All You Need To Know About Gas Rebate Cards
written by Credit-HQ ExpertWith today’s increasing fuel prices, gas rebate cards have become a very good way to reduce fuel costs, especially if you are a have to drive to several places everyday. Driving to and back from your workplace, taking your children to school or kindergarten, and back home again, or shopping for groceries; every bit of gas that you purchase contributes to increase your monthly gas bill. Gas rebate cards can contribute to alleviate some of your fuel expenses, by rewarding you with a percentage of the money you spend on fuel. The amount of money you get back depends on your card; thus, a good one will minimize your costs.
As with all other cards, there are some things you should know before choosing the right gas rebate card. The one that may look like a great deal may not be as good as you thought at first, but keeping a few simple things in mind will allow you to make an informed and wise decision.
An important thing you should ask is how much cash you will get back on every purchase. Typically, gas rebate cards give you rewards that fall within a certain range, usually from as low 2% to as high as 5%. A higher rebate means that a bigger amount of money comes back to your pocket.
A card that offers you a high rebate percentage may look like the best choice at first, but there are some other things to consider before deciding. Some cards have limitations on where you can fill your tank, allowing you to pay for fuel at any gas station but only rewarding you if you buy from a specific one. Typically, gas rebate cards have arrangements with some gas stations, instead of with all of them. This may be very inconvenient, especially if that gasoline station is far from your home or work, because the cost of the fuel your car uses to get that particular fuel provider may be higher than the rewards you may earn with the card you selected.
Hunt for those credit cards that offer rebates for every purchase, regardless of the place where you get your fuel (unless, of course, you are a client of a specific chain of gas providers, in which case you’ll get customer loyalty rewards too). Even if the cash-back percentage is a bit lower, you will have the freedom to choose where to fuel up your car, rather than being forced to use one fuel provider.
Another thing you should know is that there are cards that offer rebates not only on gasoline, but also on a fair number of other goods and services. These usually have a lower cash-back percentage, but the fact that you can use them to buy many different things at several different places may make those cards a better choice, simply because you are rewarded not only at the gas pump, but also at the market, the 24/7 store, and many other places you may buy from. In addition, some cards offer a dual-rebate model, entitling you to higher rebates when buying fuel, but offering lower ones when you buy other things.
Look for gas rebate cards that come with an introductory reward. There are some of them out there that feature a sweet 8% to 10% rebate during a few months, later decreasing to a more typical 3% to 5%. These cards are especially convenient if you obtain one just before a long trip, because they will allow you to make the most out of that high introductory rebate.
Yet another thing you should ask the card issuer is how and when you will qualify for cashing your earned money. Some cards require that you have a certain amount earned in rewards before you can cash out your money; others will not pay you until you reach a certain number of charges, or until you have been using the card for some time. Be aware of these things when you are evaluating your choices.
Finally, you should consider the important aspects that apply to every card. These include the APR (which determines how much you will be charged if you carry a balance), the annual fee (a fixed amount that will be charged every year just for having the card), and the penalty fees (which apply in the event of you failing to pay your bill on time each month).
If you remember to check every card offer carefully, you’ll be able of finding the best deal on a gas rebate card in very little time. Now you know what to look for, finding the most convenient gas rebate card is up to you. Make your choices right and you will be surprised of how much money you’ll be getting back every month!
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.