Fuel Card Costs UK 2026 – Compare Prices & Save Per Litre Quick answer
Fuel card costs in the UK usually depend on the provider, card type, fuel network, vehicle type, fuel volume and whether you use fixed weekly pricing or pump pricing.
Most business fuel cards have little or no upfront setup cost, but you may pay card fees, account fees, transaction fees, admin fees or service charges depending on the provider. Some fuel cards charge no monthly card fee, while others may charge around £1 to £10 per card per month or apply weekly/monthly account charges.
Fuel card savings can come from three places:
cheaper fuel prices or pence-per-litre discounts
easier VAT reclaim and HMRC-compliant invoices
reduced admin from fewer receipts and centralised reporting
Some providers promote savings of up to 10p per litre, but your real saving depends on where your drivers refuel, how much fuel you use, whether you buy diesel or petrol, and whether the card gives fixed weekly pricing or pump-price discounts.
Best for: businesses with regular fuel spend, vans, cars, HGVs, mixed fleets, tradespeople, delivery firms, field teams and companies that need VAT invoices.Less useful for: very occasional drivers, businesses with tiny monthly mileage, or drivers who always use the cheapest supermarket forecourt already.
Compare fuel card quotes based on your vehicles, fuel type and routes to see how much you could save.
Contents
Fuel Card Costs Breakdown
Compare Fuel Card Deals
What Affects Fuel Card Costs?
Fixed Price vs Pump Price Fuel Cards
Fuel Card Costs by Business Type
How do we work?
Transparent, impartial, and data‑driven reviews made by a team of expert humans, never AI generated – here’s exactly how Compare Your Business Costs helps you find the best deals from trusted UK providers: click here
Authored by: Ally Cox (Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist 10+ Years’ Experience)
Reviewed by: James Ward (Telecoms Specialist, 12+ Years Experience)
Last Updated: July 2026
Fuel Card Savings Calculator UK Estimate your business fuel spend, litres used, possible fuel card discount, admin savings and total annual saving.
Main vehicle type
Cars Vans HGVs / trucks Mixed fleet Plant / machinery / specialist vehicles Vehicle type affects fuel use and recommended card type.
Main fuel type
Diesel Petrol Mixed petrol and diesel HVO / alternative fuel EV charging support Some fuel cards suit diesel fleets, mixed fleets or specialist fuel needs better.
Network requirement
Local / regional coverage National UK coverage Motorway-heavy usage UK + Europe Mixed network coverage Coverage matters if drivers travel, use motorways or work nationally.
Need spend controls?
No Basic controls Advanced controls and reporting Useful for driver limits, fraud prevention and purchase restrictions.
Need VAT invoice support?
Yes No Fuel cards can simplify fuel receipts and VAT records.
Expected usage period
12 months 24 months 36 months Used to estimate longer-term savings.
Already use vehicle tracking?
No Yes Fuel cards and vehicle tracking can work well together for fleet cost control.
Your estimated fuel card savings
Estimated monthly fuel spend
£0
Estimated litres per month
0L
Monthly fuel discount saving
£0
Estimated annual saving
£0
Enter your fleet details to estimate fuel card savings.
Recommendation will appear here.
This calculator is an estimate only. Actual fuel card savings vary by provider, network, pump prices, fixed weekly prices, fuel type, vehicle usage, card fees, discounts, admin processes, driver behaviour and contract terms.
Is a fuel card right for your business?
Fuel cards are usually most useful if you run vehicles for work, have regular fuel spend, need VAT invoices, or want better control over driver purchases.
Estimate Fuel Card Savings
Fuel card costs at a glance
Cost type Typical UK range What it means
Setup fee
Often £0
Most providers do not charge a large upfront setup fee
Card fee
£0-£10 per card/month
Some cards charge per active card
Transaction fee
£0-£2 per transaction
May apply when a card is used
Weekly/monthly account fee
£0-£5+
Admin or service charge depending on provider
Fuel discount
Up to 10p per litre with some providers
Depends on network, usage and card type
Fixed weekly price
Provider-set weekly price
Can help with price control and budgeting
Pump price card
Pay the forecourt pump price
Flexible and often useful for mixed-location use
Replacement card fee
Varies
May apply if a card is lost
Late payment fee
Varies
Can apply if direct debit fails or account is overdue
EV charging fee
Provider-dependent
May apply for mixed fuel and EV cards
Key Takeaways
Fuel card costs usually include fuel spend plus any card fees, account fees, transaction fees or admin charges.
