Different fuel card companies in the UK offer different coverage. It’s therefore an important consideration when choosing the best fuel card to meet your needs. That said, do you actually need a product that offers extensive coverage? Really, it’s all about where you’re planning to use it.
What routes do you normally take?
When assessing the extent of coverage you need, the first thing to do is to take a close look at your business’ activities. Consider where your drivers will be regularly travelling to and from and factor this into your choice of fuel card.
Do you have staff making local deliveries or meeting clients nearby? Are you transporting goods the length of the country? Is it a mix of local and regional travel? Whether it’s long or short-haul travel you have planned, assess your most common transport routes and go from there.
This means taking an overview of your fleet activities. You should work out the average distance of journeys made by staff, as well as where in the country they take place. If you notice a pattern emerging, then tailor your card choice accordingly.
For example, a business based in Bristol that sees 95% of journeys within a 20-mile radius has no need for a fuel card that has great coverage in London but not near them.
Get the most suitable business fuel card
Not every fuel card is created equal. In fact, every product we offer has its own unique package of benefits – including where it can be used. An important consideration is therefore the breadth of the network available.
With thousands of UK fuel card sites across the country, it’s important to know which ones you have access to. This means doing your homework and knowing not just where you’ll want to use a fuel card, but also how.
Some products offer access to cheaper fuel at motorway services, while others will be more suited to rural locations. It all depends on the type of travel you regularly undertake.
Fuel cards offer great flexibility, but you need to get the one that has lots of options in the places you visit. It’s also important to make a decision based on the best prices in your area.
Save money with more efficient journeys
Meanwhile, making the most of your fuel card expenditure means maximising the efficiency of your journeys. Diversions to pick up extra fuel or drivers getting lost can have a big impact on expenses.
Every year, countless hours can be lost by drivers not knowing where to fill up. However, our Drivers Club app can take the guesswork out of travel planning. It tells you where the nearest fuel stations can be found. This allows you to reduce wasted mileage, as well as offering a range of premium services and extra benefits.
Get in touch with us today to find out about the options that are right for you. You can fill in our quick and simple enquiry to get access to the best fuel cards today.
Fuel is one of the biggest costs for any business managing vehicles. Whether it’s a few cars or light vans for local deliveries or a large national HGV fleet, petrol and diesel expenses will usually be your biggest outgoing.
That’s why it pays to have a fuel card to reduce these costs. However, there are a wide range of options available, so how do you know if you’re getting the best fuel card for your business?
There’s much more to think about than how much you’ll pay for your fuel. In fact, there are many factors that should go into your decision. If you’re looking at fuel cards for the first time, it can seem like a complex process.
However, it doesn’t have to be. Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to choose the best fuel card for your firm, whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise.
Why you need a fuel card
The first step should be to determine whether you need a fuel card, and understand the benefits you can expect to see. For instance, if you’re a microbusiness running just one vehicle in your local area, you may not see many benefits from these services unless you spend a lot of time on the road.
However, as soon as you start adding more vehicles to your fleet, the benefits become clear. You don’t need to run dozens of cars and vans to save time and money. Even if you’ve only got a handful of vehicles, a fuel card is likely to offer savings if they’re in use frequently.
Therefore, the vast majority of firms will be able to enjoy benefits such as lower costs, better control over their vehicles and reduced admin.
But if you don’t select the right card, you may miss out on some of these advantages.
Fixed-price or pump price
A big decision is whether to opt for a fixed-price or pump price fuel card. As the name suggests, a fixed-price card will ensure you pay the same price for your fuel, no matter where you fill up. This is usually set on a weekly basis and gives you a clear idea of how much you’ll expect to pay.
Pump price, meanwhile, sees you pay the cost advertised at the pump. They may not offer as much savings as fixed-price cards, but they are convenient and easy to use. The downside is you may be more exposed to price fluctuations and premiums at motorway filling stations, for example.
If you buy large amounts of fuel or send vehicles up and down the country, fixed-price offers more certainty and the potential for savings. However, pump price cards tend to offer greater flexibility and let you fill up in a wider variety of locations.
