Buy Prepaid Gasoline Cards

Gasoline Cards

Gasoline cards are similar to gift cards for retailers or prepaid debit cards. When you buy prepaid gasoline cards you place a balance on the card and then can use it when you fill your car up at the gas station. When your balance runs out, the card cannot be used again unless you replenish the balance. There is no revolving balance on the card, so no credit is extended. You can’t go into debt with a prepaid card like you can with a traditional gas credit card.

Buy Prepaid Gasoline Cards at Stations

Most gas stations sell prepaid gas cards at station locations. You can usually find these cards up at the counter where the cashier stands, or sometimes the cards are available at a kiosk within the store. If you don’t see the cards in the gas station, ask the cashier for help. Not every gas station offers prepaid gas cards, so there is a chance that if you don’t see the cards then they may not be offered.

Other Retailers

A popular trend among grocery stores and other retailers is to offer a wide variety of prepaid cards to customers. The prepaid cards extend beyond cards specifically for the store, but can include gas station cards as well as several other types of cards. Usually the only cost associated with purchasing a card through a merchant is the cost of the balance you place on the card, but read the terms of the purchase before you buy. You don’t want to wind up paying a hefty fee for the mere privilege of buying a prepaid card.

Buy Gas Cards Online

The Internet is a great resource for buying prepaid gasoline cards, but you must use caution. There are plenty of websites which allow companies and individuals to sell prepaid cards at a reduced cost. Look for a site that offers some sort of guarantee so you don't wind up buying a card that doesn’t have the advertised balance available, or has no available balance at all.

Here is a brief listing of websites which offer prepaid gasoline cards:

• Arco offers prepaid gas cards for use at all participating Arco stations. You can buy bulk cards through this website for promotional or business use, or you can buy one card for individual use.
• ExxonMobil offers cards that can be used at any of the thousands of affiliate stations throughout the country.
• Shell offers gift cards that can be used for both gasoline purchases as well as purchases within Shell convenience stores.
• Surprise.com offers a long list of prepaid gas cards from several different providers.

You can alternatively purchase a prepaid debit card and use it for gasoline purchases, but many prepaid debit cards won’t work at the pump so you will have to pay inside the station.

Prepaid Gas Card Membership Programs

Gas membership programs offered online are different from regular prepaid gas cards. In order to obtain a card through one of these programs you have to pay a membership fee, which is sometimes a one-time or annual fee, depending on the program.

After paying the membership fee, you’re allowed to purchase prepaid gas cards at reduced cost. For example, you might buy a prepaid gas card with a face value of $200, but you only have to pay $150. Before signing up for one of these programs make sure that the card you purchase will actually work at your local gas station, otherwise the program will be of no value to you.

Fees

A prepaid gas card can be a great budgeting tool or a fantastic gift, but make sure the card you buy isn’t riddled with fees.