How to Choose the Right Fuel Card for Your Business.

How to Choose the Right Fuel Card for Your Business

Choosing a fuel card might seem simple, but with different networks, pricing options and features available, finding the right one for your business isn't always as straightforward as it looks.

The best fuel card isn't necessarily the one with the biggest network or the lowest advertised price. It's the one that works best for your vehicles, drivers, routes and the way your business operates.

And for some businesses, the right solution might even involve more than one fuel card.

Start With Your Fleet

Before comparing fuel cards, it's important to understand what your fleet actually needs.

Think about the types of vehicles you operate, how many drivers you have and where those vehicles spend most of their time.

A small local fleet operating within one area will have very different requirements from a business with vehicles travelling across the UK every day. Likewise, an HGV fleet is likely to have different priorities from a fleet made up primarily of cars or vans.

Understanding how your fleet operates gives you a much better starting point for choosing the right card.

Look at Where Your Drivers Refuel

Network coverage is one of the biggest considerations when choosing a fuel card.

A large network can sound impressive, but what really matters is whether the right filling stations are located where your drivers actually need them.

If drivers regularly have to leave their route to find an accepting station, any potential saving on fuel can quickly be lost through additional mileage and time.

Looking at your regular routes, operating areas and preferred filling stations can help identify which fuel card network is the best fit.

Understand How the Fuel Is Priced

Not every fuel card works in the same way when it comes to pricing.

Depending on the card, you may pay a fixed weekly price, the price displayed at the pump or another agreed pricing structure.

It's important to understand exactly how your fuel will be charged and whether that pricing model suits your business.

Price matters, but it shouldn't be considered in isolation. A competitive fuel price isn't particularly useful if your drivers struggle to find convenient locations where they can use the card.

Consider What You Need to Control

Fuel cards can give businesses much greater control over how drivers pay for fuel.

Depending on the card and provider, controls can be put in place around what can be purchased, helping businesses manage fuel spend and reduce unauthorised transactions.

For businesses with multiple vehicles or drivers, this additional visibility can make managing fuel considerably easier than relying on employees to pay themselves and submit receipts afterwards.

Think About the Admin Too

The benefits of a fuel card aren't limited to the forecourt.

Instead of collecting individual fuel receipts from multiple drivers, businesses can receive consolidated fuel invoices showing transactions across their account.

This can make it easier to monitor fuel spend, manage records and process VAT claims.

For a busy fleet manager or business owner, reducing the amount of time spent dealing with fuel administration can be just as valuable as saving money at the pump.

Don't Assume You Need Just One Fuel Card

One of the biggest mistakes businesses can make is assuming every vehicle and driver needs to use the same card.

Sometimes one fuel card will provide everything a business needs. For other fleets, combining cards across different networks can provide better coverage, pricing and flexibility.

For example, one network may work particularly well for drivers operating locally, while another could be more suitable for vehicles travelling nationally.

The important thing is building the fuel card setup around the fleet, rather than making the fleet work around the card.

Look Beyond the Card Itself

When choosing a fuel card, you're also choosing the company that will help you manage it.

Having access to knowledgeable support can make a significant difference, particularly as your fleet changes or grows.

At Greenarc Fuel Cards, we take the time to understand how a customer's fleet operates before recommending a solution. By looking at factors including vehicle type, routes, fuel usage and business requirements, we can help identify the cards and networks that make the most sense.

Our customers can also use The Arc, our intelligent online portal, to gain greater visibility and control over their fuel card account.

Finding the Right Fuel Card for Your Business

There isn't one fuel card that's right for every business.

The best solution comes from understanding where your drivers travel, what they drive, how much fuel they use and what you need from your fuel card provider.

That's why we believe fuel card management should be driven by insight, not simply by offering everyone the same card.

Driven by Insight, Powered by Partnership.

If you're unsure which fuel card is right for your business, speak to the Greenarc Fuel Cards team. We can look at how your fleet operates and help you find a solution that works for your business.