Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred Is Now My Go-to Card for Gas and EV Charging

Gas and public EV charging are everyday expenses for many, and they’re a major part of the budget on road trips.

The refreshed Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card now earns 3 points per $1 on gas and public EV charging — an estimated 6% return based on Upgraded Points’ 2 cents-per-point valuation of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. That makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred card the best card for travelers who want to earn transferable rewards on fuel.

Why Fuel Rewards Matter More Now

Average gas prices have risen 29.1% year over year. On average, gas is up nearly $1 per gallon since May 2025, which makes a difference at fill-up time whether you’re making an everyday commute or trekking across state lines (Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis).

The average airfare has also risen 26.7% year over year, increasing by $64.75 (Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). Road trips may look appealing when flights are expensive, but higher fuel prices mean drivers have more reason to earn the best rewards possible on every gas fill-up or charging stop.

Cue the Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s refresh, which fills a gap in earning valuable transferable rewards on gas and EV charges.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card’s New Fuel Advantage

As part of new benefits added to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, it now earns 3x points on gas and EV charging as a year-round category with no limit on how much you can earn.

The new fuel category is especially useful because it closes a gap in the Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s earning structure. It was already strong for travel and dining, but drivers only earned 1x on gas and EV charging until June 2026.

BEST FIRST TRAVEL CARD

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

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

Welcome Offer

Earn 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

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

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 $95 annual fee card also earns:

• 5x on Chase Travel
• 3x on dining, online groceries, eligible streaming services, and vacation rentals
• 2x on general travel
• 1x on everything else

It’s an especially strong road trip card because it offers up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel and provides travel protections, including 24/7 roadside assistance (service fees apply).

Earning 3x points on gas and EV charging equates to a 6% return on spending if you consider that Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2 cents each. Getting 2 cents per point generally means transferring points to Chase airline or hotel partners instead of redeeming them for cash-back.

The best ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points include business-class awards or luxury hotel stays, where points stretch the furthest. But if you cash out points at 1 cent each, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s return on fuel is effectively 3%, and a 4% or 5% cash-back fuel card could be better.

How the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Earns Better Than Other Fuel Cards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card isn’t the only card to earn 3x points on fuel, and some cash-back cards offer 4% or 5%. But when you factor in the 2-cent-per-point value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, no personal card comes close to the 6% return on gas and EV charging that the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers.

Compare top gas and EV cards to see how much you can get back on $3,000 in annual fuel spending:

The Citi Strata Premier card and Wells Fargo Autograph card earn 3x points on gas and EV charging, just like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. These cards might appear to be on equal footing with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card when it comes to fuel rewards, but the earning rate only tells half the story.

Transferable rewards are where points become the most valuable, and Chase Ultimate Rewards are worth 2 cents per point. We value Citi ThankYou Points at 1.6 cents each, and Wells Fargo Rewards points at 1.5 cents each. That gives the Citi Strata Premier card a 4.8% return on spending and the Wells Fargo Autograph card a 4.5% return on spending, both less than the 6% return on spending from the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

The Costco Anywhere card earns 5% back on Costco gas and 4% on other eligible gas and EV charging, offering a return of 4% to 5% back in Costco cash. That’s valuable if you’re a loyal Costco shopper, but still not worth as much as what you can earn in Chase Ultimate Rewards with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Why I’m Choosing the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Fuel Spending

The value math is compelling for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s fuel rewards. It’s good for travelers who like to earn and spend Chase Ultimate Rewards, especially drivers who often spend on gas, EV charging, or both. The card is also a strong choice for road trippers who want a single card with bonus points that span fuel, hotels, dining, and general travel.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is less ideal if you only want cash-back, charge your EV almost exclusively at home, or don’t have a realistic plan to redeem Chase points for more than 1 cent each. For business owners, the Amex Business Gold card offers greater rewards potential than the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Final Thoughts

If you value travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is the best personal card for gas and EV charging. With its uncapped 3x earning rate, cardholders can get an estimated 6% return on spending when transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners. That beats out the comparable 3x categories of the Citi Strata Premier card and Wells Fargo Autograph card, as well as cards offering up to 5% cash-back fuel rewards.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s strong rewards on gas and EV charging make it particularly useful for turning everyday gas fill-ups and EV charging sessions into future travel. And with bonus points on travel and everyday spending, including dining, online groceries, and streaming services, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card can be a versatile card beyond road trips.