Fuel cards — cut your biggest running cost

Fuel is one of the biggest costs of driving for a living. A fuel card can save you money at the pump, simplify your VAT and cut your admin. Here's how they work and which type suits taxi drivers.

Save at the pump

HMRC-compliant invoicing

EV charging cards available

Fuel savings calculator — see what you could save

Weekly miles driven

800 miles/week

Vehicle MPG

38 MPG

Saving per litre

6p / litre

£7 Saving per week

£30 Saving per month

£363 Saving per year

Estimate only, based on the figures you enter. Actual savings depend on the card, where you fill up and fuel prices on the day.

Compare fuel card types

Which fuel card suits a taxi driver?

There's no single "best" card — it depends on where you fill up and how you drive. Here are the three main types, with honest pros and cons for professional drivers.

Often best for taxi drivers

Supermarket

Supermarket fuel cards

e.g. fuelGenie — Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons

Supermarket forecourts are typically cheaper than the national average

Ideal for town and city driving — where most taxi work is

Often no card fee, plus loyalty points (Clubcard, Nectar)

HMRC-compliant invoices — no more chasing receipts

Smaller network — best if you rarely use motorways

Network

Branded network cards

Shell, BP, Esso, Texaco sites

Wide coverage including motorways and 24/7 sites

Fixed weekly pricing on some cards (price certainty)

Good if you drive longer distances or out of town

Some include reward points (Shell Go+, BPme)

May involve a credit check

Fleet

Fleet & multi-network cards

Radius, Right Fuel Card, The Fuel Store

Largest networks — 4,000+ sites including supermarkets & motorways

Best for fleet owners running several vehicles

Fleet management tools, card controls and fraud protection

Often EV charging cards and AdBlue options too

Usually involves a credit check

The basics

How fuel cards save you money

A fuel card works like a payment card for fuel, but with benefits aimed at people who drive for a living. Instead of paying at the pump and keeping receipts, your fuel goes onto one account with a single, HMRC-compliant invoice — which makes your VAT and bookkeeping far simpler.

The saving comes in one of two ways depending on the card: either a fixed weekly price set in advance (so you're protected from price rises that week), or a discount off the pump price at participating stations. Supermarket cards tend to give you access to lower supermarket pump prices, while fleet cards negotiate bulk rates across big networks.

Whether a card saves you money depends on where you actually fill up. If you do mostly town driving and pass supermarkets, a supermarket card usually wins. If you cover longer distances or want motorway access, a network or fleet card makes more sense.

What to check before you choose

Where you fill up. Check the card's stations are ones on your usual routes — a great rate is useless if the sites are out of your way.
Fees vs saving. Some cards charge a small fee but save more per litre; some are free but give a smaller discount. Work out the net saving for your mileage.
Fixed price vs pump discount. Decide whether you'd rather lock in a weekly price or take a discount off whatever the pump shows.
Credit check & billing. Supermarket cards often skip credit checks; fleet cards usually require one. Check the billing cycle suits your cash flow.

CabNation is building partnerships with fuel card providers to bring drivers exclusive deals. Register your interest above and we'll let you know as cards become available. We don't provide financial advice — always confirm current rates and terms with the provider.