When it comes to choosing a fuel card, there’s a lot you need to consider. Whether it be a fleet of vans or HGVs, fuel is likely to be one of your largest expenses. Therefore, it’s important you select the right fuel card.
Why you need a fuel card
The first thing you need to ask is what purpose will your fuel card serve. For some businesses they use fuel cards to reduce costs but there are many other benefits that may apply to you.
If you’re fleet travels nationwide then you may benefit from having access to sites wherever you are. With weekly VAT approved invoices you will have reduced admin and won’t need to collect receipts anymore. Fuel cards also provide enhanced security and can help to identify fuel fraud, giving you back control.
Once you know why you require fuel cards, then you can begin your search.
Top tips for choosing the right fuel card for your business
Vehicle Type
Knowing the types of vehicles that make up your fleet helps when comparing fuel cards. A fleet consisting of HGVs that travel nationally presents different challenges to cars and vans that operate locally.
For example, if your fleet consists of mainly HGVs then you will require a supplier who has a large selection of HGV-friendly sites. For the likes of cars and vans you want to make sure you have a large selection of sites on your doorstep.
Coverage and Location
The area you work in can determine your fuel card choice. If your vehicles travel the length and breadth of the country then you will need motorway site access.
Options vary but generally you will fit into one of the three below;
- Local – if you operate in one town or city
- Regional – for businesses who operate outside of their hometown
- National – when travelling all over the country
Once you know which of the three you fit into then you can do some research on the site coverage available on each fuel card.
Spending Controls
Fuel cards can be restricted in many different ways, with transaction, daily and weekly limits all available. This gives you greater control over your fuel purchasing and can help to prevent fuel fraud.
If you want to limit your drivers to how much they can fill-up per week then you will need to check if spending limits can be added to the fuel cards.
Fixed Price or Pump Price
A big decision is whether to choose a fixed price or pump price fuel card. With a fixed price fuel card you will have one price that is valid at every site on the network. With this method you are made aware of the price in advance and how long it is valid for, which is usually one week.
Whereas, with a pump price fuel card you will pay the price advertised at the pump. The downside to choosing this type of fuel card is price fluctuations and not having the same savings as fixed price fuel cards.
Fuelwise Fuel Cards
Fuelwise Fuel Cards are designed for small and large businesses in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK, providing a safe, secure and convenient method for purchasing fuel. Whether you have one vehicle or 100, you can experience the great benefits of a fuel card at over 4,850 fuel stations across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK. Fuelwise Fuel Cards are accepted at all major brands including Circle K, Maxol, Texaco, Top Oil, ESSO, Applegreen and leading supermarkets. Many of these sites are HGV friendly and operate 24-hour opening hours. Fuelwise is trusted by thousands of businesses in NI & ROI as their preferred fuel card supplier.
Use our online site finder to search for sites or to apply for fuel cards complete our online application form below.
Or, check out our comparison of DCI vs CSC vs Fuelwise Fuel Cards.
