The Best Credit Cards for Petrol in Singapore for Esso, Shell & Caltex (2019)
Using a credit card for petrol in Singapore is practically compulsory for any seasoned driver. Petrol credit cards get you such a huge discount that it doesn’t make sense not to use them.
If you’re paying for your petrol with cash, NETS or debit card, then you’re probably either a kid borrowing his parents’ car, or willingly throwing money down the drain.
Finding a petrol credit card in Singapore is not a problem. There are so many that the biggest hurdle is choosing the best one.
We’ve done the research for you and identified the best petrol credit cards in Singapore… you can thank us later.
Contents
2nd Best petrol credit card for SPC – Amex True Cashback Credit Card
Best petrol credit card for Caltex – HSBC Visa Platinum Card
Petrol Credit Card Discounts
Credit Card | Total Discount | Things to note |
DBS Esso Card | Esso – up to 21.2% | Must spend at least $180 a month from 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2019 |
POSB Everyday Card | SPC – up to 20.1% | Until 31 March 2019 |
Other DBS Credit Cards | SPC – up to 15% | |
American Express True Cashback Card | SPC – up to 22.19% | Must be among first 50,000 to register here |
Any other American Express Credit Card | SPC – up to 21% | Must be among first 50,000 to register here |
UOB One Card | SPC – up to 24% Shell – up to 20.8% | Must have a monthly total spend of S$2,000 to hit highest rebate |
Other UOB Credit Cards | SPC – up to 20% Shell – up to 13.6% | |
Citi Cash Back Card | Esso – up to 20.88% Shell – up to 20.88% | |
Other Citi Credit Cards | Esso – up to 14% Shell – up to 14% | |
OCBC Plus! Visa Card | Esso – up to 20.6% Caltex – up to 18% | |
OCBC 365 Card | Esso – 20.4% Caltex – up to 21.1% | Must spend a minimum $300 nett fuel spend at Caltex in a calendar month to earn $10 rebate. Valid till 30 June 2019 |
Other OCBC Credit Cards | Esso – 14% Caltex – up to 14% | |
HSBC Premier Mastercard Credit Card | Shell – up to 19.16% Caltex – up to 20.2% | |
HSBC Visa Platinum Card | Shell – up to 18.3% Caltex – up to 16% | |
Other HSBC Credit Cards | Shell – up to 14% Caltex – up to 20.2% | For 92 and 95 petrol, the additional 2% discount is for outdoor fuel payment only. |
Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Card | Caltex – up to 25% | Must charge a minimum of $600 a month to qualify for highest rebate |
Standard Chartered Unlimited Cashback Card | Caltex – up to 21.04% | Must charge a minimum of $600 a month to qualify for highest rebate |
Other Standard Chartered Credit Cards | Caltex – up to 16% |
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How do petrol credit cards work?
Petrol credit cards typically give you an instant discount when you pump at the station. This upfront discount is on top of other discounts, including a station or site discount and a loyalty card discount.
As you can tell from the table above, there are many credit cards that can snag you discounts at petrol stations, but you’ll have to choose the right one. The easiest way to decide is to choose the best petrol credit card for the petrol company you patronise most often.
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Best Petrol Credit Card for Esso – DBS Esso Card
DBS Esso Card
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Card Benefits
Up to 21.6% (instant 17% + S$30) fuel savings with a min. spend of S$180nett/month for Jan, Feb, Mar 2018
17% instant discount at Esso (5% site discount + 5% Smiles card discount + 7% card discount)
Free fuel when you convert your shopping, dining and other card spend into Smiles Points
S$10 charged outside of Esso = 1 Smiles Point
S$30 fuel voucher = 750 Smiles Points
Petrol station | Esso |
Station Discount | 5% |
Loyalty Card Discount | 5% |
Card Discount | 8% |
Card Rebate (applies after all discounts) | $7 (min. $180 fuel spend; promotion from 1 Jan to 31 De 2019) |
Total discount | 21.2% |
The DBS Esso Card has a new look, and it seems they’re better than ever, with one of the more generous upfront petrol discounts in Singapore. You receive an upfront discount of 18% whenever you swipe your card at Esso, no questions asked.
For the maximum fuel savings, however, you’ll need to spend at least $180 monthly to receive another $7 cash back.
Each time you swipe your DBS Esso card at a petrol station, you immediately get a 8% discount thanks to the card.
You will also get an Esso Smiles loyalty discount of 5%.
