What are the best gas credit cards for bad credit?

Most gas rewards credit cards require good or excellent credit for approval. You even need at least fair credit to get a gas card that can only be used at a certain gas-station chain. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck.

If you want the convenience of paying at the pump (especially important when it’s cold out or you’re in a hurry), you can simply open a secured credit card. Secured credit cards offer nearly guaranteed approval, given that you are required to place a refundable security deposit which acts as your spending limit. Plus, some secured cards offer rewards from time to time.

The best gas credit card for bad credit is the Discover it Secured Card, which gives cardholders 2% cash back on $1,000 in gas purchases each quarter, plus 1% cash back on all other purchases. And all the rewards you earn the first year get doubled after your account anniversary. Discover it Secured has a $0 annual fee, but you need to place a security deposit of at least $200.

Another good gas card for bad credit is the Official NASCAR Credit Card from Credit One Bank, which gives 1% cash back on most purchases – including gas – plus 2% back on nascar.com. The NASCAR Credit Card does not require a security deposit, it accepts people with bad credit, and you can see if you prequalify online first. But its annual fee could be as high as $99 (or as low as $0).

There isn’t much of a selection, though. Gas credit cards for bad credit are hard to come by because fair credit or better is usually required. So the best choice for you will depend on whether you’re willing to compromise on a security deposit or an annual fee. Keep reading to learn more.

Here are gas credit cards for bad credit:

• Official NASCAR Credit Card from Credit One Bank: Earn 1% back on gas. You get 1% back on all purchases and double that at the NASCAR.com Superstore. The annual fee is $0 - $99 depending on creditworthiness but bad credit is accepted. Plus, you can see if you prequalify without dinging your score.
• Discover it Secured: Get 2% back on gas up to $1,000 in spending each quarter.  You also get 2% back on restaurants purchases up to $1,000 in quarterly spending. All other purchases give 1% back. Rewards earned the first year get doubled. A $200+ security deposit is required, and your credit limit will equal the amount you put down. There is no annual fee.
• Harley-Davidson Secured Credit Card: With every purchase, you earn 1 point per $1 and get entered to win a new motorcycle. So if you want to put Harley savings toward free gas, all while building credit, then this is your card. You’ll need a $300 minimum deposit, but there’s no annual or monthly fees. You can start redeeming for H-D gear at 2,500 points. After a year of responsible use, you may be able to graduate to an unsecured card.
• Credit One Bank Visa: You’ll earn 1% back on gas and some other purchases. The annual fee is up to $95 the first year and up to $99 starting the second year. Credit One may apply the annual fee as equal charges each month.

The biggest things to watch out for on these gas credit cards for bad credit are high interest rates and annual fees. That’s just the price of bad credit. But you can minimize the cost, and your credit can get better! Gas cards can be a great way to build credit history since they are easy to get approved for. Plus, the best part of a routine purchase like gas is that you can pump your credit report full of on-time payments.