The PC Optimum and Petro-Points programs offer the same cents-per-point value, but since PC Optimum also helps users save on groceries, it earns the title of best gas rewards program in Canada. Still, depending on proximity, prices, and your preferred credit card for buying gas, the best program for you may be different.
Here, you'll find a comprehensive review of the top gas rewards programs, including where to earn, how to earn, and which credit cards to use.
Key Takeaways
- The best gas station rewards program is Esso's, giving you up to 0.5% back in PC Optimum points, which can go up to 1.5% with affiliated credit cards.
- The best gas credit card is the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card, which can get you 4% cash back.
- You can use your Amex Cobalt card at Esso and scan your PC Optimum card to earn the highest-possible return of 4.5% on your gas purchases.
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What's the best gas station rewards program?
Each of the main gas stations in Canada has a rewards program that gives you points for every transaction, but the best program is PC Optimum at Esso.
To determine which is the best program, we looked at how many points you'd earn for buying 20 litres of regular fuel (assuming it costs $40) and divided that by the rate of return to find a program's point value.
We found that Esso and PC Optimum give you 0.5% return on every dollar you spend, making these the most valuable gas rewards programs. You can see the details below:
| Gas station | Rewards program | Earn rate | Point value | Rate of return | With affiliated credit card |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esso | PC Optimum | 10 points per litre | 0.1 cents | 0.5% | * 1.5% * With PC Financial Mastercards, you get 600 points – 30 points per litre |
| Petro-Canada | Petro-Points | 10 points per litre | 0.1 cents | 0.5% | * 2.1% + credit card rewards * Earn 20% more points and save 3 cents per litre when using an RBC card. |
| Shell | Scene+ | 1 point per litre | 1 cent | 0.5% | * Save 3 cents per litre with an eligible Scotiabank or Tangerine card * Scene+ cardholders save an additional 4 cents per litre on Shell V-Power |
| Ultramar, Chevron, On the Run, Pioneer, Fas Gas | Journie Rewards | 1–2 points per litre or per $1 spent | N/A | Varies widely | * Save 3 cents per litre with any CIBC card |
* Note: All comparisons assume a price of $2 per litre, with 20 litres purchased for $40.
PC Optimum and Esso
You can earn PC Optimum points on your Esso purchases at the following rates:
- 10 points per litre of fuel purchased, regardless of fuel grade, plus an additional 10 points per litre if you buy premium gasoline
- 10 points per $1 on any other purchase at Esso stations, including eligible convenience store purchases and car washes
For even more points, you'll get at least 30 points per litre when you complete the purchases with the PC Mastercard or earn 70 points per litre with a PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard.
Once you have your points padding your wallet, you have 3 options to redeem your PC Optimum points:
- Redeem for Loblaws purchases
- Redeem for fuel discount at Esso
- Redeem for a free car wash at Esso
| Redemption option | Redemption rules | Point value | Return on $40 of fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loblaws purchase | 10,000 points = $10 off | 0.1 cents per point | 0.5% |
| Esso fuel discount | 4,000 points = 10 cents saved per litre, up to 40 litres | 0.1 cents per point max (if you get 40 litres) | 0.5% |
| Free car wash | 10,000 points = any car wash | 0.15 cents per point max (depending on which car wash you get) | 0.75% |
Petro-Canada and the Petro-Points program
Similar to Esso, the Petro-Points program rewards you with 10 points for every litre of fuel you purchase and 10 points for every $1 you spend in the convenience store.
Petro-Canada also offers additional rewards when you use a linked RBC credit card. You'll save 3 cents per litre at the pump and earn 20% more Petro-Points, along with bonus discounts and personalized offers.
There are several things you can do with your Petro-Points, which end up with almost identical returns to what you would get with Esso:
- Redeem at Petro-Canada
- Redeem at iTravel2000.com
- Redeem for fuel savings cards
- Redeem for car washes
| Redemption | Redemption rules | Point value | Return on $40 of fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redeem at Petro-Canada | 10,000 points = $10 off | 0.1 cents per point | 0.5% |
| Redeem for iTravel2000.com | 10,000 points = $10 off | 0.1 cents per point | 0.5% |
| Redeem for fuel savings card | 10,000 points = 5 cents saved per litre, up to 200 litres | 0.1 cents per point | 0.5% |
| Redeem for car washes | 10,000 points = any car wash | 0.15 cents per point max (depending on which car wash you get) | 0.75% |
If you want to increase your earn rates with an RBC credit card, here are some to consider:
×2 Award winner Up to 55,000 70,000 points + Up to 2.33% return on purchases.*
2x Award winner Up to 55,000 70,000 points + Up to 2.33% return on purchases.*
Shell and Scene+
Shell used to partner with Air Miles and provide you with reward miles for fuelling up, but it recently switched to partner with Scene+ instead. Now, instead of earning Air Miles, you'll earn 1 Scene+ point per litre on any grade of fuel, along with 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on convenience store purchases and car washes.
If you link your Scene+ account with Shell Go+ and use the Shell app to pay for fuel, you'll earn a 10% bonus on your points. Shell gives an additional fuel discount if you link a Scotiabank or Tangerine card to your Shell account.