Location matters
The next question is about location. You need to do some research to see what services are available in your area.
This will determine which brand would be best for you. There’s no point in opting for a branded fuel card that promises the biggest saving if the supplier doesn’t have any filling stations in close proximity.
If you’re only able to fill up at one or two locations or have to make a large diversion in order to get the benefit of lower prices, this will negate many of the benefits and harm overall productivity.
What routes do you use?
It’s not only fuel stations near your base you may need to consider, but the routes you take. If you have a clearly-defined schedule and routes, choosing a fuel card with locations that align closely to this will be more useful.
If you’re running a national business with lots of motorway driving, or a more unpredictable schedule where drivers won’t know where they’ll be needed on any given day, a more widely-accepted card could be essential.
This is also a key factor to consider when deciding whether to choose a branded or non-branded card. A branded card from the likes of BP or Shell might be less useful if your fleet remains local, but the wide range of national locations they offer could be invaluable for other firms.
Consider fuel and vehicle types
The type of vehicles you have and the fuel they use will also be important. If you’re only running a small number of diesel vans, for instance, a diesel-only card makes sense.
However, it might mean you have more limitations if you’re looking to expand your fleet in the future. If this is the case, a mixed card that works for both petrol and diesel can give you more flexibility when it comes to choosing new vehicles.
If you’re running HGVs, you should also look carefully to find the best fuel card for trucking companies. These vehicles will have unique needs, such as requirements for high-canopy stations with more space to manoeuvre. Therefore, you may benefit from fuel cards that are tailored specifically to these demands.
Don’t overlook other benefits
Aside from these key factors, there are many other benefits you may be able to enjoy with the right fuel card.
For example, one major advantage will be reduced admin and paperwork. Some cards offer easy reporting and analytics for receipts and expenses to reduce the burden on fleet managers. You may also be able to set spending restrictions or allowances to avoid the need for separate expense forms for employees to fill out.
Cracking down on fraud is another important consideration. Look for a business fuel card that can closely monitor transactions and flag up anything that may be suspicious. For example, they may be able to spot unusual activity or vehicles that appear to be using more fuel than they should.
As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into choosing the right fuel card. If you’re confused or want more information, we’re here to help. Get in touch with our expert team today and we’ll help you find the right fuel card for your business.
When looking for business fuel cards, many factors must be considered. Key questions include what savings are available, the number and convenience of fuel locations, and security.
However, another consideration may be the perks available for individual drivers. For example, fuel card users can use loyalty card schemes that offer rewards whenever they fill up. One of the most prominent of these is the BPme programme.
What Are BPme Rewards?
Many employees may have a common question when filling up for fuel: what benefits are available? Previously, customers at BP filling stations could earn rewards as part of the Nectar scheme. However, the partnership between BP and Nectar ended in 2019, so you can no longer collect Nectar points from these locations.
What Is BPme Rewards Card Scheme
Instead, BP launched its own reward card scheme, BPme. This had already existed as an easy payment app that let drivers pay for fuel via their smartphone, but it now offers a wide range of rewards and other offers when you use the brand’s fuel stations.
Who Is The BPme Rewards Card Scheme For?
The good news is the scheme is open to all drivers – including those buying petrol and diesel via fuel cards. You can earn points with a BP One or BP Plus card, but not with a BP Bunker card.
How does BPme Work?
Like many loyalty cards, BPme rewards allow you to collect points for every transaction at any of BP’s filling stations. With more than 1,200 BP fuel stations around the UK – including the country’s largest network of motorway sites – you’ll never be far from somewhere to earn and claim rewards.
BPme Points
When filling up at participating locations, you’ll earn one point for every litre of regular fuel purchased or two points for every litre of BP’s premium Ultimate branded fuel. You also earn one point for every pound you spend in BP shops.
There are, however, a few exceptions to be aware of. You won’t earn BPme points on the following:
Tobacco and related products
Phone cards
Stamps
Utility cards
Lottery purchases
Purchases at non-participating stores connected to BP service stations, such as Tesco or Sainsbury’s
If you are using a fuel card, it’s also important to note that you can only claim BPme points at participating BP sites and not at other sites where a BP fuel card is accepted, such as Esso or Gulf stations.
