Best Fuel Credit Cards in India 2026
Oil-company co-branded cards and fuel surcharge waivers compared — how much you really save per litre and where the monthly caps bite.
Updated 28 September 2026 · 107 cards from 17 issuers trackedWhat you need to know
Every card payment at a fuel pump attracts a 1% surcharge, and most cards waive it only on transactions between about ₹400 and ₹4,000–₹5,000, with a monthly cap. Fuel credit cards co-branded with IndianOil, BPCL or HPCL go further, returning 4% to 8.5% of fuel spend as points or cashback at that company’s outlets. The catch is the monthly cap: on several cards the benefit stops after ₹3,000–₹13,000 of fuel a month.
- The 1% surcharge waiver is separate from rewards; the 18% GST charged on the surcharge is generally not refunded.
- Most general-purpose cards give no reward points on fuel at all.
- HDFC Bank charges a 1% fee on fuel transactions above ₹15,000 a month (from 1 July 2025), capped at ₹4,999 a month.
Fuel cards compared
| Card | Issuer | Joining / annual fee | Fuel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Bank RuPay Select | Union Bank of India | Free / ₹550 | 1% up to Rs 100 per billing cycle | Low-fee RuPay card with lounge and UPI |
| IndianOil RBL Bank XTRA | RBL Bank | ₹1,500 / ₹1,500 | 1% waiver up to Rs200/month | IndianOil fuel spends |
| Union Bank VISA Signature | Union Bank of India | Free / ₹1,999 | 1% up to Rs 100 per billing cycle | Flat 1% value rewards |
| PNB LUXURA RuPay Metal | Punjab National Bank | ₹9,000 / ₹7,500 | 1% (min Rs 12.50) waiver, max Rs 350/cycle | High spenders wanting zero forex and unlimited lounge |
| IndianOil HDFC Bank | HDFC Bank | ₹500 / ₹500 | 1% waiver at all fuel stations (min Rs 400), max Rs 250/mon… | Regular IndianOil fuel buyers with modest spends |
| Canara Bank RuPay Select | Canara Bank | Free / Free | 1% on Rs 400-2,500, max Rs 100/cycle | Lifetime-free RuPay card with lounge access for Canara customers; UPI… |
| IndianOil Kotak | Kotak Mahindra Bank | ₹449 / ₹449 | 1% waiver on Rs 100-5,059 at IndianOil, max Rs 100/cycle | IndianOil fuel spenders |
| ICICI Bank HPCL Super Saver | ICICI Bank | ₹500 / ₹500 | 1% surcharge waiver at HPCL (up to Rs 4,000 spend/month) | HPCL fuel buyers who also pay utility bills on card |
| Union UNI-CARBON | Union Bank of India | ₹499 / ₹550 | 1% on Rs 200+ at HPCL, max Rs 100/cycle | HPCL fuel spenders |
| Kotak Cashback+ | Kotak Mahindra Bank | ₹750 / ₹750 | 1% waiver on Rs 500-4,000 transactions, max Rs 3,500/year | Online food/grocery and OTT spenders |
| HPCL BOBCARD ENERGIE | Bank of Baroda (BOBCARD) | ₹499 / ₹499 | Up to 6.5% savings at HPCL incl. 1% surcharge waiver (max R… | HPCL fuel spenders |
| BPCL SBI Card Octane | SBI Card | ₹1,499 / ₹1,499 | 1% waiver at BPCL on up to Rs 4,000/transaction, max Rs 100… | High fuel spenders at BPCL pumps |
| IndianOil Axis Bank | Axis Bank | ₹500 / ₹500 | 1% waiver on Rs 400-4,000 transactions | IndianOil fuel buyers wanting a RuPay card |
| HSBC Visa Platinum | HSBC India | Free / Free | Waiver up to Rs250/month + Rs250 cashback on Rs10,000 quart… | Lifetime-free starter card |
| Canara Bank Visa Platinum | Canara Bank | Free / Free | 1% surcharge reimbursed, max Rs 100/month | No-fee Visa card for Canara customers with lounge access |
| IDBI Bank Aspire Platinum | IDBI Bank | Free / Free | 1% on Rs 400-4,000, max Rs 300/month | No-fee everyday card |
| IDBI Bank Imperium Platinum | IDBI Bank | ₹499 / ₹499 | 1% on Rs 400-4,000, max Rs 300/month | Secured card against FD (min Rs 20,000; limit up to 85% of FD) |
