One way to counter the cost of filling up your motor is to get something back on the money you spend.
While selecting the right credit card is a smart move, so too is making use of the loyalty schemes offered by the various fuel outlets.
One of the biggest, from BP, has just undergone a bit of a makeover too.
Here's a round-up of the best schemes out there, along with the different perks you can enjoy.
Branded fuel schemes
First, we’ll run through the best branded fuel schemes from BP, Shell and Texaco.
BP
BP has rejigged its BPMe programme to deliver a bit of extra value when purchasing items at the till, besides fuel.
Shoppers will benefit from discounted prices on selected products, including L&S Food and Wild Bean Cafe, when they scan their BPME Rewards card or app at the till. The discounts are applied automatically, with eligible products set to change throughout the year.
Of course the real selling point of the scheme is the ability to earn points when you purchase fuel.
You pick up one point for every litre of fuel you buy (rising to two points when purchasing Ultimate fuel), as well as one point for every £1 spent in the shop.
Points are worth 0.5p, so once you've racked up 200 points you'll be able to claim £1 off of your fuel or shop purchases.
Or you can save up your points to get items from the BP rewards catalogue, or trade them in for gift vouchers from selected partners, like Marks & Spencer or Amazon.
The points you build up expire after two years of inactivity on your account, so make sure you keep using the card in order to build up your rewards.
When you register your BPme card, you'll get a bonus 500 points (value £2.50) to help get you started.
Texaco
Texaco’s Star Rewards works in a similar way to the BP scheme except each point is worth 1p.
You’ll earn one point for every litre of unleaded or diesel fuel you purchase.
Once you've reached 500 points, you can choose from a range of £5 vouchers via love2shop for the likes of M&S and Argos.
Alternatively, you can get a £5 Texaco voucher or choose to give your reward as a charitable donation to Action for Children, which Texaco will double.
As a new member, you'll receive 200 bonus points for registering and downloading the app, as well as double points on your first three fillups with the app.
Shell
If Shell is your go-to garage for filling up, it’s worth registering for Shell Go+. You can order a card and key fob online or download the app to access the benefits straight away.
You’ll get a fuel reward every tenth visit, which Shell counts as anytime that you spend at least £10 on fuel or £2 in the shop.
There are also several discounts available to Shell Go+ members, including 10% off some of its food ranges and hot drinks, as well as Shell lubricants and car washes.
If you prefer to fill up on Shell V Power, you’ll get a £3 reward for every 300 litres that you purchase.
Slash your fuel bill with these savvy motoring tips
Supermarket schemes
Supermarkets are popular places to fill up tanks and with good reason.
They're typically cheaper than branded fuel stations, convenient and offer some great reward schemes, as we've outlined below.
The cheapest supermarket home deliveries
Nectar card
Nectar is one of the biggest supermarket loyalty schemes, which allows you to earn points in store, online and at Sainsbury's forecourts.
You’ll earn one Nectar point for every litre of fuel you purchase at a Sainsbury’s petrol station and for every £1 you spend in a Sainsbury’s store.
Esso has teamed up with Sainsbury's to create Esso Nectar, where you collect points any time you fill up at a participating service station.
As with Sainsbury's own petrol stations, you'll get one Nectar point for every litre of fuel bought, plus two Nectar points for every £1 spent in Esso shops and on the car wash.
Any Nectar points you earn, whether through buying fuel or through racking them up elsewhere, can be spent on fuel at Sainsbury’s or Esso. With the latter, you can cut the cost of the fuel by 5p per litre by using 300 points.
Tesco Clubcard
If you fill up at a Tesco petrol station, you’ll earn one point for every two litres you buy. You’ll receive £1.50 worth of vouchers for every 150 points you collect.
These can be spent in store, online, at petrol stations or on other rewards such as cinema tickets and days out. You can find the full list on the Tesco Clubcard website.
Tesco also has a partnership with Esso, allowing you to collect Clubcard points if that’s where you prefer to shop. You can only claim Clubcard points at Esso petrol stations that have a Tesco Express shop.
You’ll collect one Clubcard point for every £3 spent on fuel.
Points can be spent on fuel, so make sure you have a look at our guide on how to boost the amount of Clubcard points you collect to get the most out of your card.
Credit cards
Credit cards can be a handy way to get cashback or even boost your Nectar or Clubcard points and save even more on fuel.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury’s has a number of credit cards on offer, including the 28-month 0% balance transfer card.
All of Sainsbury’s cards offer two Nectar points for every £1 you spend on fuel and one point for every £5 spent elsewhere.
But before you apply for any credit card, make sure you're aware of any fees.
Tesco
If you pay using a Tesco credit card like the Tesco Bank Purchases card, you can collect one Clubcard point for every £4 spent on fuel at Tesco, plus a point for every litre you buy.
On top of that, you can also collect one Clubcard for every £8 spent elsewhere.
Of course, you should make sure any credit card is right for your needs – the Purchase card may not be for everyone as it is designed to help those who want to spread the payments on their spending.
NatWest/RBS Reward Credit Card
Getting a NatWest/RBS Reward Credit Card will get you 0.25% cashback at supermarket petrol stations (and 1% on supermarket spend).
The card comes with a £24 annual fee although this will be refunded if you also have a Reward current account.
For more information on credit cards, check out loveMONEY’s guide to the best rewards cards.
Also, have a look at our tips for finding the cheapest petrol and diesel to make sure you're not paying over the odds.