Many UK fuel cards have no large upfront setup cost.
Some fuel cards charge £0 per card, while others may charge around £1 to £10 per card per month.
Some providers promote fuel savings of up to 10p per litre, but actual savings depend on usage and network.
UK Fuels says discounts of up to 10p per litre are available.
UK Fuels also publishes account and card charges, so businesses should check possible fees before applying.
Shell Card offers tailored pricing and EV charging support through Shell Fleet Solutions.
Allstar offers fuel, business credit and EV-related payment solutions for fleets.
Fixed-price fuel cards can help with budgeting, while pump-price cards can be more flexible.
The biggest benefit is often admin control: one invoice, fewer receipts and easier VAT reclaim.
Small businesses, sole traders and limited companies can use fuel cards if they have regular business fuel spend.
Comparing providers is important because the cheapest fuel card depends on routes, fuel type and station access.
Compare fuel card costs by network, usage and vehicle type before choosing.
Is a fuel card right for your business? Fuel cards are usually most useful if your business:
runs vans, cars, HGVs or mixed vehicles
has regular monthly fuel spend
needs easier VAT invoices
wants to reduce fuel receipt admin
wants driver spend controls
wants to track fuel use by vehicle or driver
has mobile staff, tradespeople or delivery drivers
uses diesel regularly
needs national network coverage
wants supermarket, motorway, branded or mixed network access
wants to compare fuel prices and provider discounts
Fuel cards will be less useful if:
you only fill up occasionally
you do not reclaim VAT
your drivers rarely travel for work
you always use one local low-cost station
card fees outweigh any discount or admin saving
you do not need reporting, controls or invoices
How much does a fuel card cost in the UK? A UK fuel card may cost nothing upfront, but that does not mean it is free, as thhe total cost usually includes:
the fuel you buy
any card fees
any account or service charges
any transaction fees
any replacement card fees
any late payment fees
any premium network or motorway pricing
VAT on eligible charges
possible EV charging or mixed-fuel fees
Most businesses choose fuel cards because they want to reduce fuel spend, simplify admin or control employee purchases.
The card itself may be cheap, but the key question is whether the total monthly saving is greater than the fees.
Fuel Card Costs Breakdown
Cost type Typical range Notes
Setup fee
£0-£25
Many providers waive setup fees
Monthly card fee
£0-£10 per card
Depends on provider and card type
Account fee
£0-£5+ weekly/monthly
May be called admin or service fee
Transaction fee
£0-£2 per use
Check whether charged per fill-up
Invoice fee
£0-£5
Some providers charge for paper or special invoices
Replacement card fee
£0-£10+
Late payment fee
Varies
Can apply if direct debit fails
Pump price
Forecourt price
Common on flexible network cards
Fixed weekly price
Weekly card price
Discount
Up to 10p per litre with some providers
Depends on card, network and usage
EV charging fees
Provider-dependent
Relevant for mixed fleets
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What Affects Fuel Card Costs? Fuel card pricing depends on:
leetyour f size – more vehicles = better rates
your fuel usage – higher usage unlocks discounts
your location – station access impacts pricing
your business type
what card type you end up choosing (fixed vs pump pricing)
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Fuel card costs by fleet size
Fleet size Typical fuel card cost pattern
1 vehicle
Low or no card fee, simple network access
Sole trader or small business fuel card
2-5 vehicles
Low card fees plus VAT invoice support
6-20 vehicles
Better controls, reporting and possible discounts
Multi-network or diesel card
21-50 vehicles
Negotiated pricing and stronger account management
50+ vehicles
Custom pricing, reporting, controls and fleet integration
HGV fleet
High fuel use, diesel pricing and network access matter
Mixed fleet
Petrol, diesel and EV support matter
Multi-fuel or hybrid card
EV fleet
Charging access and reporting matter
EV charging/fuel hybrid card
Fixed Price vs Pump Price Fuel Cards
Feature Fixed price fuel card
How pricing works
You pay a set weekly price for fuel
You pay the forecourt pump price
Best for
Diesel fleets and predictable budgeting
Mixed routes and broad station choice
Main benefit
Predictable costs and possible pence-per-litre savings
Flexibility and easy station access
Main drawback
May not always beat the cheapest local pump
Common users
HGVs, vans, delivery fleets
Cars, vans, mixed fleets, small businesses
What to check
Weekly price compared with local pump price
Card fees and network coverage
Most businesses we work with choose based on usage patterns
Which is cheaper?