While you can use a physical card to collect your points, this isn’t a requirement. You can earn points with the BPme app, which can be scanned in-store to collect rewards without needing another plastic card cluttering your wallet or purse.
What BPme benefits are available?
There are numerous ways to use BPme rewards. One way is to purchase fuel, though if you’re already using a business fuel card, this may not be the best use of the scheme for company drivers.
BPme Money Off Purchases
However, there are many other ways to take advantage of the scheme. The most straightforward way is at BP filling stations, where you can use your accrued points for items such as coffee or snacks within the service station. This makes a nice perk if you’ve been on the road for a while, and every 200 points you collect provides you with £1 off any purchases.
BPme Gift Cards
Another way you can benefit is by exchanging points for gift cards. These can be spent in various locations and start from as little as £5. Among the gift cards you can access through BPme are:
Amazon
M&S
Love2Shop
Virgin Wines
Rakuten TV
Charity Donations
BPme Gift Catalogue
Finally, you can spend your BPme points directly on a range of products from the scheme’s gift catalogue. This offers a wide variety of items for the home, including kitchenware, toys and games, sports equipment and DIY goods.
You can pay for the entire purchase using your BPme points, reward points, and cash.
Moreover, BPme members will receive exceptional loyalty offers via email or the BPme app. These can include BPme bonuses such as double or even triple points on your next fuel purchase, so keep an eye out for them.
Collecting your rewards
While you can use your BP rewards card or app to claim in-store discounts at fuel stations, you can redeem gift cards or reward catalogue items via the BPme website or app.
BPme Reward Deliveries
If you receive a voucher, it will be sent to the email address you used to register with BPme and should arrive quickly. Physical items purchased through the rewards catalogue will be tracked and delivered via Royal Mail within two to three working days.
Managing your BPme account
To benefit from BPme, employees must sign up individually for the scheme. They can do this at any participating filling station by picking up a card in-store or downloading the BPme app, which is available for iPhone devices on the Apple Store and Android smartphones on Google Play.
The BPme App
The BPme app is the best way to manage your account. In addition to collecting points directly on your phone and choosing your rewards, you can do a lot more.
Users of the BPme app are also able to:
View their points balance
Manage receipts
Opt into special offers
Pay directly for fuel (specific sites only)
Find the nearest BP station
Choosing the right fuel card for your needs
BPme offers many perks to fuel card users, which is a great benefit you can pass on to your employees. However, it shouldn’t be the only consideration.
You should examine factors such as expected savings to ensure you get the best deal and practical matters such as where relevant filling stations are located.
For example, while BP fuel cards can be used at many other branded sites – such as Esso and Texaco stations – for a small surcharge, you won’t be able to collect BPme reward points at these locations.
Fuel Cards From Fuel Card Services
Contact our professional team today if you’re unsure which fuel card offers you the best deal. They’ll be happy to help with friendly, impartial advice on the best options for your business’s unique needs.
Like most people in the UK, you’re likely to be spending a significant sum on fuel. This is also coupled with the fact that you’re often at the mercy of the pumps that are available to you in your area, requiring you to spend more than you would otherwise – though, even if the prices were great, the locations still wouldn’t be very convenient.
In the world of business, this can be a real problem. If you consider a haulage company, for instance: the fuel costs of professional drivers will add up quickly. To add to that, the need to take an odd route to reach a fuel pump can cost time and money too. Just a fractional loss in the efficiency of each journey can mount up into huge drains on the overall business.
With that said, you don’t necessarily have to get your fuel from conventional stations, even if you’re getting fuel for business purposes, you can get your fuel from supermarket stations instead. There is the common misconception that supermarket fuel is of a lower-quality somehow, but it’s hard to find compelling evidence to support that. What we do know is that all fuel sold in the UK conforms to basic standards.
So, if you’re fine with (or even encourage) your drivers filling up at supermarket fuel stations, is that the most money you can save? No, it isn’t. You could get a fuel card that allows you to fill up at those stations.
Who should be using a fuel card?
