Petrol rewards

Most major service stations are partnered with a rewards credit card and or programs. Just as you can earn reward points for everyday expenses such a paying bills and grocery shopping you won’t miss out when you need to buy fuel. Earning reward points is pretty easy!  All you have to do is swipe your rewards credit card and or rewards program membership card when you pay for the fuel for a chance to earn points. They key is to buy petrol at a service station that is partnered with the rewards program you are a member of. Here’s a list of the partnerships between reward programs and service stations. You want to make sure you pull into a fuel station that will earn you petrol rewards!

• Flybuys – Shell Coles Express co-branded fuel outlet
• Woolworths Rewards – Caltex Woolworths/Safeway co-branded fuel outlet
• Qantas Frequent Flyer – Caltex Woolworths/Safeway co-branded fuel outlet
• Velocity Frequent Flyer – BP

Start comparing cards below. 

This is a good question but unfortunately we can’t give a straightforward answer as the amount of points earned when buying fuel varies from one program to another. For example, the partnership between BP and Velocity Frequent Flyer allows you to earn 2 Velocity points per litre on fuel purchases. While flybuys members earn 1 point per $2 spent at Coles Express (Shell).

There are also petrol specific credit cards on the market and these cards have their own calculations for earning points. For example, if you’re an American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card holder you can earn 2 rewards points for every dollar you spend at major petrol stations. Or with a David Jones American Express Amex Credit Card you can earn 1 point per $1 spent at major petrol stations such as Shell, Caltex, BP and Mobil.

To learn more head over to our guide on calculating reward points.

If you spend a lot of time in the car getting from A to B and find you’re always needing to fill up then you may be interested in redeeming your reward points for petrol vouchers. 

All you have to do is jump online to the reward program you’re a member of and click ‘redeem points’.  Select the petrol voucher option then choose the $ value you want to redeem. For example, with the Westpac Altitude Reward program you can redeem 9,900 points for a $50 Caltex StarCash Gift Card. 

Be sure you check the expiry date of the fuel voucher once you receive it. You’d hate to see those hard earned points get thrown away. Also keep in mind, you’ll receive the best value from your rewards points when they are redeemed for flights rather than on low value products like a toaster or petrol vouchers.

Another option that has become available to savvy Velocity rewards cardholders, is to use their built up rewards points to pay directly for fuel at BP. Each time they hit the pumps, Velocity members can redeem between $10 and $60 worth of points on their petrol, with a $10 discount amounting to 1,667 points.

The other way of scoring cheaper petrol is by doing your grocery shopping at Woolworths or Coles. When you spend at least the qualifying amount (as advertised from time to time) in one transaction at a participating Woolworths/Safeway Supermarket your Woolworths Reward Card a 4 cents per litre fuel discount will be recorded automatically to your card. 

So next time you fill up at a Caltex Woolworths/Safeway co-branded fuel outlet just swipe your rewards card and enjoy the petrol discount. It’s a similar situation with Coles, spend $30 or more in one transaction at Coles Supermarkets and you’ll receive a 4 cent petrol discount.

#1 Keep your reward program card in your wallet so you can swipe it when you pay for petrol

#2 Fill up your tank at a petrol station affiliated/linked with your rewards credit card

#3 Sign up to e-newsletters so you can be alerted to special offers to earn bonus points 

#4 When on offer, take advantage of bonus points

#5 Add a family member to your rewards card so earn even more points they can also share fuel saving vouchers

• Don’t be late paying your bill if not you’ll be slapped with a late payment fee and interest
• Don’t carry over a balance, as interest rates are very high with rewards credit cards
• Don’t let your reward points expire
• Don’t choose a rewards credit card with a hefty annual fee that will cost you more than the value you will earn back in points. Read our guide on rewards credit card vs annual fee
• Don’t use your card to take out cash from an ATM, the cash advance fee can be pretty steep
• Don’t forget, you’ll get the best value for your points by redeeming them for flights not petrol rewards
• Spend money you don't have!