Gas Rewards Programs in Canada: How to Save on Gas in 2024 

Saving on gas has become more critical today as gas prices in Canada continue hitting record highs, leaving consumers finding ways to get cheap gas.

That said, you can get discounted gas prices or points for gas with gas rewards through programs like Petro-Points, PC Optimum and Air Miles, and banks offering credit cards that save on gas, such as Tangerine, Scotiabank and KOHO. 

Sorting through the various rewards programs can be confusing as numerous options exist. This article will help you pick the best gas rewards programs in Canada.

Best Gas Rewards Programs in Canada 

Best Fuel Rewards Programs in Canada	Program Features	Rewards Policy
Petro-Points	Free to join and earn points on every purchase; savings of 3¢/L every time you fill up	For every 1,000 points you accumulate, you get $1 off on any purchase at Petro-Canada.
PC Optimum	Free to earn points on fuel purchases at participating stores; earn points on qualifying purchases and services at Esso and Mobil	Every 4,000 points are equivalent to 10 cents off per litre of fuel (up to a maximum of 40 litres), while 10,000 points can be redeemed for a free car wash.
Air Miles	Rewards members with air miles for eligible purchases at participating Shell locations	Get 1 Air Miles Reward Mile on the following: every 10L of Shell V-Power Fuels, every 20L of Shell Regular and Shell Diesel, and every $5 spend on car washes and eligible non-fuel products.

Below are some of the best programs offering gas rewards in Canada. 

Petro-Points

Petro-Points is a gas rewards program from Suncor Energy where members can join for free and earn points on every purchase in-store and at the pump, from fuel savings to car wash, snacks, gift cards and travel. 

Here are ways to earn Petro-Points:

• When you sign up for the Petro-Points program – 2,500 points 
• RegularClean, PlusClean, SuperClean, Ultra 94 or Diesel Fuel services – 10 points per litre
• Car wash services – 10 points per $1
• Purchases using your RBC debit or credit card – 20% more Petro-Points
• When you link your Hudson’s Bay Rewards card to your Petro‑Points account – 20% more Petro‑Points on your Petro‑Canada purchases

For every 1,000 points you accumulate, you get $1 off on any purchase at Petro-Canada, including gas, car washes and convenience store products. Petro-Points also comes with a Petro-Canada app that lets you pay directly from your phone.   

Pros

• Free to join
• Savings of 3¢/L every time you fill up
• Petro-Points never expire

Cons

• Must activate your card online or through the Petro-Canada app
• Must have an online account with a valid email address to earn and redeem points

PC Optimum

PC Optimum is a loyalty program from President’s Choice Services that you can join for free to earn points on fuel purchases you make at participating stores.

Members earn points in different ways:

• At Esso stations on eligible gasoline or diesel fuel purchases, car wash services and convenience store purchases
• At Mobil stations on qualifying fuel purchases (rates vary by province and location)
• On qualifying fuel purchases at Mobil stations beside a Loblaw banner grocery store
• Up to 10% back in points when using PC Financial Mastercard for purchases
• Creating a PC Optimum online account 

Below are the number of points you earn at Esso and Mobil stations:

• 10 points per whole litre on fuel
• 10 points per dollar on eligible convenience store or car wash purchases
• 30 points per litre on fuel purchases (comprised of 20 points per litre and 10 points per dollar when using a PC Mastercard)

Here is what you can redeem for your PC Optimum points at Esso:

• 4,000 points = 10 cents off per litre of fuel (up to a maximum of 40 litres), or 
• 10,000 points = a free car wash

Pros

• Access to bonus points events
• Weekly offers
• Personalized offers for downloading the app 

Cons

• Can only be redeemed in increments of 10,000
• Must have a program device (key tag, a plastic card or a mobile card) to participate in the program

Find out the ways to maximize your PC Optimum points.

Air Miles

Air Miles is a program that rewards members with air miles for eligible purchases at participating Shell retail locations. 

Once you are a member, you get 1 Air Miles Reward Mile on the following:

• Every 10L of Shell V-Power Fuels
• Every 20L of Shell Regular and Shell Diesel
• Every $5 spend on car washes and eligible non-fuel products

You must activate your Air Miles Cash balance preference to Cash Miles or Dream Miles. Set Cash Miles up by going to the Air Miles Cash page. Build your Air Miles Cash balance by shopping at Shell and other participating partners.

To set your preference to Dream Rewards, go to the Dream Miles page. To build your Air Miles Dream Miles balance, shop at Shell and other participating Air Miles partners. Use your Dream Miles rewards to book travels.

This is also one of the free gas rewards programs in Canada. To avail, use 95 Air Miles Cash Miles for $10 of free fuel when you pay in-store or at the pump of a participating Shell station. 

Pros

• Free fuel, car wash and in-store purchases when you use your Air Miles Cash Miles
• More bonus offers when you download the Shell app
• Air Miles collectors get more miles and benefits by joining Shell Go+

Cons

• Miles cannot be transferred to other loyalty programs
• Service bay repairs are not eligible for Air Miles Reward Miles

Best Credit Cards to Save on Gas

If you spend a lot on gas, credit cards that offer to save on fuel can help lower your expenses. Find below six credit cards that provide rewards points or cash back for your gas purchases.

Tangerine World Mastercard

The Tangerine World Mastercard is a cash back credit card that lets you earn cash back and comes with personalized categories, no annual fee and monthly unlimited money-back rewards.

