10 Best Petrol Credit Cards for Singapore (2023)

MoneyMate
Updated:

At their peak last year, petrol prices were close to $4. That’s a big ouch on top of the high costs of owning a car and all the recent inflation.

Petrol credit cards can be a saving grace, cutting almost a quarter of the bill.

Still, the best credit card fits with the rest of your lifestyle – because you’re going to spend on more than just petrol. That’s why today we’re evaluating the best petrol credit cards for Singapore, looking at aspects like:

  • Fuel discounts
  • Cashback and other benefits
  • Spending profiles each card is designed for
  • Annual fees and eligibility requirements
  • Current promotions

Without further ado…

10 Best Credit Cards for Petrol in Singapore (2023)

Credit CardFuel SavingsCashbackGood For
DBS Esso CardUp to 21.6%N/AFuel savings at Esso
OCBC 365 CardUp to 26.8%5%Discounts from multiple petrol franchise names
UOB One CardUp to 22.66%3.33 – 5%Highest cashback rates + fuel savings at Shell and SPC
UOB Absolute Cashback CardUp to 21.15%1.7%High unlimited cashback + fuel savings at Shell and SPC
Standard Chartered Simply Cash CardUp to 20.7%1.5%Fuel savings at Caltex
Citi Cash Back CardUp to 20.88%8%Welcome promotions + fuel savings at Esso and Shell
POSB Everyday CardUp to 21.8%N/AHigh cashback on food delivery + fuel savings at SPC
HSBC Visa Platinum21.15%5%High combined rebates at Caltex and Shell
Maybank Family & Friends CardN/A8%High cashback on a variety of categories, including fuel
Maybank Horizon Visa SignatureN/AN/AHigh local miles-per-dollar earn rate

1. DBS Esso Card

PROMO: Get up to S$200 cash rebate

DBS Esso Card

You’ll get considerable savings at Esso with this card, but only if you incur at least S$180 in fuel spend every month. Don’t bother charging anything besides Esso transactions to this card, though.

PROMO: Get up to S$200 cash rebate

Of the cards on our list, this one offers the highest petrol discounts at Esso service stations. You’ll get up to 21.6% fuel savings at Esso, comprising an 18% instant fuel discount and S$8 fuel savings with minimum S$180 nett fuel spend monthly.

The card automatically enrolls you into Esso’s loyalty programme as well. You’ll earn Smiles Points for every litre of Synergy fuel you buy, which can redeem additional discounts on petrol.

Not so good: You’ll get max Smiles Points only at Esso, so be sure there’s an Esso service station near you. There are little to no other benefits if you use this card for any other retail spending.

Annual fee: S$194.40 with fee waiver for first year

Eligibility: Minimum 21 years old with at least S$30,000 annual income

Current promotion:

  1. Get up to S$200 cash rebate for new-to-DBS  credit card with a minimum spend of  S$500 per month on total retail transaction and with at least 1 fuel spend per month at any Esso service station in Singapore for all 2 months from the date of card approval. (Valid until 30 June 2023)

2. OCBC 365 Card

OCBC 365 Card

While not the best cashback card in Singapore, the OCBC 365 Card is a well-rounded general spend card for families. It offers fuel savings at Esso, Caltex, and Sinopec along with up to 6% cashback for everyday expenses.

This card offers versatility to the average household with multiple drivers, since you don’t have to stick with a single petrol franchise. You’ll get:

  • Up to 20.2% in fuel savings at Esso
  • Up to 22.1% in fuel savings at Caltex, including 18% upfront discount on Techron® fuels
  • Up to 26.8% in fuel savings at the three Sinopec stations in Singapore
  • 25% off fuel on your first CaltexGO payment, and 18% off fuel on all subsequent CaltexGO payments
  • 5% cashback on petrol at all service stations

These petrol promotions change regularly. You’ll find an updated list here.

You need to spend at least S$800 on this card monthly to maximise benefits on this card, but this won’t be difficult. You’ll get cashback for dining and food delivery (6%), groceries (3%), land transport (3%), utilities (3%), and online travel (3%).