When it comes to redeeming your Scene+ points, you have 4 different options:
- Redeem for in-store and/or online discounts
- Redeem for Scene+ travel
- Redeem for gift cards
- Redeem for statement credits
| Redemption option | Point value | Return on $40 of fuel |
|---|---|---|
| In-store and online discounts | 1 cent | 0.5% |
| Scene+ travel | 1 cent | 0.5% |
| Gift cards | Up to 1 cent | 0.5% |
| Statement credits | Up to 0.7 cents | Up to 0.35% |
Various gas stations and Journie Rewards
Our last gas rewards program, Journie Rewards, is actually a program for several gas stations, including:
- Chevron
- Fas Gas
- Ultramar
- Pioneer
- On the Run
To earn points, sign up for the membership and download the app. This way, you'll get exclusive earning opportunities. Then, you'll earn 1 to 2 points per $1 spent in convenience stores or per litre of fuel.
The redemption opportunities for Journie Reward points aren't a simple discount at the pump. Instead, you'll unlock rewards at different earning milestones (up to 300 points):
| Redemption level | First level | Second level | Third level | Return on $40 of fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milestone | 75 points | 150 points | 300 points | TBD |
| Redemption options | * 1 free small candy, bottled water, or mini pop * In-store discounts * Partner-exclusive rewards | * 1 free small candy, bottled water, or mini pop * In-store discounts * Partner-exclusive rewards | * 7 cents off per litre of fuel (up to 100L) * 300 Aeroplan points * $5 in-store discount * $5 M&M discount | TBD |
| Most valuable option | Free Cadbury chocolate bar ($3.49 value) | Free Maynard's candy ($5.59 value) | 7 cents off per litre (up to 100L) ($7 value) | TBD |
* Values may differ as in-store prices vary by province and location.
Since the value of Journie Rewards varies so wildly, it's hard to estimate how valuable this fuel rewards program is. We actually recommend choosing the most valuable redemption item for milestones 1 and 2 to maximize your Journie Reward points.
Save on gas with the best credit cards for gas
If you want to boost your rewards no matter what gas station you visit, you'll want a credit card that offers bonus rewards on gas – and these are your best options:
| Credit card | Return on gas | Earn rate | Annual fee | Income requirements | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card | 4% back | 2.05% | * $120 | * $60,000 personal * $100,000 household | Learn more |
| More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite | 8 points per $1 spent | 2.11% | * $0 | * $60,000 personal * $100,000 household | Learn more |
| American Express Cobalt Card | Up to 4% (2 points per $1 spent) | 4.5% | * $191.88 * None | * $0 personal * $0 household | Learn more |
1. Best gas credit card: CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card
×1 Award winner Join and earn up to $400 in value including a first-year annual fee rebate.†
1x Award winner Join and earn up to $400 in value including a first-year annual fee rebate.†
What you earn on gas: 4% cash back
The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card card made our #1 pick for best gas card not only because of its high reward rate at the pump, but also for your ability to link the card to your Journie Rewards membership. Savvy cardholders who do this will get up to 10 cents off per litre at partnering gas stations like Ultramar and Pioneer.
The card also offers a fantastic welcome bonus, so consider applying for it before your next big trip. You'll get 10% cash back on up to $2,000 in net purchases during your first 4 monthly statements.
2. Best no-fee gas credit card: More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite
What you earn on gas: 8 points per $1 spent
You don't have to pay an annual fee to get a credit card that earns rewards at the pump – just look at the More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite, for example. You'll earn 8 points per $1 spent, and, if you fuel up at Petro-Canada, this card gives you a nice 3-cents-per-litre discount.
This no-fee credit card even gives mobile device insurance coverage and a sweet little welcome bonus.
3. Best credit card for flexible rewards: American Express Cobalt® Card
What you earn on gas: Up to 4% (2 points per $1)
For one of the best returns on gas you can get, look no further than the American Express Cobalt Card. In addition to earning 2 points per $1 on gas, you'll get 5 points per $1 on groceries and restaurants, plus 3 points per $1 on streaming services.
We love this card for many reasons, especially since a single Amex Membership Rewards point is worth up to 2 cents, giving you a return of up to 2% on gas.
All these rewards are why this card wins top spot as our best credit card year after year.
FAQ
Which gas station has the best loyalty rewards in Canada?
Esso's PC Optimum and Petro-Canada's Petro-Points both offer up to 0.5% back on gas. PC Optimum has an edge thanks to its grocery rewards value. Pair either program with the right credit card, and you could earn up to 1.5% at Esso or 2.1% at Petro-Canada.
Which card gives the best gas rewards?
The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card gives 4% cash back on gas. Plus, if you link the card to your Journie Rewards membership, you'll get an instant fuel discount of up to 10 cents off per litre (depending on fuel grade).
Does Costco give rewards on gas?
Yes, if you have a CIBC Costco Mastercard, you'll earn 3% cash back when you fill up at Costco gas stations. You can use other credit cards here as well, but you still need a Costco membership to access Costco gas stations.
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