With this card, you can earn 2% money-back on purchases in two categories of your choice, including gas, and 0.50% money-back rewards on all your other everyday purchases. 

You can also deposit your rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account and get a third 2% money-back category. 

Pros

• Multiple ways to earn points
• 0% annual fee
• Mastercard travel rewards
• Other benefits like access to over 1 million Wi-Fi hotspots through Boingo Wi-Fi

Cons

• Lack of travel insurance coverage
• The 2% cash back is only for three categories and only 0.5% on all others.

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is one of three Amex cards offered by Scotiabank where you earn Scene+ points on various purchases, such as gas.

Scene+ is a rewards program that offers members flexibility in earning and redeeming points for everyday purchases, including gas.

Using this card to purchase gas rewards you with 3x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on gas and daily transit. This includes buses, taxis, rideshare, subway and more.

Pros

• Points do not expire
• Up to 40,000 points introductory offer
• No foreign transaction fees
• Travel insurance

Cons

• $120 annual fee
• High interest rates

KOHO Prepaid Mastercard

The KOHO Prepaid Mastercard is a reloadable prepaid card where you can get instant cash back, earn interest on your account, and earn cash back without interest or fees.

With a KOHO account, you get up to 2% cash back on transportation, which includes your transit card top-up, train or bus ticket, gas purchases and more.

Additionally, you earn 0.5% cashback on all your purchases and up to 5% cashback at select merchants. 

KOHO offers four plans to suit your needs: Easy (free), Essential ($4/month), Extra ($9/month), and Everything ($19/month). All plans come with a 30-day free trial.  

Pros

• Up to 5% Cashback on purchases
• No fees
• Unlimited e-transfers
• Earn interest on your balance
• Free trial

Cons

• Foreign transaction fee
• ATM withdrawal limit of $600
• Daily spending limit of $4,000

Neo Credit

The Neo Credit card offers unlimited cashback and flexible perks that boost rewards without annual fees. Customize it by adding perks to transform your card into an ultimate rewards credit card.  

Combine your Neo Credit Card with Everyday Essentials to get boosted cashback on your daily purchases, including gas. Earn 1.5x more cash back at gas station partners and get exclusive offers at chains like Chevron, Husky and Irving Oil.

Pros

• Free to use
• No hidden fees
• Unlimited cashback
• 15% welcome bonus
• 5% average cashback

Cons

• Monthly fee of $9
• No insurance coverage

CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card

CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card lets you earn 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases. Link an eligible debit or credit card with the loyalty program Journie Rewards to get up to 10 cents off per litre at participating gas stations, namely, Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron.

When you link your CIBC card to Journie Rewards and use it to pay, you earn the following:

• 50 bonus Journie points 
• 75 Points for registering for Journie Rewards
• 75 Points for signing up via the Journie Rewards Mobile App

Pros

• No limit on the total cash back you can earn
• Redeem your cash back anytime through CIBC Online Banking and the CIBC Mobile Banking app
• Free to join Journie Rewards

Cons

• $120 annual fee

BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card is a well-recognized rewards credit card that offers points for eligible purchases, including gas.

With the BMO card, you earn points in different ways:

• 5x the points for every $1 you spend on gas and other everyday purchases
• 10% more points on all purchases when you add an authorized user to your account
• 5x the points on gas, public transit, rideshare, and more
• 1 point for every $1 spent on everything else

Pros

• $50 annual lifestyle credit
• BMO Rewards points can be used to book flights on any major airline
• Waived annual fee of $120 for the first year 

Cons

• High minimum income requirements ($60,000 for individual income and $100,000 for household income) 

Which Gas Rewards Program is Best? 

The best fuel rewards programs give you the most opportunities to save on fuel. These include PC Optimum and Petro-Canada.

PC Optimum is one of the best programs. It lets customers earn points from two sources: Esso and Mobil. Members earn 10 points per litre on fuel and another 10 points per $1 they spend on car washes and purchases from the convenience store. 

If you have a PC Mastercard, you also earn 30 more points if you use this card for your fuel purchases. This consists of 20 points per litre and 10 points per dollar when using your PC Mastercard. 

Petro-Canada has similar features, offering 10 points per litre for fuel services and 10 points per $1 for car wash services. Purchases made using a debit or credit card from RBC earn 20% more Petro-Points. Plus, you get 2,500 points when you sign up.

Pros and Cons of Gas Rewards Programs in Canada

These programs help consumers earn major savings at the pump. While they certainly offer benefits, they can come with disadvantages. 

Pros

• Rewards and discounts for purchasing gas and related services
• Cashback and rewards points for other purchases 
• Introductory offers and signup bonuses

Cons

• Some programs have earning caps that limit the cash back or rewards you get
• Rewards are limited only to fuel and car services

Is It Worth Signing Up for a Gas Rewards Program? 

With gas prices consistently rising, a membership with one of these rewards programs, such as PC Optimum or Petro-Points, can make signing up worth it. With both programs, your 1,000 points would be equal to a $1 discount. So, if you have 10,000 points, you get $10 off.

To get the most benefits, use the right credit cards together with the best gas discount cards in Canada for the maximum earn rate on every dollar you spend on your gas purchases. This way, you can get cheap gas, collect reward points and earn even more points using the right credit card.

FAQs

Related:

• Best Small Business Bank Accounts in Canada
• Wealthsimple High Interest Savings Account Review