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The Shell Fuel Rewards® Card is a credit card issued by CitiBank that gives cardholders an opportunity to save on Shell purchases through rewards and rebates. It’s a great option for people looking to save big on gas while benefiting from a few other saving opportunities. This card is exclusively for Shell locations and does not double as a normal credit card.
Its $0 annual fee and a generous welcome offer make signing up for the Shell Fuel Rewards® Card quite inviting. However, it also comes with a high APR of 26.49% (variable), which means it could end up being quite an expensive card to own if you don’t pay back your purchases each month.
Quick Review
The Shell Fuel Rewards® Card offers a good selection of rewards that make filling up your tank a little more affordable. Here’s what you can save:
- 30¢/gallon for up to 35 gallons on your first 5 Shell fuel purchases
- 10¢/gallon for up to 35 gallons for all other fuel purchases
- 10% Shell rebates on Shell non-fuel purchases (up to $1,200 a year)
This may not seem like very many rewards, but keep in mind that the Shell Fuel Rewards® Card is just for Shell purchases. You’re not going to get rewards or cashback with every single purchase like you would with a standard credit card.
At 10 cents a gallon with a 35 gallon maximum, you have the ability to save as much as $3.50 everytime you pump.
You also get 10% Shell rebates on all other Shell non-fuel purchases for up to $1,200 a year. This could include grabbing a snack, or even a lottery ticket if you’re feeling lucky. If you spend $100 or less every month on Shell store purchases, you should be able to save 10% every time you buy something.
Shell Fuel Rewards® Card Important Details
Basic Card Details
- Credit card issuer: Citibank
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase APR: 26.49% (variable)
- Fuel rewards rate: 10¢/gallon (35 gallon limit)
- Non-fuel rewards rate: 10% rebate
- Welcome bonus: 30¢/gallon for first 5 fill-ups (35 gallon limit)
Additional Information
- Citibank reports to the three major credit bureaus
- Rewards apply to all Shell-branded fuels
- Rewards do not apply to non-Shell branded fuel sold at Shell locations
- 25-day grace period
Shell Fuel Rewards® Card Feature Breakdown
Here’s a breakdown of the Shell Fuel Rewards® Card’s terms, features, and benefits.
Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Cash advance fee: $10 or 5% (whichever is greater)
- Late payment fee: Up to $40
Interest Rates
- Purchase APR: 26.49% (variable)
- Cash advance APR: 29.95% (variable)
The Shell Fuel Rewards® Card’s purchase APR is still incredibly high at 26.49% (variable). This means you must be very diligent about paying off your credit card, otherwise you’ll end up with high interest charges.
Credit Score Required
You will need a “fair” or higher credit score to qualify for the Shell Fuel Rewards® Card. This means your credit score should be at least 580. For a rewards card, this requirement is fairly low, making theShell Fuel Rewards® Card one of the best gas cards for lower credit scores available.
We recommend checking your credit score independently first to see if you qualify before applying for this card. A hard inquiry will need to be conducted to determine if you meet the requirements, and you don’t want to bring your credit score down a few points if it’s not worth it.
Rewards
The Shell Fuel Rewards® Card has opportunities to save with every fuel and some non-fuel purchases at participating Shell locations.
Here’s how this credit card works:
- Save 10¢/gallon on fuel purchases (up to 35 gallons)
- Get 10% back on non-fuel purchases at Shell locations (up to $1,200 a year)
The rewards for this credit card are easy to understand and all savings are applied automatically, so there’s no need to worry about activating any offers. While the 10 cents off each gallon offer may not seem like very much, it can add up over time if you drive often.
The $0 annual fee means that there’s no spending requirement to break even and begin saving. Every gallon purchased from day one is at least 10 cents saved.
Rewards Redemption
You get 10% back when you spend up to $1,200 a year on non-fuel purchases at participating Shell locations. These rebates are automatically credited against Shell purchases during the next billing cycle.
This is the ideal rewards redemption plan since it requires no planning and you don’t need to remember to redeem any points, cashback, or savings for future purchases or credit statements.
Welcome Bonus
As a welcome bonus, you get 30¢/gallon off for your first 5 fuel purchases before it reverts to the standard 10¢/gallon off rate.
That means you can save up to $10.50 on each of your first 5 gas purchases. Make sure to take advantage of this deal and fill your tank when you first open the card.
Cash Advance
The Shell Fuel Rewards® Card permits cash advances, so you can withdraw cash from an ATM or money order using this credit card. But with a cash advance fee or $10 or 5% and APR nearing 30%, we only recommend using this service in emergencies.
Use your debit card as a more affordable and reliable method to withdraw cash from an ATM.
Credit Reporting
The Shell Fuel Rewards® Card is issued by CitiBank, which means you’ll benefit from its credit reporting. CitiBank reports to the three major credit bureaus, which helps your credit score stay up to date.
Authorized Users
Authorized users are allowed on the Shell Fuel Rewards® Card, but they won’t be responsible for paying off any charges.
When deciding whether to add another person onto your card, make sure you both have a clear understanding regarding how you will use and pay off the card together.
Customer Service
If you want to speak directly to CitiBank regarding the Shell Fuel Rewards® Card, you can call these contact numbers:
Customer service for existing accounts:
(800) 331-3703
Apply for a Shell credit card:
(877) 697-4355
Should You Get the Shell Fuel Rewards® Card?
FinanceJar verdict
We would recommend this card for people with lower credit scores looking for ways to save a little at Shell locations. However, there are plenty of other credit cards on the market that offer better cashback and rewards for gas and transportation purchases, though they’re largely available to borrowers with good-to-excellent credit.
The Shell Fuel Rewards® Card requires a relatively low credit score and has a $0 annual fee, so it’s a low-risk card to own––provided you always pay it off on time, of course.
Who is this card for?
- Commuters looking to save on fuel: Given that there’s no annual fee and 10 cents off per gallon, this card would be great for people who spend an hour or more driving everyday.
- Roadtrippers: The 10% rebate on non-fuel purchases mean that roadtrippers can also save on snack and other convenience purchases as they hit the road.
Comparable Cards
Here’s how the Shell Fuel Rewards® Card compares to other cards on the market.
