Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
You can find a credit card for most occasions. For instance, the best gas rewards cards can save you big on each tankful of gas. But some gas cards are barely worth the trouble. If your local gas station is a Chevron or Texaco, you might be interested in the Techron Advantage Credit Card or the Techron Advantage® Visa® Credit Card. However, the rewards you earn are low and you'll be limited in where you can fill up your tank. Learn more in our full Techron Advantage Credit Card review.
Techron Advantage Credit Card
Rating image, 2.00 out of 5 stars.
2.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 2.00 out of 5 stars.
2.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Fair/New to Credit Under(669)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
29.99% variable
Rewards Earn $0.03 per gallon on regular or diesel. Earn $0.06 per gallon on PLUS. Earn $0.08 per gallon on Supreme and Premium. Earn an addition $0.02 to $0.10 per gallon based on spending during your billing period.
Earn $0.05 - $0.18 per gallon
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn $0.37 per gallon in fuel credit at Chevron and Texaco stations in the first 90 days of account opening. Earn $0.03 per gallon on regular or diesel.
Earn $0.37 per gallon
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This card is a poor choice for gas rewards. You only earn rewards on gas purchased at Chevron or Texaco, and the rewards rate is very low compared to other options. Steer clear unless you can't qualify for a better option.
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- Fuel credits on purchases
- Intro offer
- No annual fee
- Limited to Chevron/Texaco gas
- Very low rewards rate
- High APR
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- Earn $0.37 per gallon in fuel credit at Chevron and Texaco stations in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn $0.03 per gallon on regular or diesel.
- Earn $0.06 per gallon on PLUS.
- Earn $0.08 per gallon on Supreme and Premium.
- Earn an addition $0.02 to $0.10 per gallon based on spending during your billing period.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Full Techron Advantage Credit Card review
This credit card is a good fit for: Drivers who frequent Chevron or Texaco gas stations and who cannot qualify for a regular rewards card.
Top perks
This card has a few modest perks that may be of value to some cardholders.
Earn fuel credits on Chevron and Texaco gas purchases
The rewards you can earn with this card are called Fuel Credits. All cardholders can earn $0.03 per gallon in Fuel Credits for gas purchased with a Techron Advantage Credit Card at a Chevron or Texaco station. On top of this, under the limited-time app offer which runs until March 31, 2024, the Fuel Credits awarded on eligible gas purchases increase to $0.06/gallon on PLUS and $0.08/gallon on Supreme/Premium -- giving you more bang for your buck.
Fuel credits work similarly to cash back. You earn fuel credits on eligible purchases and they accrue during the billing cycle. At the end of your billing period, the credits are applied to your card account as a statement credit.
Boost your fuel credits with non-fuel purchases
If you qualify for the Visa version of the card, the Techron Advantage® Visa® Credit Card, you can increase the fuel credits you earn by making purchases at non-fuel merchants. How much more you can earn depends on how much you spend during the billing period:
| Spend Per Billing Period | Visa Spend Fuel Credits |
|---|---|
| $100.00 to $199.99 | $0.02 per gallon |
| $200.00 to $299.99 | $0.04 per gallon |
| $300.00 to $399.99 | $0.06 per gallon |
| $400.00 to $499.99 | $0.08 per gallon |
| $500.00 or more | $0.10 per gallon |
You can earn a maximum of $300 in Visa Spend Fuel Credits each calendar year.
The Visa Spend Fuel Credits stack with the regular fuel credits you earn. For example, if you spend $150 on your Techron Advantage® Visa® Credit Card in a month, you'll earn $0.02 in Visa Spend Fuel Credits. This stacks with the $0.03 per gallon you earn in regular Fuel Credits. So, if you purchase 30 gallons of gas during that billing cycle, you'll earn $0.05 x 30 = $1.50 in statement credits.
Introductory offer for new cardholders
There is an introductory offer available to new cardholders. You can earn $0.37 per gallon in Fuel Credits on Chevron/Texaco gas purchases for the first 90 days after account opening. This stacks with the normal $0.03 per gallon Fuel Credits you always earn.
