Best fuel cards for owner-operators (2026): 10 compared
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Quick answer
Key takeaways
- Stated average discounts run from 42¢/gal (AtoB) to 50¢/gal (OTR). CFX says up to 80¢.
- TCS, Mudflap (app) and AtoB Unlimited need no credit check.
- QP’s escrow depends on your credit score: $0 at 700+, up to $1,500 at 549 and below.
- Monthly fees range from $0 (TCS, QP, Mudflap) to $15 (AtoB Flex for 1–5 cards).
- Coast is built for gasoline and retail stations. Check your diesel lanes before choosing it.
Top picks
Side-by-side comparison (10 compared)
TCS Fuel Card
Transparency 4/4- Fees
- $0 monthly; $0 in-network transaction fees source for $0 monthly; $0 in-network transaction fees
- Discount (vendor-stated)
- Avg 49¢/gal (Q1–Q3 2026 clients) source for Avg 49¢/gal (Q1–Q3 2026 clients)
- Credit / deposit
- Cash-secured, no credit check source for Cash-secured, no credit check
- Network
- 2,300+ in-network; 12,000+ accepting source for 2,300+ in-network; 12,000+ accepting
OTR Fuel Card
Transparency 4/4- Fees
- $0 in-network transaction fees source for $0 in-network transaction fees
- Discount (vendor-stated)
- Avg 50¢/gal source for Avg 50¢/gal
- Credit / deposit
- Ask source for Ask
- Network
- 3,000+ in-network source for 3,000+ in-network
QP Fuel Card
Transparency 4/4- Fees
- $0 POS; registration $3.50, ATM $2.50, QP Pay $5, advance $15 source for $0 POS; registration $3.50, ATM $2.50, QP Pay $5, advance $15
- Discount (vendor-stated)
- Avg 48¢/gal source for Avg 48¢/gal
- Credit / deposit
- Escrow by credit: 700+ $0 … ≤549 $1,500; 2% reserve source for Escrow by credit: 700+ $0 … ≤549 $1,500; 2% reserve
- Network
- 9,000+ stations source for 9,000+ stations
RTS Fuel Card
Transparency 3/4- Fees
- Ask for a quote
- Discount (vendor-stated)
- Avg 45¢/gal source for Avg 45¢/gal
- Credit / deposit
- Up to $3,200/truck/week, or self-funded source for Up to $3,200/truck/week, or self-funded
- Network
- 4,000+ stations source for 4,000+ stations
Mudflap
Transparency 4/4- Fees
- App: $0 debit/ACH, 1.9% credit card source for App: $0 debit/ACH, 1.9% credit card
- Discount (vendor-stated)
- Varies by stop; "up to $1.00/gal" source for Varies by stop; "up to $1.00/gal"
- Credit / deposit
- App: no credit check; fleet card: credit approval source for App: no credit check; fleet card: credit approval
- Network
- 3,500+ stops source for 3,500+ stops
AtoB Unlimited
Transparency 3/4- Fees
- $3/active card/mo; setup $35 source for $3/active card/mo; setup $35
- Discount (vendor-stated)
- Avg 42¢/gal diesel source for Avg 42¢/gal diesel
- Credit / deposit
- Prepaid, no credit check source for Prepaid, no credit check
- Network
- Ask for a quote
AtoB Flex
Transparency 3/4- Fees
- $15/mo for 1–5 cards; setup $35 source for $15/mo for 1–5 cards; setup $35
- Discount (vendor-stated)
- Avg 42¢/gal diesel source for Avg 42¢/gal diesel
- Credit / deposit
- Credit line, no PG; EIN + 3 mo revenue source for Credit line, no PG; EIN + 3 mo revenue
- Network
- Ask for a quote
CFX Fuel
Transparency 3/4- Fees
- Ask for a quote
- Discount (vendor-stated)
- Up to 80¢/gal source for Up to 80¢/gal
- Credit / deposit
- $1,500 credit line per truck source for $1,500 credit line per truck
- Network
- 5,000+ locations source for 5,000+ locations
Apex / TCS card
Transparency 2/4- Fees
- Ask for a quote
- Discount (vendor-stated)
- Ask for a quote
- Credit / deposit
- Factoring client card source for Factoring client card
- Network
- Includes TA/Petro source for Includes TA/Petro
Coast
Transparency 3/4- Fees
- $4/active user/mo source for $4/active user/mo
- Discount (vendor-stated)
- 3–9¢/gal rebate source for 3–9¢/gal rebate
- Credit / deposit
- Ask for a quote
- Network
- 30,000+ partner stations source for 30,000+ partner stations
Prices checked 2026-11-04. Transparency = fields with a published fact.
