Best Cards for Gas & EV Charging —
Not every card that earns at gas stations earns at EV chargers. Tesla Superchargers code differently than ChargePoint. Here’s which cards explicitly cover EV, how each network codes, and when a general 4% card beats a co-brand at the pump.
Best gas and EV cards ranked ()
Best uncapped EV rate: Wells Fargo Autograph — 3× on gas, EV, transit and rideshare, no cap, $0 fee.
Best flat 3% with no fee: Truist Enjoy Cash — 3% on gas and EV charging, $0 fee.
| Card | Gas/EV Rate | EV Coverage | Cap | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USB Altitude Connect | 4× points | Gas and EV — explicit in terms | $1k/qtr | $0 |
| PenFed Platinum Rewards | 5× points | Fuel and EV — explicit in terms | None | $0 |
| Wells Fargo Autograph | 3× points | Gas, EV, transit — explicit in terms | None | $0 |
| Truist Enjoy Cash | 3% cash back | Gas and EV — explicit in terms | $1k/mo | $0 |
| Amex Blue Cash Everyday | 3% | U.S. gas stations (EV not explicit) | $6k/yr | $0 |
| Costco Anywhere Visa | 4-5% | Gas and EV worldwide — explicit | $7k/yr | $0* |
*Costco card requires active Costco membership ($65+/yr separately). PenFed earns points at ~0.85–1.0¢/pt, not straight cash back.
Co-branded gas cards vs. general cards: which earns more?
Co-branded cards like the Exxon Mobil Smart Card+ offer 12 cents per gallon at Exxon/Mobil stations only and have no EV charging coverage at any network. At current average gas prices around $3.40/gallon, a general 4% card earns about 13.6 cents per gallon — and works at any station and any public charger.
The break-even point is around $3.00/gallon — below that, the 12¢ co-brand discount beats 4% back. Above $3.00/gal, the general card wins at the pump and covers EV charging too.
Home EV charging
Home charging hits your electric bill as a utility purchase (MCC 4900) — not gas or EV charging. The U.S. Bank Cash+ earns 5% on utilities as a selectable category (up to $2,000/quarter), making it the best card for at-home EV charging. For most EV owners the optimal setup is USB Cash+ for the electric bill and USB Altitude Connect for public charging sessions.
EV charging network MCC codes — what your card actually earns
Every transaction is tagged with a Merchant Category Code. Gas stations use MCC 5541 or 5542. Most dedicated EV charging networks register as MCC 5552. Cards that say “gas stations” without mentioning EV may not cover 5552 — only cards that explicitly name EV charging in their terms have confirmed the mapping.
| Network | MCC | Altitude Connect | WF Autograph | Citi Strata | Truist Enjoy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChargePoint | 5552 | 4× ✓ | 3× ✓ | 3× ✓ | 3% ✓ | Most consistent network for rewards coding |
| Electrify America | 5552 | 4× ✓ | 3× ✓ | 3× ✓ | 3% ✓ | Codes as EV charging reliably |
| EVgo | 5552 | 4× ✓ | 3× ✓ | 3× ✓ | 3% ✓ | Codes as EV charging in most transactions |
| Blink | 5552 | 4× ✓ | 3× ✓ | 3× ✓ | 3% ✓ | Codes as EV charging; older stations may vary |
| Tesla Supercharger | 5940 / varies | Varies △ | Varies △ | Varies △ | Varies △ | Often codes as sporting goods (5940). Test before relying on bonus rate. |
| Tesla Destination | 5552 | 4× ✓ | 3× ✓ | 3× ✓ | 3% ✓ | Level 2 destination chargers code more reliably than Superchargers |
| Shell Recharge | 5541/5552 | 4× ✓ | 3× ✓ | 3× ✓ | 3% ✓ | May code as gas MCC (5541) at some Shell station chargers |
| Home charging | 4900 | 1× ✗ | 1× ✗ | 1× ✗ | 2% △ | Utility spend — use USB Cash+ for 5% on utilities |
MCC data from cardholder reports and issuer documentation. Coding varies by terminal and can change. Verify with a small test charge if a specific network matters for your strategy.
Why Tesla Superchargers are different
Tesla Superchargers have historically coded as MCC 5940 (bicycle shops and sporting goods) due to a legacy merchant registration issue. Even cards that explicitly cover EV charging may earn only 1% at Superchargers. For reliable earnings at Tesla specifically, use a flat-rate card like Citi Double Cash (2% on everything). Tesla Destination Chargers (Level 2, at hotels and restaurants) code more consistently as 5552 and generally earn the full bonus rate.