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Best Amex Card for Gas (2026)

Short answer

No American Express card earns more than 3% on gas. Your two choices are the Blue Cash Preferred (3% at U.S. gas stations with no cap, $95 fee waived the first year) and the Blue Cash Everyday (3% at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000/year, then 1%, with no annual fee). The Amex Gold and Platinum earn only 1x on gas. If you want 5% on gas, you need a non-Amex card.

American Express is a strong cash-back issuer, but gas has never been its specialty. Only the two Blue Cash cards carry a gas bonus, and both top out at 3%. This guide compares every Amex card you might consider for fuel and shows where each one fits.

Every Amex Card's Gas Rate Compared

Amex CardGas rateGas capAnnual feeBest for
Blue Cash Preferred3%No cap on gas$95 ($0 first year)Families combining gas with the 6% U.S. supermarket rate
Blue Cash Everyday3%Up to $6,000/yr, then 1%$0No-fee gas plus 3% supermarkets and 3% U.S. online retail
Amex Gold1x (no gas bonus)n/a$325Dining and U.S. supermarkets, not gas
Amex Platinum1x (no gas bonus)n/aPremium travel cardFlights and travel perks, not gas

Rates from American Express public card disclosures, verified June 2026. Welcome offers vary by applicant.

The Only Two Amex Cards That Earn on Gas

Blue Cash Preferred

3% gas, no cap

  • Fee: $95 (waived the first year)
  • Also earns: 6% U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000/yr), 6% select streaming, 3% transit
  • Welcome offer: up to $300 after $3,000 spend in 6 months

Best for families who pair gas with heavy supermarket spending. On gas alone the $95 fee is hard to justify.

Read the full BCP gas analysis →

Blue Cash Everyday

3% gas, $0 fee

  • Fee: $0
  • Gas cap: 3% on up to $6,000/yr in gas, then 1%
  • Also earns: 3% U.S. supermarkets, 3% U.S. online retail (each up to $6,000/yr)
  • Welcome offer: up to $200 after $2,000 spend in 6 months

The better Amex choice for gas-focused drivers: same 3% rate, no annual fee. The $6,000 gas cap only bites above $500/month in fuel.

Want More Than 3%? Look Beyond Amex

If maximizing gas rewards is the goal, no Amex card will get you there. The top gas rates come from other issuers:

  • Sam's Club Mastercard – 5% on gas up to $6,000/year (Sam's Club membership required).
  • PenFed Platinum Rewards – 5x points (about 4.25% in travel value) with no cap.
  • Costco Anywhere Visa – 5% at Costco gas, 4% other gas, up to $7,000/year combined.

The Citi Custom Cash earned 5% on gas as a chosen category but closed to new applications on May 28, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Amex card for gas?+
The Blue Cash Preferred is the best American Express card for gas: it earns 3% at U.S. gas stations with no cap, though it carries a $95 annual fee (waived the first year). If you want to avoid the fee, the Blue Cash Everyday earns the same 3% at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year (then 1%) with no annual fee. No other Amex card earns a bonus on gas.
Does the Amex Gold or Platinum earn bonus rewards on gas?+
No. Neither the Amex Gold nor the Amex Platinum has a gas bonus category, so both earn only 1x Membership Rewards points per dollar at gas stations. The Gold is built around 4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000/year); the Platinum is a travel card. For gas, the Blue Cash Preferred or Blue Cash Everyday are the cards to use.
Is any Amex card 5% on gas?+
No. The highest gas rate on any American Express card is 3%, on the Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday. If you want 5% on gas, you need a non-Amex card such as the Sam's Club Mastercard (5% up to $6,000/year, membership required) or the PenFed Platinum Rewards (5x points, roughly 4.25% in travel value, no cap). The Citi Custom Cash also earned 5% but closed to new applicants on May 28, 2026.
Blue Cash Preferred vs Blue Cash Everyday for gas: which wins?+
Both earn 3% on gas, so on gas alone the no-fee Blue Cash Everyday wins because it has no annual fee. The Preferred pulls ahead only when you also use its higher 6% U.S. supermarket rate (vs 3% on the Everyday) and 6% select streaming. If your household spends heavily at supermarkets, the Preferred's extra grocery rewards can outweigh its $95 fee. If gas is your main goal, the Everyday is the better Amex choice.

Reviewed by Oliver Wakefield-Smith. Card terms from American Express public disclosures, verified June 2026. Welcome offers vary by applicant and may not be available to everyone.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred for Gas

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Updated 2026-06-15