Read also: 9 Best Cashback Credit Cards for Singapore

Not so good: An $80 cashback cap per month means you’ll have to monitor your spending to make the most of this card. 

Annual fee: S$194.40 with fee waiver for two years. Thereafter, automatic fee waiver with S$10,000 annual spend

Eligibility: Minimum 21 years old with at least S$30,000 annual income

Current promotion:

  1. Free 12-month Burpple Beyond Premium membership when you spend  S$500 in the month following your card approval. Capped at the first 5,000 customers.

3. UOB One Card

PROMO: Receive S$350 Grab vouchers for the first 200 new-to-UOB credit card customers

UOB One Card

If you can manage the complicated cashback calculations and high minimum spend, the UOB One Card offers up to 10% rebate to those who regularly shop at the participating merchants. Those on a budget are better off with a more versatile card, however.

PROMO: Receive S$350 Grab vouchers for the first 200 new-to-UOB credit card customers

The UOB One touts itself as “Singapore’s most generous cashback card,” which is true for the most part. You’ll get up to 10% cashback on everyday brands like Guardian, Giant, and Cold Storage. Even Shopee and public transport transactions get high cashback, so it should be easy for many families to maximise this card.

You’ll just have to jump through a few hoops to qualify for max rebates, like spending S$2,000 for three consecutive months every quarter. If that sounds doable, the UOB One is an appealing offer.

In the petrol department, you’ll get up to 21.15% in fuel savings from Shell and 22.66% from SPC. If you met the minimum requirements, you’ll get another 5% cashback on Shell transactions.

Not so good: Complicated cashback tiering system. For one, you’ll only get cashback quarterly instead of monthly. Two, you’ll need to hit the minimum spend for all three months in the quarter to qualify.

Annual fee: S$194.40 with fee waiver for one year

Eligibility: Minimum 21 years old with at least S$30,000 annual income

Current promotion: First 200 new-to-UOB credit card customers can get S$350 Grab vouchers when you spend a minimum of S$1,000 for 2 consecutive months from card approval date. (Valid until 30 April 2023) Click to apply.

4. UOB Absolute Cashback Card

PROMO: Get S$350 Grab vouchers for the first 200 new-to-UOB credit card customers

UOB Absolute Cashback Card

UOB touts its Absolute Cashback Card as having the best unlimited cashback rate, and it’s upheld that reputation so far. With almost no spending exclusions, this is a must-have card for insurance premiums, GrabPay top-ups, healthcare bills, and more.
Read full review
PROMO: Get S$350 Grab vouchers for the first 200 new-to-UOB credit card customers

UOB seems to pride itself on offering the highest cashback rates, because it’s done it again here: the UOB Absolute Cashback Card has the “highest limitless cashback rate in Singapore” at the time of writing.

But unlike the UOB One Card, the UOB Absolute Cashback Card is a breeze to maintain.

For one, it has no minimum spend and virtually no spending exclusions to the 1.7% unlimited cashback rate. You don’t have to track your spending or ensure you meet all the requirements. Two, you’ll find other unlimited cashback cards exclude categories like hospital bills, GrabPay top-ups, or taxes – not this card.

Like the UOB One Card, you’ll get up to 21.15% in fuel savings at Shell and 22.66% at SPC.

Not so good: You need to be a high spender to make the most of this unlimited cashback card. Otherwise, a standard cashback card with monthly cashback caps would benefit you more.

Annual fee: S$194.40 with fee waiver for one year

Eligibility: Minimum 21 years old with at least S$30,000 annual income

Current promotion: Get S$350 Grab vouchers for the first 200 new-to-UOB Credit Cardmembers when you spend a minimum of S$1,000 per month for 2 consecutive months from card approval date. (Valid until 30 April 2023) Click to apply.

5. Standard Chartered Simply Cash Card

PROMO: Receive up to S$250 cashback

Standard Chartered Simply Cash Card

Consumers planning for major life-changing events (e.g. home renovations, marriage) may want to consider this card. Otherwise, there are other unlimited cashback cards offering better rates with fewer exclusions.
Unlimited
1.5% cashback on all spending
No Minimum
spending required
S$280
cashback plus 6 months of Disney+
Read full review
PROMO: Receive up to S$250 cashback

On the surface, this card doesn’t look as attractive as the UOB Absolute Cashback Card. After all, it only offers a 1.5% unlimited cashback rate along with the ability to earn rewards on taxes, education bills, insurance premiums, and rental payments.