Finally, you shave off another 5% thanks to the Esso station discount, which is extended to all customers.
If you spend $180 a month, you’ll receive $7 cash back. This increases your fuel savings to up to 21.2%.
Loyalty bonus: From 1 Jan to 31 Mar 2019, you earn 2X Smiles Points if you manage to swipe at least $500 in that month, excluding Esso bills (first $500: $10 = 1 Smiles Points, next $501 to $5,000: $10 = 2 Smiles Points).
Total savings: 18%
Why you should get the DBS Esso Card
Some cards will make you wait till the end of the month or, worse, quarter, before you receive your cash rebates. And in some cases, you may not even receive these rebates if you fail to meet their minimum spending requirements. This card guarantees a minimum of at least 18% off.
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Best Petrol Credit Card for SPC – UOB One Card
UOB One Card
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Card Benefits
At SPC Stations, up to 24% savings on fuel purchases
At Shell Stations, up to 20.8% savings on fuel purchases
Petrol station | SPC | Shell |
Station Discount | NIL | 5% |
Loyalty Card Discount | 10% | 5% |
Card Discount | 5% | 5% |
Card Rebate (applies after all discounts) | 5% UOB One card rebate | 7% SMART$ rebate |
Total discount | 24% | 20.8% |
If you have no problem meeting the $2,000 minimum monthly spending requirement, you can take advantage of the UOB One Card to get one of the most generous total cash rebate deals on petrol in Singapore, especially if you’re an SPC customer.
This card, which is an all-round cashback credit card that shouldn’t just be used on petrol, gives you up to 24% off your petrol spending at SPC and 21.8% at Shell.
Every time you use the UOB One card at SPC or Shell, you get an upfront discount of 5%. At SPC, you get an additional 5% rebate for $51 nett spending.
At SPC your SPU&U loyalty card discount will be 10%, while the Shell Escape loyalty card discount will get you 5% off.
At Shell, all customers get a 5% station discount.
After all the above discounts have been applied, Shell customers will also enjoy a 7% SMART$ rebate.
Shell and SPC customers will receive a 5% rebate at the end of the quarter if you have satisfied the UOB One’s minimum spending requirements.
Total savings: 24% for SPC customers, 21.8% for Shell customers
Why you should get the UOB One Card
The 24% total discount at SPC is one of the highest petrol card discounts in Singapore, period, while the 21.8% at Shell isn’t too shabby, either. To enjoy the full discount, make sure you consistently spend $2,000 every month, as you must meet the minimum spending requirement every month in a quarter to qualify.
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Second best card for SPC – Amex True Cashback Credit Card
American Express True Cashback Card
APPLY NOW Go to site
Card Benefits
Apply through MoneySmart from 22 Mar - 19 Apr 2018 to get S$100 worth of Grab OR NTUC Vouchers. Application must be approved by 3 May 2018. Submit your (i)Contact Details and (ii)14-digit Reference Number on the Thank You Page upon completion at this link before 19 April 2018. T&Cs
1.5% Cashback on any purchase you make, anytime
3% Cashback for the first 6 months up to $5000 spend
Enjoy first year fee waiver
Eligible for use with Apple Pay
Petrol station | SPC |
Station Discount | NIL |
Loyalty Card Discount | 10% |
Card Discount | 5% |
Card Rebate (applies after all discounts) | 0% |
Total discount | 21% |
SPC customers who can’t meet the UOB One’s minimum spending requirements should opt for the Amex True Cashback Credit Card.
Until 30 Nov 2019, Amex card members can register their cards online to receive an additional 7.1% petrol savings at SPC. By flashing your Amex card and your SPC&U card, you will receive a total of 21% discount at SPC, with no minimum spending requirement.
The card entitles you a 5% AMEX discount when you use it to pay at SPC.
SPC&U loyalty card holders enjoy 10% discount.
Those who have registered their AMEX card online will receive an additional 7.1% discount.
After the above discounts have been applied, you will receive 1.5% cashback on the final charged amount
Total savings: 22.19%
Why you should get the American Express True Cashback Card
With the American Express True Cashback Card, you are guaranteed a minimum 21% discount upfront from the moment you flash your card. The catch is that you need to be amongst the first 50,000 to register your card with Amex for the SPC discount, otherwise you don’t qualify for the extra 7.1% discount.
If you don’t want to risk waiting for a newly applied True Cashback card and have another AMEX card that you’re already using, just try registering for the discount with it. The discount is 21%, which is still very high.
