Business gas cards, also known as fuel cards, are used by businesses to refuel tanks at specific fuel stations. Various card providers issue these cards that come with different fueling networks. Some networks may be limited to a particular area, while others may be available nationally. Businesses need to carefully consider their requirements and options before making an informed decision. Some card providers may even offer discounts, rewards, roadside assistance, and other similar perks to the fleet members.

Consider data collection
Choosing the right business gas card can give the individual access to monitor and track the purchases of others in their fleet. Look for a card that allows businesses to collect this data, as this information can help organizations understand their fuel expenditure better and optimize them. The data may contain factors like price per gallon of fuel, refueling location, and type of fuel purchased. These patterns can help optimize individual fleet members’ spending habits and improve the business’s savings ability.

Limited spendings
Business owners can look for gas cards that let them control the purchasing power of their drivers. Fleet managers or businesses can set limits for each member and ensure they are each assigned a unique pin that will be used for their purchases. These measures can also prevent the misuse of the cards. Alerts are sent to the user when one tries to use the card beyond the purchase limit. Businesses can look at options that let them set limits for each driver for a day, week, or year.

Online access
Businesses no longer need to worry about writing down driver records and keeping a stack of paper receipts for proof. Selecting the right fleet card can provide business owners with the required information at their fingertips. Thanks to the online availability of data, record-keeping is fairly convenient. Additionally, no one needs to rush to their office and flip open a large log book for verification. With the help of mobile and online access, fleet managers can easily deal with any problem on the go.

Easy notifications
Another feature to look for when selecting the right business gas card is the alert/notification feature. It is recommended to choose a card that provides instant alerts to the fleet manager in case of any transactional issues. This would include situations where the driver tries to make a purchase beyond their set purchase limit or when they face problems with the PIN. 

Location convenience
Another thing that sets fuel cards apart from each other is their network locations. Remember to short list a business gas card that comes with a wide network of fueling locations. The card needs to be active across the country and various fuel stations. Therefore, look for cards that can be used at convenience and not restricted to a small number of locations. There are also some universal fuel cards that can be used by fleets that operate in various parts of the country. This will save fleet members time and energy by helping them find nearby locations easily.

Cross-check the geographic locations and reach of the card against the fleet to verify whether the card will be beneficial for the business. Some card providers can also offer discounts owing to their partnerships with certain fuel stations. One might also need to consider if they refuel at the said stations or if they are paying extra for perks that are not beneficial.

Look for great customer service
A reliable service is an essential aspect when choosing a business gas card for fleet members. This factor should not be limited to the sales term but should extend to after-sales customer service as well. It is important to look for programs that offer driver support and can assist business owners or fleet managers whenever required. No business wants their drivers or process to suffer, especially due to something as trivial as fuel requirements. Therefore, it is essential to find quick and efficient solutions to solve any issues that may arise.

Identify requirements
Business owners need to think about the basic requirements of their business before considering specifics. These considerations include average fuel consumption, fleet size, monthly required coverage, and preferred fuel locations. These factors will help analyze the features and benefits that the business requires. Different business models would require cards with varying benefits. For example, fleets with limited operating area might not require larger refueling amounts. On the other hand, fleets operating across the country would need cards that are easily acceptable nationwide.

Learn about the restrictions
Before selecting a card, carefully review the usage, terms and conditions, and the restrictions of signing up for the card. Some card providers would restrict the types of fuels for use. On the other hand, some card providers might set a cap on the total amount of fuel the fleet can purchase. Some might add the clause of limit on time and fuel amount purchased within that period. In this case, business owners need to consider the average amount of fuel their fleet requires on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis so that they are not stuck with restrictive cards.