Worked cost examples
Example: you buy 1,500 gallons of diesel a month (about 10,000 miles at 6.7 mpg, our assumption). Each saving below is the vendor’s stated average times 1,500, minus published monthly fees. Your real savings depend on where you fuel.
| Card | Stated average | Monthly fee | Est. monthly savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTR Fuel Card | 50¢/gal source | $0 in-network | $750 |
| TCS | 49¢/gal source | $0 | $735 |
| QP Fuel Card | 48¢/gal source | $0 POS | $720 |
| RTS | 45¢/gal source | Ask for a quote | $675 before fees |
| AtoB Unlimited (1 card) | 42¢/gal source | $3 | $627 |
Each option, in detail
1. TCS Fuel Card
No fees, no credit checkTCS is cash-secured, needs no credit check, and charges no annual, monthly, membership or activation fees. In-network fuel has $0 transaction fees. TCS says clients averaged 49¢/gal savings from Q1 to Q3 2026, across 2,300+ in-network locations.
Watch for: Out-of-network transaction fees may apply.
Sources: tcsfuel.com
Visit TCS Fuel Card2. OTR Fuel Card
Bundled with factoringOTR says its card averages $0.50/gal savings at 3,000+ in-network stations, with $0 in-network transaction fees. Bundling it with OTR factoring can take up to 0.5% off the factoring rate.
Watch for: Best value when you also factor with OTR.
Sources: otrsolutions.com
Visit OTR Fuel Card3. QP Fuel Card
Low creditQP lists $0 at the point of sale, plus small fixed fees (registration $3.50, ATM $2.50). It states 48¢/gal average savings at 9,000+ stations. Escrow is tied to your credit score, from $0 at 700+ to $1,500 at 549 and below.
Watch for: Escrow can reach $1,500 at low credit scores.
Sources: qptrucking.com
Visit QP Fuel Card4. RTS Fuel Card
Credit line per truckRTS states 45¢/gal average savings at 4,000+ stations, including Pilot Flying J, Sheetz and QuikTrip. The Fleet One option offers credit lines up to $3,200 per truck per week. A self-funded option works regardless of credit score.
Watch for: Discounts only in the RTS network.
Sources: rtsinc.com
Visit RTS Fuel Card5. Mudflap
New authorities, no card neededThe Mudflap app needs no credit check or application, and is fee-free when you pay by debit or ACH. Paying by credit card adds 1.9%. It covers 3,500+ stops. Mudflap also offers a fleet card with no monthly, annual, swipe or out-of-network fees, which requires credit approval.
Watch for: Paying by credit card in the app adds 1.9%.
Sources: mudflapinc.com · mudflapinc.com · mudflapinc.com
Visit Mudflap6. AtoB Unlimited
Prepaid, simpleAtoB Unlimited is prepaid with no credit check. It costs $3 per active card a month plus a $35 setup fee. AtoB states average savings of 42¢/gal on diesel.
Watch for: Per-card monthly fee.
Visit AtoB Unlimited7. AtoB Flex
Credit without a personal guaranteeAtoB Flex adds a credit line with no personal guarantee. It costs $15 a month for 1–5 cards, plus $35 setup, and requires an EIN, a driver license and 3 months of revenue.
Watch for: Needs 3 months of revenue.
Sources: atob.com
Visit AtoB Flex8. CFX Fuel
Credit line for factoring clientsCFX states savings of up to 80¢/gal and a $1,500 credit line per truck at 5,000+ locations.
Watch for: Fees not published.
Sources: cfxfactor.com
Visit CFX Fuel9. Apex / TCS card
Apex factoring clientsApex factoring clients get a fuel card that includes TA/Petro locations.
Watch for: For Apex factoring clients.
Sources: apexcapitalcorp.com
Visit Apex / TCS card10. Coast
Gasoline / pickup hotshotsCoast charges $4 per active user per month, with 3–9¢/gal rebates at 30,000+ partner stations (Exxon, Mobil, Shell and others).
Watch for: Network is retail gas brands; check diesel lanes.
Sources: coastpay.com
Visit CoastFrequently asked questions
Which fuel card has no credit check?
TCS (cash-secured), the Mudflap app and AtoB Unlimited (prepaid) state no credit check. RTS offers a self-funded option regardless of credit score.
Which fuel card saves the most per gallon?
Among stated averages checked Nov 4, 2026: OTR 50¢, TCS 49¢, QP 48¢, RTS 45¢, AtoB 42¢. CFX says up to 80¢. These are each vendor’s own figures.
Which fuel card is best for a new authority?
Cards without credit checks: TCS, the Mudflap app or AtoB Unlimited. QP’s card works too, but escrow rises as your credit score falls.
Are there monthly fees?
TCS states no annual, monthly, membership or activation fees. AtoB Unlimited is $3 per active card, AtoB Flex is $15 for 1–5 cards, and Coast is $4 per active user.
Does a fuel card work at Pilot Flying J or TA?
RTS lists Pilot Flying J among its network, and the Apex/TCS card includes TA/Petro. Check each network map for your lanes.
Related: Cost-per-mile calculator · Factoring companies (OTR takes up to 0.5% off factoring when bundled with its fuel card)