Any business that accrues significant costs due to fuel can benefit from a fuel card. The advantages are great for small and large fleets, but the fuel cards vary widely, so it’s important to think about what you can gain from using one weighed against what you might have to pay.
Fuel cards that can be used in supermarkets in particular are an excellent choice for businesses that travel through urban areas – even more so if they need to regularly purchase business items form supermarkets, as this can save a lot of time through avoiding extra journeys.
How much does using a fuel card cost?
Businesses don’t provide things like fuel discounts for free, so there’s always some kind of value in it for them, but the costs can vary.
Pay an annual fee – You could pay a fee each year to remain a member of the fuel card scheme, and it could be fixed for your entire company or depend on how many cards you require for your drivers
Pay service fees – Just as you might pay a transaction fee for an online transaction, you could be charged a fee on top of every payment (much less than what you save however)
Pay to use other stations – Every fuel card provider has a different array of supported stations. While you can sometimes use a fuel card at unsupported stations, you can be charged for the privilege
Pay to update details – Some fuel card companies look for relatively admin-centric ways to make their money; this can involve charging clients to update their details
Pay for replacement cards – From time to time, drivers will lose their fuel cards, and you may have to pay for the replacements
Simply use the card as intended – You may not need to pay anything at all to use the fuel card, because not all schemes charge you.
Every fuel card provider will have a unique combination of fees and charges, so play close attention when considering a particular scheme to see how well it’s likely to work for you.
What makes a supermarket fuel card different?
So, what makes supermarket fuel cards different from regular fuel cards? It’s simple enough: a supermarket fuel card is on that can be used at supermarket fuel stations with no additional charges, and they may even offer extra benefits in the process.
While it’s possible for a supermarket to offer their own original fuel card along with their line up of loyalty cards and debit/credit cards, there’s currently no UK-based supermarket that provides one. When we talk about a supermarket fuel card, then, we’re talking about third-party cards that support supermarket fuel pumps.
Supermarket fuel card reviews
Now we’ve covered what fuel cards do, why you might want to use one, and what a supermarket fuel card involves, we can start looking at the most commonly available fuel cards that can be used at a supermarket fuel station. The selection we’re going to review includes five cards, each with arrangements for various supermarkets – you can see which ones in the table below.
Tesco
Morrisons
Sainsbury’s
Cooperative
Allstar
X
X
X
X
Key Fuels
X
X
UK Fuels
X
X
X
X
Texaco Fast Fuels
X
X
X
X
Shell One/Multifleet
X
Allstar
The Allstar fuel card earns the top position for one reason: it’s currently the only fuel card that can be used at all major UK supermarket fuel stations.
In addition to being accepted at all supermarket stations, this card allows you to use the Discount Diesel network which is accessible through 1,500 other sites, making it a powerhouse utility option if you’re reliant upon diesel. It also allows you to build up loyalty points.
UK Fuels
UK Fuels cards are accepted at around 3,500 sites on the UK Fuels network, making it an ideal choice for LCV diesel fleets. The card is accepted at a selection of BP, Shell, Esso, Texaco and independents on the UK Fuels network, plus all Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Cooperative sites, giving it excellent coverage.
Key Fuels
The Key Fuels card is also very competitive when it comes to filling up at a supermarket fuel station. The card is accepted at over 3,150 sites across the UK including all Morrisons and Tesco sites in addition to a selection of BP, Shell, Esso, Texaco and independent sites. It is also accepted for the M6 toll.
Texaco Fast Fuels
The Texaco Fast Fuels card is ideal for LCV and car fleets. It’s accepted at all Texaco sites, plus the UK fuels network. The card is also accepted at Morrisons, Cooperative, Tesco and Sainsbury’s sites and customers can also collect Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury’s Nectar points.
Shell One & Multifleet
Both the Shell One and Multifleet cards are accepted at 3,800 sites across the country as well as Morrisons sites. Drivers can also collect Shell Go+ rewards via the Shell app. While both of these cards are aimed at different types of fleets, they both offer the same convenience.
Which supermarket fuel card should you choose?