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Best Credit Card for Shell – Citi Cash Back Card
Citi Cash Back Card
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Card Benefits
Up to 20.88% discount at Esso stations: 5% Esso site discount + 5% Smiles card discount + 4% Citi Card discount + 8% Citi Cash Back Card cash back* (applies after Esso discount)
Up to 20.88% discount at Shell stations: 5% Shell site discount + 5% Shell Escape discount + 4% Citi Card discount + 8% Citi Cash Back Card cash back* (applies after Shell discount)
8% cash back is valid with a minimum retail spend of $888/statement month on the Citi Cash Back Card
Petrol station | Shell | Esso |
Station Discount | 5% | 5% |
Loyalty Card Discount | 5% | 5% |
Card Discount | 4% | 4% |
Card Rebate (applies after all discounts) | 8% | 8% |
Total discount | 20.88% | 20.88% |
Looking for a card that rewards generously not just for spending on petrol but other stuff as well? The Citi Cash Back Card is probably the best all-round card at the moment, and offers up to 20.88% at both Shell and Esso.
The catch is that there is a minimum spending requirement of $888 to satisfy. But given the wide range of categories this card offers you cashback for, you’ll have many opportunities indeed to use it.
Let’s break down the benefits.
The card entitles you to an immediate 4% Citibank Card discount when you swipe it at Shell and Esso.
All customers get a 5% station discount at Shell and Esso.
Enjoy an additional loyalty card discount at Shell and Esso thanks to Shell Escape and Esso Smiles loyalty programme.
After the above discounts have been applied, receive 8% cash rebate at the end of the month if you satisfy the Citi Cash Back Card’s minimum monthly spending requirement of $888.
Total savings: 20.88% for both Esso and Shell
Why you should get the Citi Cash Back Card
You’re not going to spend $888 a month on petrol alone. But don’t worry, because the Citi Cash Back Card’s 8% cash rebate offer extends not only to petrol, but dining, groceries and Grab rides (until 31 Mar 2019) too.
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Best Credit Card for Caltex – Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Card
Petrol station | Caltex |
Station Discount | 10% |
Loyalty Card Discount | NIL |
Card Discount | 6% |
Card Rebate (applies after all discounts) | 10.8% |
Total discount | 25% |
It pays to be a big spender when you have the Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Card. Not only does it earn you 1.4 miles per $1 spent locally (if you spend at least $2,000 a month), but you also get a hefty discount of up to 25% when you pump the 98-octane fuel at Caltex (valid until 30 Jun 2019).
The catch, of course is the rather high annual fee of $588.50, which Standard Chartered claims you cannot waive.
Let’s break down the benefits.
The card entitles you to an immediate 16% upfront discount at Caltex when you pump Platinum 98 with Techron, and 14% upfront discount for other grades of petrol and diesel.
After the above discounts have been applied, receive a 10.8% cash rebate at the end of the month if you hit a minimum spend of $600 on the Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Card.
Total savings: 25%
Why you should get the Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Card
Well, high annual fee and high minimum monthly spending aside, you can’t deny that 25% is a significant discount on your petrol costs. Plus, with the option to choose a welcome gift of 35,000 miles, it might be worth getting the card at least for one year, and then moving to the next best credit card for Caltex, the OCBC 365 Credit Card.
OCBC 365 Credit Card
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Card Benefits
Up to 23.8% discount at Caltex and 18.3% at Esso, (14% onsite and OCBC 365 discount + 5% Cashback*)
5% Cashback at all other petrol stations
*Minimum spend of $600/month, $80 cap /month
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Making the most of your petrol credit card
While petrol credit cards can get you a great discount, you need to use them correctly in order to enjoy maximum benefits. Here are some tips:
Know which petrol station you’re going to be using most often, and use the right card for it. We’ve given you a broad overview above.
Always bring along your loyalty card (Esso Smiles, Shell Escape, SPC&U) with you and show it to the cashier together with your credit card to be sure you receive the loyalty discount, as well as any loyalty points you might be entitled to.
Keep tabs on the minimum spending requirements on your card, if any, to ensure you have fulfilled them. It pays to dig deeper into the terms and conditions.
Make sure you’re filling up an empty-enough tank if meeting a certain spending threshold entitles you a better discount, as in the case of the UOB One, which offers 5% for nett spending of $51.
Plan ahead so you can fill ‘er up at your intended petrol station instead of waiting until your tank is empty and then rushing to the nearest one.
What’s your favourite credit card for petrol in Singapore? Comment and let us know!
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