Neither is always cheaper.
A fixed-price card can be cheaper if the weekly price is below local pump prices.
A pump-price card can be cheaper if your drivers regularly use low-cost supermarket stations.
The best fuel card depends on where drivers actually fill up!!
Fuel Card Costs by Business Type
Business type
Sole trader
Low card fees, simple VAT invoices and local network
Limited company
VAT-ready invoices, controls and monthly reporting
Tradespeople
Local coverage, van-friendly stations and low fees
Delivery business
High fuel use, driver controls and national coverage
HGV operator
Diesel pricing, motorway network and HGV-friendly sites
Construction business
Cards for vans, plant, machinery and diesel
Sales team
National coverage and easy reporting
Taxi/private hire
Local station coverage and low fees
Courier fleet
Fixed-price diesel and strong reporting
Mixed car/van fleet
Petrol and diesel coverage
EV or hybrid fleet
EV charging support plus fuel access
Multi-site business
National network and centralised reporting
Fuel card fees to check Before choosing a fuel card, ask about:
card fee
setup fee
account fee
transaction fee
admin fee
paper invoice fee
replacement card fee
cancellation fee
non-use fee
late payment fee
credit check requirements
direct debit terms
payment terms
minimum spend
out-of-network charges
motorway pricing
premium fuel restrictions
EV charging fees
international use fees
fraud liability rules
Do not compare only the advertised pence-per-litre saving.
The right comparison is:
fuel discount + admin saving – card/account fees = real saving
Fuel card savings per litre Fuel card savings are usually shown in pence per litre.
For example:
Monthly litres 2p saving 5p saving 10p saving
100L
£2.00
£5.00
£10.00
500L
£10.00
£25.00
£50.00
1,000L
£20.00
£50.00
£100.00
5,000L
£100.00
£250.00
£500.00
10,000L
£200.00
£500.00
£1,000.00
Fuel cards vs business credit cards
Feature Fuel card
Fuel discounts
Often available
Usually not fuel-specific
VAT invoices
Usually centralised and easier
Receipts may still be needed
Driver controls
Stronger fuel-specific controls
Network access
Limited to accepted fuel stations
Wider general card acceptance
Admin reports
Fuel-specific reporting
Best for
Fleets and regular business fuel use
Broader business spending
Risk control
Can restrict purchases to fuel/products
More general spending risk
EV support
Available with some cards
Not usually fleet-focused
Fuel cards and VAT savings Fuel cards do not automatically reduce VAT, but they can make VAT reclaim easier.
A good fuel card can provide:
HMRC-compliant VAT invoices
consolidated monthly or weekly invoices
fewer missing receipts
driver and vehicle-level reporting
easier bookkeeping
cleaner expense records
better audit trails
This can save admin time and reduce errors.
For VAT-registered businesses, this can be one of the biggest benefits of a fuel card.
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Best UK Fuel companies to compare
Provider Best for Why compare it
Allstar
Broad UK network and mixed fleets
Wide acceptance and fuel/EV solutions
UK Fuels
Diesel, fleet pricing and broad coverage
Promotes discounts up to 10p per litre
Shell Card
Shell network, EV support and tailored pricing
Useful for businesses using Shell stations
BP Fuel Cards
BP network and business fuel management
Strong branded network option
Esso Fuel Cards
Esso users and national coverage
Useful for businesses with Esso routes
Keyfuels
HGV, haulage and commercial fleets
Strong fit for diesel-heavy fleets
fuelGenie
Supermarket fuel users
Useful for Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s access
Right Fuel Card
Comparison-led fuel card matching
Helps match cards to usage
Fleetmaxx
Fleet fuel card comparison
Useful for mixed provider access
The Fuel Store
SMEs and fleet fuel cards
Card management and provider options
How to reduce fuel card costs To reduce fuel card costs:
compare multiple providers
match the card network to your actual routes
check fixed weekly price against local pump prices
avoid cards with high fees for low usage
use spend controls to reduce misuse
restrict purchases to fuel only where needed
monitor driver behaviour and idling
combine fuel cards with vehicle tracking
review cards every 6 to 12 months
remove unused cards
avoid motorway refuelling where possible
check supermarket fuel access
reclaim VAT using proper invoices
compare diesel, petrol and EV options separately
Fuel card savings improve when the card matches how your vehicles are actually used.
