and Diesel Fill-Ups: 2.5% effective value on HPCL fuel: 2% reward points plus the 1% surcharge waiver that ICICI HPCL cards provide. At ₹5,000/month HPCL fuel spend: ₹100 in reward points plus ₹50 surcharge saved = ₹150/month or ₹1,800/year net benefit. The breakeven fuel spend for covering the ₹1,000 fee is just ₹2,500/month.
- Domestic Airport Lounge Access: 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year through Dreamfolks — one of the strongest lounge benefits at the ₹1,000 fee level. At 2 trips per quarter using 2 lounges per trip (using the allowance strategically), you save ₹5,200 in lounge fees. This benefit alone makes the card worth holding even if your fuel spend is moderate.
- HP Pay App Transactions: Transactions through the HP Pay app (HPCL's digital payment platform) may earn additional rewards or cashback beyond the standard card rate. If your nearest HPCL station uses HP Pay, combining card swipe with HP Pay integration can stack benefits. Verify availability at your local HPCL station.
- Secondary Non-Fuel Spend for Statement Coverage: The 0.25% base rate on non-fuel spend is low, but using this card for small recurring bills (₹2,000-5,000/month) keeps the card active, builds spend history, and potentially helps qualify for fee waiver thresholds without diluting your primary card's category optimization.
If you refuel at BPCL or IOCL stations, this card earns only 0.25% with no surcharge waiver. BPCL SBI card earns 4.25% on BPCL fuel. Even for HPCL alternatives, the Coral (₹500/year) costs less if your fuel spend is below ₹3,000/month.
HPCL Super Saver earns 0.25% on all non-fuel online and offline purchases. Amazon Pay ICICI (free) earns 5% on Amazon and 1% everywhere else. For anyone whose daily spending extends beyond HPCL petrol stations, Amazon Pay ICICI captures 4-20x more value on general purchases.
Super Saver earns 0.25% on food delivery and restaurants. Swiggy HDFC returns 10% on Swiggy orders. At ₹3,000/month on food delivery, the gap is ₹300/month (Swiggy HDFC) versus ₹7.50/month (Super Saver) — a 40x difference.
HPCL Super Saver earns 0.25% on travel bookings. ICICI MMT earns approximately 4% on MakeMyTrip bookings with the same bank (ICICI). If you travel frequently, adding ICICI MMT to your wallet at ₹1,500/year gives a 16x better rate on travel spend.
Super Saver handles all fuel at 2.5% net. Amazon Pay ICICI (free) handles Amazon purchases at 5%. Together, two of the largest spend categories for urban households are covered at just ₹1,000/year total. Simple, effective, no overlap.
Both are ICICI cards — one ICICI Bank app, one rewards points ecosystem. Super Saver covers fuel and lounge (8 visits). MMT covers MakeMyTrip travel at 4% effective rate with its own 8 lounge visits. Together you get 16 lounge visits per year for ₹2,500 annual fee — exceptional lounge-to-fee ratio.
View ICICI MakeMyTrip Credit Card →Super Saver dominates fuel. SBI Cashback (₹999/year) returns 5% on all online purchases directly to your bank account. Two different banks — simplifies rewards tracking. Between the two, fuel at 2.5% and online at 5% — your two highest-frequency spend categories earn strong rewards.
View SBI Cashback Card →Does the 2.5% return on HPCL fuel include the surcharge waiver?
Yes, the effective 2.5% includes both the reward points earned (2%) and the fuel surcharge waiver (approximately 1%, capped per RBI norms at ₹250 per transaction). The net math: on ₹5,000 HPCL fuel: ₹100 reward points + ₹50 surcharge saved = ₹150 total benefit (3% nominal). The ₹2.5% figure represents a more conservative estimate accounting for GST on the surcharge waiver.
Is the surcharge waiver available at all HPCL petrol stations?
The surcharge waiver applies at HPCL stations that accept ICICI credit cards via electronic POS terminals. Cash transactions, wallets, or manually imprinted transactions do not get the waiver. Most modern HPCL stations have POS terminals, but older or rural stations may not. Always ask if the card payment will generate an electronic receipt.
What happens if I fill up at an Indian Oil or BPCL station?
Non-HPCL fuel transactions earn 0.25% reward points only — no surcharge waiver. The 1.8% fuel surcharge applies in full, meaning you are net negative on reward value versus surcharge cost. Always use this card at HPCL stations only, and carry a card with a broader surcharge waiver or better non-fuel earning for other stations.
Is there a monthly cap on the fuel reward rate?
ICICI Bank caps the enhanced fuel reward rate on co-branded fuel cards. The typical cap is ₹250-500 in fuel reward points per month (equivalent to ₹10,000-20,000 in fuel spend). Above the cap, fuel transactions earn the standard base rate. Verify the current cap in ICICI's card benefits document as it may have been updated post-2025.
Can I use HPCL Super Saver for non-fuel purchases without reducing the fuel benefit?
Yes, the fuel reward rate is independent of non-fuel spend. Using the card for non-fuel purchases earns 0.25% separately and does not affect fuel rewards. However, given the low 0.25% non-fuel rate, it is better to use a different card for non-fuel spend and reserve HPCL Super Saver for HPCL transactions only.
How are the 8 lounge visits allocated across the year?
ICICI typically distributes lounge visits as 2 per quarter (calendar quarter). If you use fewer than 2 in Q1, unused visits may or may not roll over — most ICICI co-branded cards do not allow rollover of unused quarterly lounge visits. Check your specific card terms. The visit allowance resets at the start of each quarter.
Is this card better than the SBI BPCL Octane card for fuel?
Depends on your fuel station loyalty. SBI BPCL Octane earns 7.25% on BPCL fuel (among the highest fuel reward rates in India). HPCL Super Saver earns 2.5% on HPCL. If your nearest stations are BPCL, Octane wins on fuel rate. If HPCL, Super Saver wins. Additionally, Super Saver's 8 lounge visits outperform Octane's lounge access at the same fee tier.