But combine that with all the current sign-up promotions and we think it’s worth another look.

Fuel-wise, it also offers 20.7% in discounts at Caltex and a 23% upfront discount for new-to-CaltexGO customers.

Not so good: Once you’ve redeemed the sign-up promotions, there’s little incentive to renew past the first year.

Annual fee: S$194.40 with fee waiver for two years

Eligibility: Minimum 21 years old with at least S$30,000 annual income

Current promotion: New applicants receive up to S$250 cashback when you activate your physical Simply Cash Credit Card within 30 days of card approval date. (Valid until 30 April 2023)

6. Citi Cash Back Card

PROMO: Receive a Dyson V8 Absolute™ (worth S$609) or Sony WH-1000XM5 (worth S$575) or Flujo Ayla Ergonomic Office Chair (worth S$1,139) or S$300 Cash via PayNow

Citi Cash Back Card

8% cashback on groceries is already a good deal, but the Citi Cash Back Card tops it off by giving you rebates on grocery purchases worldwide. If you spend quite a bit on cooking and dining out, this is a card worth considering.
Read full review
PROMO: Receive a Dyson V8 Absolute™ (worth S$609) or Sony WH-1000XM5 (worth S$575) or Flujo Ayla Ergonomic Office Chair (worth S$1,139) or S$300 Cash via PayNow

Step right up, foodies: this is a card designed to appeal to international taste buds. If you find yourself driving across the country (even foreign ones) in search of a good meal, the Citi Cash Back Card may be for you.

This card offers 6% cashback on dining, 8% on groceries, and 8% on petrol stations worldwide. Locally, you’ll also get up to 20.88% in discounts at Esso and Shell service stations.

Not so good: Doesn’t reward spending on anything besides groceries, dining out, and petrol. You’ll only get 0.25% cashback for all other retail purchases.

Annual fee: S$194.40 with fee waiver for one year

Eligibility: Minimum 21 years old with at least S$30,000 annual income

Current promotion: Receive a Dyson V8 Absolute™ (worth S$609) or Sony WH-1000XM5 (worth S$575) or Flujo Ayla Ergonomic Office Chair (worth S$1,139) or S$300 Cash via PayNow with a minimum spend of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. (Valid until 2 April 2023) Click to apply.

7. POSB Everyday Card

PROMO: Get S$150 cashback with promo code 150CASH

POSB Everyday Card

SPC, Lazada, Shopee, Foodpanda, Deliveroo, and Sheng Siong – if these are brands you regularly transact with, then you’ll find the POSB Everyday Card a practical option. The biggest downside is its low cashback cap per category.

PROMO: Get S$150 cashback with promo code 150CASH

Bringing us back to heartland Singapore is the POSB Everyday Card. This card is one of the few that doesn’t offer cashback at petrol stations, so we wouldn’t rank it at the top of our list. Still, they currently have a promotion offering up to 21.8% in fuel savings at SPC service stations until 30 September this year.

Other than that, the card offers:

  • 10% cashback on foodpanda, Deliveroo, and WhyQ (notably, GrabFood is absent)
  • 3% on all other dining spend, excluding fast food
  • 5% on online shopping like Lazada, Shopee, Qoo10, Amazon.sg, iHerb, and Taobao

Not so good: Low S$15 cashback cap per category combined with an S$800 minimum spend means you’ll need to spend quite a bit on categories with low cashback rates.

Annual fee: S$194.40 with fee waiver for one year

Eligibility: Minimum 21 years old with at least S$30,000 annual income

Current promotion: New DBS/POSB cardmembers get S$150 cashback when they enter the promo code 150CASH and spend S$800 within 60 days of card approval. Valid until 30 June 2023.