| IDBI Bank Winnings RuPay Select | IDBI Bank | Free / ₹899 | 1% on Rs 400-4,000, max Rs 400/month | RuPay card with lounge access and UPI |
| IDBI Bank Royale Signature | IDBI Bank | Free / — | 1% fuel surcharge waiver | Mid-tier rewards |
Where the monthly caps bite
| Card | Fuel earn rate | Monthly cap | Benefit stops at roughly |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPCL SBI Card Octane | 25 RP per ₹100 at BPCL (7.25% value-back incl. waiver) | 2,500 RP/month (₹625) | About ₹10,000 of BPCL fuel a month |
| IndianOil RBL Bank XTRA | 15 fuel points per ₹100 at IndianOil (8.5% incl. waiver) | 2,000 points/month (₹1,000) | About ₹13,300 of IndianOil fuel a month |
| IndianOil HDFC Bank | 5% as Fuel Points at IndianOil | 250 points/month for 6 months, then 150 | About ₹3,000 of fuel a month after the first 6 months |
| IndianOil Axis Bank (RuPay) | 4% value-back at IOCL | Accelerated earn on up to ₹5,000/month | ₹5,000 of IOCL fuel a month |
| ICICI HPCL Super Saver | 4% cashback at HPCL (+1% waiver) | ₹200 cashback/month | ₹5,000 of HPCL fuel a month |
How to pick a fuel card
Rewards apply only at the partner company’s outlets. A BPCL card earns almost nothing extra at an IndianOil pump.
A family spending ₹4,000 a month on fuel gains little from a high-cap card; someone spending ₹12,000 gains a lot.
Surcharge waivers usually apply to ₹400–₹4,000 per transaction. Splitting a ₹6,000 fill into two can keep both inside the band.
IndianOil HDFC also gives 5% on groceries and bills (100 points/month each); BPCL Octane gives 10 RP per ₹100 on groceries, dining and movies.
Fuel surcharge rules
- Industry norm: 1% surcharge waived on ₹400–₹4,000 transactions, usually with a monthly cap (e.g. ₹100 on BPCL Octane, ₹250 on IndianOil HDFC, ₹500 on Axis ACE).
- Paying for fuel through a RuPay credit card on UPI can still attract the fuel surcharge — it is one of the categories excluded from the “no charge to customer” rule.
- Fuel cards typically earn their high rate only on fuel and a few categories; the base rate on other spends is often 0.25%–1%.
What a fuel card is worth to you
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best fuel credit card in 2026?
For heavy BPCL users, BPCL SBI Card Octane (7.25% value-back up to about ₹10,000 of fuel a month). For IndianOil users with large bills, IndianOil RBL XTRA (8.5%, cap ₹1,000 of points a month). For low fuel spend and a low fee, IndianOil HDFC (₹500, waived at ₹50,000 annual spend) or IndianOil Axis (RuPay, usable on UPI).
What is the fuel surcharge waiver?
Fuel stations levy about 1% on card payments. Cards with a waiver refund this surcharge on transactions within a band (commonly ₹400–₹4,000) up to a monthly limit. GST on the surcharge is usually not refunded.
Do I get reward points on fuel with a normal credit card?
Usually not. Most cashback and rewards cards (Cashback SBI, Axis ACE, Flipkart Axis, Amazon Pay ICICI) exclude fuel from rewards. Only fuel co-branded cards and a few others reward it.
Can I pay for fuel via UPI with a RuPay credit card?
Yes, if the pump accepts UPI and your card is a RuPay credit card linked to UPI (for example IndianOil Axis Bank or IndianOil HDFC RuPay variant). A surcharge may still apply, and whether rewards apply depends on the card’s terms.
Card features, fees and reward rates are compiled from issuers’ published terms and reputable card-review sites (source and date on each card page). Issuers change benefits often — confirm the latest MITC before applying.