Is It Worth Using the Chase Sapphire Preferred To Pay for Gas? We Did the Math

Updated: August 3, 2026, 9:46am CDT

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Table of Contents

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Bonus Points on Gas
What These Extra Points Are Worth
Comparing Credit Cards on Their Gas Earnings
Final Thoughts

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card has always been a strong all-around travel card. Gas just wasn’t part of the equation until June 15, 2026, when Chase finally added gas and EV charging as a 3x earning category.

If you fill up regularly, here’s what that change is actually worth, both as a return on spending and in terms of extra points over the course of a year.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Bonus Points on Gas

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card now earns 3 Ultimate Rewards points per $1 spent on gas and EV charging purchases — and there’s no annual cap on this category. Every dollar you spend at the pump or an EV charging station earns at that rate all year long.

Before June 15, 2026, gas was a 1x category on the card. The jump to 3x is substantial, and it puts the Chase Sapphire Preferred card in competitive territory with some of the most popular dedicated gas cards — and puts it ahead of most of them, once you factor in what those points are actually worth and limitations on the other cards.

What These Extra Points Are Worth

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average U.S. household spent $2,411 on gas in 2024. At the old 1x rate, that spending earned 2,411 Ultimate Rewards points, worth about $48 at our valuation of Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents each.

At 3x bonus points, the same $2,411 in spending yields 7,233 points, worth about $145 annually. That’s an extra 4,822 points from the category change alone, adding nearly $97 in value.

Sams Club Gas Station — How much do you spend on gas per year? Image Credit: Stella Shon

For households that spend more at the pump, the numbers climb higher. BLS data shows the top income quintile averages $3,477 on gas annually — a figure likely closer to what many Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders actually spend.

Bottom Line:

At 3x points, that’s 10,431 points per year on gas alone. Previously, these cardholders earned $69.54 worth of points annually, but now they can earn $208.62 worth of points. That’s no small difference — and this bonus category category pays for the $95 annual fee by itself!

Comparing Credit Cards on Their Gas Earnings

Several cards offer higher earn rates on gas — up to 5x points in some cases. But the multiplier doesn’t tell the full story. Let’s compare the Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s new 3x rate to other popular options, assuming $2,411 in annual gas spending:

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Card Name	Earning Rate on Gas	Redemption Value*	Effective Return Rate*
Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card	3x points	2 cents	6%
Citi Strata Premier^® Card	3x points	1.8 cents	5.4%
Citi Custom Cash^® Card (closed to new applicants)	5% cash-back on your top spending category each billing cycle, up to $500 spent (then 1% back)	1.8 cents (if redeemed as points instead of cash-back)	9%
Sam’s Club^® Mastercard^®	5% back in Sam’s Cash, up to the first $6,000 spent annually (then 1%)	1 cent	5%
Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi	5% back on gas at Costco and 4% back on gas elsewhere, up to $7,000 in combined spending annually (then 1% back)	1 cent	5%
Wells Fargo Autograph^® Card	3x points	1.5 cents	4.5%
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature^® Card	5x points	0.85 cents	4.3%
Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express	3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations	1 cent	3%

*These numbers are based on our latest points and miles valuations and are not provided by the card issuers.

For example, the PenFed Platinum card earns 5x points on gas. That rate looks impressive until you see what those points are worth — about 0.85 cents each — putting the effective return on spending at 4.3%. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s 3x on points that are worth 2 cents each produces a 6% return, beating the PenFed Platinum card in total value despite the lower multiplier.

BEST FIRST TRAVEL CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome OfferEarn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.49 - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation home rentals with top brands, and streaming services.

It offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and strong travel insurance coverage, including primary car rental insurance. If you travel a few times a year and spend on dining, the card is likely to be a good choice, but it’s hard to justify if you don’t dine out or travel often.

Pros & Cons

Pros

5x points on all travel booked via Chase Travel
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation home rentals with top brands (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

$95 annual fee
Subject to Chase’s 5/24 application restrictions

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Card Highlights

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes at top brands, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.
Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation, and more.
Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $180.
Complimentary DashPass membership, a $120 value for 12 months. Enjoy $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders, plus exclusive Chase savings on grocery, everyday essentials, and more. Activate by 12/31/29.
Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.49 - 27.74% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The same principle applies to cards earning cash-back. The Sam’s Club card and Costco Anywhere card each earn 5% back on gas, which on paper, are solid returns. But the face value of cash-back is all you get, and remember that you earn rewards tied to the store with both of these cards.

Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2 cents apiece on average, based on the value available with Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners. The value of cash-back earnings can’t be stretched: It’s worth what it’s worth.

And then there are the cards with earning limits and restrictions to consider. The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card only earns 3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations. Cards from Sam’s Club and Costco have solid earning rates as cash-back, but those have annual limits (though the limits are more than enough for the average household).

Similarly, a $500 monthly cap should be sufficient with the Citi Custom Cash card, but the 5% earnings only apply to gas if that’s your top spending category that month. If you spend more on some other purchase category during any billing cycle, you don’t earn 5% back on gas.

Final Thoughts

The 3x gas category turns the Chase Sapphire Preferred card into a competitive option at the pump — not just a strong travel card with a gap in earnings in a very common spending category. For the average household, the upgrade is worth close to $100 per year in additional value, and the value multiplies for those who spend more on gas each year.