It’s important to make the right decision, not just to save money at the pump, but also for the convenience. The appeal of saving money in the short term might seem appealing, but if you have to travel for those savings, you might not be saving as much as you think.
Take a look at our fuel cards comparison page to find out which card will be best suited to your business needs. Being one of the largest independent fuel card agents, we offer a considerable number of different fuel cards tailored to different needs.
We also have a useful Select Fuel Card tool which, after answering four simple questions can give you up to three fuel cards that will meet your criteria.
Our friendly team are always on hand to talk you through the selection process. Contact us today for more information.
Anyone who manages a fleet will know how quickly fuel costs can add up. But this is a particularly important concern for operators of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). These vehicles tend to spend longer on the road and travel greater distances than cars and vans. This means more fuel consumption and higher bills.
Therefore, it’s vital your use of fuel is as efficient as possible. And this is where having a dedicated HGV fuel card can come in. These services not only save your business money by providing a discount every time you fill up, but also save time as well.
While there are a range of fuel cards available, you need one that’s specifically tailored to the needs of HGV operators. So what should you know about these services, and how can you find the best HGV fuel card?
The unique needs of HGV operators
HGVs have very different needs to other fleet vehicles. As they are obviously much larger than cars and vans, this needs to be factored into activities such as route planning and refuelling. There may be more restrictions on where you can and can’t go, for example, which means careful preparation is a must.
You need HGV-friendly facilities that can provide easy 24/7 access. For instance, you may need to ensure you’re using fuel stations with high canopies, high-speed pumps and wider turning circles designed specifically for these vehicles.
HGV drivers will typically have to stick to set routes and often have tight deadlines to maintain. Therefore, every mile they have to divert from this to find fuel is wasted time and profits.
Why choose an HGV fuel card
Having an HGV fuel card means many of these issues are taken care of. These services ensure you always have access to fuel at suitable locations at competitive pricing. What’s more, you won’t have to worry about things like fluctuating fuel prices, as many cards offer fixed prices, or can quickly alert you to any changes.
However, these are far from the only benefits of an HGV fuel card. Other advantages may include:
Bigger savings at HGV-friendly sites
Fuel management reporting tools
Improved security – no unauthorised payments
Instant email notifications on price changes
Easy online account management
Rewards for other discounts
Simple, interest-free payment terms
Quick, HMRC-approved invoices
The exact benefits on offer will differ from card to card. Therefore, it pays to do your research and take expert advice to find one that’s right for you.
Finding the best HGV fuel card
All the UK’s major fuel brands offer fuel cards designed for HGV use. Many of these are mixed cards that can also be used to fill up other vehicles with petrol and diesel, while others are restricted only to HGVs. Among the most popular HGV-friendly fuel cards are:
BP Bunker Fuel Card
Shell CRT Fuel Card
Texaco Fastfuel Card
Keyfuels Fuel Card
Finding the best HGV fuel card can be challenging. You may not need all the benefits a certain card provides, for instance, while the routes you travel may mean one particular brand’s stations are more conveniently-located than others.
For many firms, coverage will be a key concern. However, it’s important to look beyond the headline figures. For instance, a particular card may boast availability at thousands of sites, but you need to know how many of these will be suitable for HGVs.
If you’re doing a lot of motorway driving, for instance, BP’s Bunker card has the UK’s most extensive network. It offers access to 77 motorway sites, compared with 53 for Shell CRT. However, the Shell card can be used on the M6 toll and lets your drivers collect Go+ rewards that can be used on food and hot drinks as well as fuel.
Selecting an HGV fuel card provider
It’s not just the fuel card itself you should think about. You also need to ensure you’re selecting the right fuel card provider. You need a service that understands the unique needs of your business and can help you find the best HGV fuel card.
A good provider offers more than just access to cheaper fuel. You’ll also benefit from a dedicated account management team who will be available to answer any queries or issues you have.
Providers with proven customer service and a deep understanding of your business ensure that however large your HGV fleet is, you can find the right solution to cut your fuel costs.
To find out how Fuel Card Services can help you, get in touch with our team today, and see which HGV fuel cards would be best for your business.