8. HSBC Visa Platinum Card

PROMO: Receive a Samsonite Prestige 69cm Spinner Exp with built-in scale (worth S$670) or S$200 cashback

HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

The HSBC Visa Platinum was designed for families who drive and dine out frequently. Plus points if you have more family members eligible for supplementary cards – you’ll get cashback per supplementary card.
Read full review
PROMO: Receive a Samsonite Prestige 69cm Spinner Exp with built-in scale (worth S$670) or S$200 cashback

Think S$800 minimum spend is too high for one card? The HSBC Visa Platinum Card drops the requirement to just S$600. Besides the 21.15% in fuel savings at Caltex and Shell, you’ll get a 5% cash rebate on fuel, dining, and groceries.

Another plus: HSBC likes it when you get cards for the whole family. You’ll get S$30 cashback for every supplementary card you apply for (up to five cards).

Not so good: Only 5% cashback on petrol, dining, and groceries compared to the Citi Cash Back Card’s 6-8% or the Maybank Family and Friends Card’s 8%.

Annual fee: S$194.40 with fee waiver for two years. Thereafter, automatic fee waiver with S$12,500 annual spend

Eligibility: Minimum 21 years old with at least S$30,000 annual income

Current promotion: Receive a Samsonite Prestige 69cm Spinner Exp with built-in scale (worth S$670) or S$200 cashback with minimum spend of S$500 in eligible transactions from card account opening date to the end of the following month. (Valid until 30 April 2023) Click to apply.

9. Maybank Family and Friends Card

Maybank Family and Friends

With an expansive list of eligible spending categories, the Maybank Family & Friends Card is one of the best cashback cards you’ll find. It’s not the best card for travel-related transactions, but it’s an easy go-to card for everyday expenses locally.
Read full review

The Maybank Family and Friends Card offers a higher-than-average 8% cashback on five categories of your choosing. One of the available options is Transport, which covers everything from ride-hailing apps and public transport to petrol. Other than that, you can choose from:

  1. Groceries
  2. Dining & Food Delivery
  3. Data Communication & Digital Streaming
  4. Retail & Pets
  5. Online Fashion
  6. Entertainment
  7. Pharmacy
  8. Sports
  9. Beauty & Wellness

Read also: 9 Best Cashback Credit Cards for Singapore

There’s a minimum spend of $800 to qualify for the 8% rebate, and cashback is capped at $25 per category. (That equates to a max spending of $312.50 if you spend your Transport allowance all on petrol.)

Not so good: No promotional offers for fuel savings, so all you’ll get is the 8% cashback.

Annual fee: S$180 with fee waiver for three years

Eligibility: Minimum 21 years old with at least S$30,000 annual income

10. Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card

PROMO: Get a Samsonite Harts 68/25 Spinner worth S$550*

Maybank Horizon Card

Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card is an entry-level miles card with a generous 3-year fee waiver and free supplementary cards. The 3.2 MPD for local spend goes beyond the usual rates offered by most other miles cards.
Read full review
PROMO: Get a Samsonite Harts 68/25 Spinner worth S$550*

Some prefer maximising fuel savings, some cashback, and yet others prefer earning air miles for their next trip. That’s what the Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card is for. With this card, you’ll get a market-leading 3.2 MPD (8X TREATS points) on all fuel spend, restaurants, public transport, Grab and taxi rides, and Agoda bookings.

Bonus TREATS Points are capped at 30,000 per calendar month, but this should be more than enough for a single card. (You’ll only max it out with about $4,285 in eligible spending.)

Not so good: Like the Maybank Family and Friends Card, there are no promotional offers for fuel beyond the 3.2 MPD on petrol.

Annual fee: S$180 with fee waiver for three years. Thereafter, automatic fee waiver with S$18,000 annual spend

Eligibility: Minimum 21 years old with at least S$30,000 annual income

Current promotion: Apply for a new Maybank Credit Card and CreditAble, and charge to your Credit Card and/or withdraw from your CreditAble Account a minimum of S$300 for each of the first two consecutive months upon approval. Limited to the first 4,500 approved applicants and exclusive to first-time applicants. Subsequent approved applicants will receive S$100 Cash Credit. Click to apply.