FAQs About Fuel Card Costs How much does a fuel card cost in the UK?
Fuel cards may cost £0 to £10 per card per month, depending on provider and card type. Some also have account fees, transaction fees or admin charges.
Are fuel cards free?
Some fuel cards have no monthly card fee, but you still pay for fuel and may pay account, transaction or admin fees. Always check the full fee schedule.
How much can fuel cards save per litre?
Some providers promote savings of up to 10p per litre. Actual savings depend on fuel usage, card type, network, pricing model and where your drivers refuel.
What is the cheapest fuel card?
The cheapest fuel card depends on your routes, fuel type, vehicle count and monthly fuel volume. A supermarket card may be cheapest for some businesses, while fixed-price diesel cards may suit high-use fleets.
Do fuel cards have hidden fees?
Some fuel cards may include card fees, account fees, transaction fees, admin fees, replacement card fees or late payment charges. Ask for all fees before applying.
Are fuel cards worth it for small businesses?
Yes, fuel cards can be worth it for small businesses with regular fuel spend, especially if they need VAT invoices and easier expense records.
Are fuel cards worth it for sole trader s?
Fuel cards can be useful for sole traders who drive regularly for work. If mileage is low, choose a low-fee card so charges do not outweigh savings.
Are fuel cards worth it for limited companies?
Yes, limited companies can use fuel cards to simplify VAT reclaim, manage employee fuel spend and centralise invoices.
How do fuel cards save money?
Fuel cards can save money through pence-per-litre discounts, fixed weekly pricing, better network choices, VAT admin savings and spending controls.
What is the difference between fixed price and pump price fuel cards?
Fixed-price cards charge a weekly set price, while pump-price cards charge the price shown at the forecourt. The cheaper option depends on local prices and your routes.
Can fuel cards be used for petrol and diesel?
Yes, many fuel cards support petrol and diesel. Some are better for diesel fleets, while others suit mixed petrol and diesel vehicles.
Can fuel cards be used for EV charging?
Some modern fleet cards support EV charging as well as petrol and diesel. Check network coverage and charging fees before choosing.
Do fuel cards help with VAT?
Yes, fuel cards can provide consolidated VAT invoices, which can make VAT reclaim easier and reduce missing receipts.
Do fuel cards require a credit check?
Many fuel card providers run checks because fuel cards often operate on account terms. Requirements vary by provider.
Do fuel cards have monthly minimum spend?
Some cards may have minimum spend or non-use fees. Check this carefully if you have low or seasonal fuel usage.
Which fuel card is best for vans?
Van fleets should compare UK Fuels, Allstar, Shell, BP, Esso, fuelGenie and Right Fuel Card based on local stations, diesel/petrol use and fees.
Which fuel card is best for HGVs?
HGV fleets should compare Keyfuels, UK Fuels, Shell, BP, Esso and Allstar based on diesel pricing, HGV-friendly sites and motorway coverage.
Can I get a fuel card for one vehicle?
Yes, many providers offer fuel cards for one vehicle or sole traders. Check card fees carefully to ensure the saving is worthwhile.
How often should I compare fuel cards?
Compare fuel cards at least once a year, or sooner if your routes, vehicle count, fuel type or monthly usage changes.
Is a fuel card necessary in 2026? Find out here ..
Related Fuel Card Guides ⛽ Fuel Card Comparisons & Provider Reviews
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Learn how fuel cards work for companies and vehicle fleets:
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Tax, Costs & Regulations
Understand the tax implications and costs of using fuel cards in the UK:
Fuel Storage & Transport
Additional resources related to commercial fuel use and transport:
Start Here
If you’re new to business fuel cards, start with our main guide:
Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.
