Fuel Cards Which is Best

Which fuel card is best?

Q: Which fuel card is best?

The best fuel card depends on your fleet size, routes, and network needs. Allstar is the most widely accepted multi-network card in the UK with over 7,500 sites. Shell and BP cards suit fleets that predominantly use those branded networks. Always compare network coverage, pricing models, and fees before choosing.

CheckFuelPrices Editorial Expert Written • 5 industry sources

Reviewed by Jonathan Mathews VERIFIED

LinkedIn Articles 5+ Yrs Peer Reviewed

There is no single best fuel card — the right choice depends on your fleet size, where your drivers refuel, and what reporting features you need. Allstar is the most widely accepted multi-network card in the UK, while Shell and BP cards suit fleets that already use those branded networks heavily.

What Makes a Fuel Card 'Best' for Your Business

Network coverage: The most important factor is whether the card is accepted at the stations your drivers actually use. Multi-network cards like Allstar cover thousands of UK sites including supermarkets and independents. 2

Pricing model: Some cards offer a fixed weekly pump price, others pass through the pump price at the point of fill. Fixed-price cards can save money when retail prices are high but cost more when prices drop. 5

VAT reclaim and reporting: All major fuel cards produce HMRC-compliant VAT invoices, which simplifies VAT reclaim for businesses. Detailed per-driver and per-vehicle reporting is a key advantage over cash or credit card payments. 2

Leading UK Fuel Cards Compared

Allstar: Allstar is one of the UK's largest fuel card networks, accepted at over 7,500 sites. It suits mixed fleets that need flexibility across branded and unbranded stations. 2

Shell Fleet Card: Shell's fleet card is best suited to businesses whose drivers regularly use Shell stations. It offers access to Shell's premium fuels and detailed mileage reporting tools. 3

BP Fuel Card: BP's fleet card covers BP and partner sites and includes telematics-ready reporting. It is a strong choice for fleets operating mainly on motorways and major A-roads where BP sites are common. 4

Key Questions to Ask Before Choosing

How many vehicles do you run?: Smaller fleets of one to five vehicles may find a multi-network card like Allstar more practical than a branded card with fewer accepted sites. 5

Do your drivers have fixed routes?: If your drivers follow predictable routes, a branded card covering stations along those routes may offer better pricing. Variable or long-distance routes favour wider network cards.

Watch out for fees: Some cards charge monthly management fees, transaction fees, or card replacement fees. Always compare the total cost of ownership, not just the headline pump price discount. 5

Monitor Live Pump Prices Alongside Your Fuel Card

Validate your card's pricing: Even with a fuel card, knowing the live pump price at nearby stations helps you verify whether your card's fixed or negotiated rate is genuinely competitive. 1

CheckFuelPrices covers 4,000+ UK stations: Use CheckFuelPrices to check live petrol and diesel prices in any area, updated every 30 minutes using CMA government open data — useful for fleet managers benchmarking costs. 1