When you’re deciding on which fuel card is right for your business it’s important to understand the differences (and also the similarities) between them. It’ll help you compare cards with confidence and choose the one that delivers the most relevant benefits to your business.
Vehicle type
Location
Fuel type
The first thing to think about when comparing cards is the type of vehicles that make up your fleet.
Whether you’re a haulage business, have a national sales team or or operate a small mixed fleet, the vehicles you use can help steer your decision-making process.
Haulage presents unique challenges so choosing a card that focuses on HGV-friendly sites can avoid unnecessary logistical issues.
If your fleet is made up primarily of saloon cars then flexibility is key, as drivers in more sales focused roles need the reassurance that their card is accepted everywhere as their travelling schedule can be unpredictable.
If your fleet is made up purely of diesel vehicles working across the country, the versatility of the Allstar Network provides both savings on fuel and an unrivalled network.
This card gives you:
Access to the UK’s largest fuel card network – 90% of fuel sites nationwide
Simple pricing policy based on the price displayed at the fuel station
Savings on every litre at over 1,300 Discount Diesel sites
Simple HMRC-compliant invoicing
The majority of fuel cards are designed for diesel or mixed use but it is becoming more common for companies to have an unleaded-only fleet so this can help you narrow down your options.
You may need to consider whether you would prefer a pump-price or fixed-price card.
If using a pump-price fuel card, you are charged the price shown at a particular station at that time.
With a fixed-price card you will be issued a new fuel price each week and regardless of what the price is at the petrol station you pay the fixed-price. Fixed-prices are typically 2-3 pence per litre below the national average pump prices.
This card gives you:
Access to over 3,000 fuel stations
Fixed weekly competitive price for diesel
The ability to top up the funds on your card easily online
Simple HMRC-compliant invoicing
The area you work in can affect your fuel card choice. If, for example, your business involves drivers travelling the length and breadth of the country, then a card with extensive motorway coverage would be better.
If you work locally, sites such as Shell and Esso are likely to dominate the area. If you work in a rural location Texaco may be the common station. Therefore you would be better opting for a branded fuel card.
To see which sites are in your working area, take a look at our Station Finder.
This card gives you:
Access to over 3,000 fuel stations
Fixed weekly competitive price for diesel
The ability to top up the funds on your card easily online
Simple HMRC-compliant invoicing
By comparing business fuel cards you can find the one that offers the best value for your requirements.
Some fuel cards offer HMRC-compliant invoices meaning no need to keep receipts, some offer discounts on vehicle servicing and repairs whilst others are more widely accepted so it’s important you find the one that’s right for you.
The best way to find the right card for your business is to compare the specific benefits and then you can choose the right business fuel card for you.