No annual card fee
Neither the Techron Advantage Credit Card nor the Techron Advantage® Visa® Credit Card charges an annual card fee. This means you won't have to pay out of pocket every year just to keep your card account open, so there's no minimum threshold of rewards you need to earn to make up for the annual fee. If you don't drive as much during some months, you aren't losing money by paying a fee for a card you aren't using.
What could be improved
The downsides of this card will far outweigh the perks for the majority of people.
You only earn rewards on gas at Texaco or Chevron
The actual usefulness of this card is very limited. For one thing, the Techron Advantage Credit Card is closed-loop, meaning you can only use it for gas purchases at Texaco or Chevron. The Visa version, the Techron Advantage® Visa® Credit Card, can be used anywhere Visa is accepted, but it won't earn rewards at any other gas stations. This means if you fill up at any gas station other than Chevron or Texaco, you won't earn any rewards on the purchase with either card.
Rewards rate is extremely low
At the $0.03 per gallon rate, the rewards you earn are pretty poor. A basic cash back card, with no gas bonus, earns 1% back on purchases. So, if gas is $3 a gallon, that 1% back would give you the same $0.03 per gallon. But, if gas prices go up -- say, to $5 a gallon -- you'll earn $0.05 per gallon back with the cash back card, making it the more valuable option.
And that's before you start looking at cards that offer bonus rewards on gas purchases. You can find rewards cards with up to 5% cash back on gas. That could be $0.15 per gallon with a price of $3 per gallon, and up to $0.25 in cash back if you're paying $5 a gallon.
Even if you get the Visa version and stack Visa Spend Fuel Credits, you'd need to put a lot of money on your card to get the rewards rate up to a competitive level.
Extremely high APR
One major drawback to watch out for is the sky-high interest rate on both the Techron Advantage Credit Card and the Techron Advantage® Visa® Credit Card. The APR (annual percentage rate) is higher than most regular credit cards. In fact, it's on par with some of the worst store credit cards. If you carry a balance past the due date, you could be facing some pretty big interest fees. And those fees can add up fast, making it hard to catch up again if you fall behind.
Suggested credit score
It's recommended to have a FICO® Score of around 670 or higher for the Techron Advantage® Visa® Credit Card. If you have fair credit or no credit, the Techron Advantage Credit Card may be easier to get.
When you apply for a Techron Advantage Credit Card, you'll be considered for the Techron Advantage® Visa® Credit Card first. If you don't qualify for the Visa version, you'll automatically be considered for the Techron Advantage Credit Card.
The Techron Advantage Credit Card is right for you if:
- You're in the process of establishing or rebuilding credit and can't qualify for a better gas card.
- You fill up your tank almost exclusively at Chevron or Texaco, and you're planning on spending lots of time on the road in the first three months of account opening to take advantage of the souped-up Fuel Credits offer.
With low rewards and limits on where you can get your gas, the Techron Advantage Credit Card won't be right for most people. The majority of the rewards cards we've reviewed will offer a better return for your gas purchases.
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
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The regular Techron Advantage Credit Card can only be used to make gas purchases at Chevron or Texaco stations. The Techron Advantage® Visa® Credit Card can be used to make purchases anywhere that Visa is accepted. However, you'll only earn rewards on gas purchases made at Chevron or Texaco.
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It's recommended to have at least good credit -- a FICO® Score of 670 or higher -- to get the Techron Advantage® Visa® Credit Card. The Techron Advantage Credit Card has more flexible credit requirements and you may be approved with fair or no credit.
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The Techron Advantage Credit Card is issued by Synchrony Bank.
Our Credit Cards Experts
Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.
Steven is a personal finance writer covering topics from mortgages to credit cards to market news. He has written for The Motley Fool Canada, Ramsey Solutions, Nerdwallet, Clever Real Estate, and other major outlets. Steven launched his writing career at the age of four with his first book, "Revenge of the Bad Guys." He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
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