How to choose the best fleet fuel card?

In the world of fleets, there is so much to consider. Most of all, how to pay. From fuel station stops, to the charging itself, tracking the multitude of expenses across a fleet can be a monster task. Choosing the best fuel card for your fleet can feel impossible with the range of options in the market. Alongside the dynamic nature of fleet management - how can you make the right choice for your fleet?

Our guide is built to help take away the stress and let you know what to look for when choosing the best payment card for you. 

Lets get plugged in…..

Why do your fleet drivers need a payment card? 

Before we jump in, why do your drivers even need to bother with a card? If expense forms exist, it could be argued there is little point in paying to pay! However, as fleet managers know, trying to manage busy fleets is never that easy to track every payment needed on a job. The last thing you want is piles of expenses or angry drivers, being charged more than they should. The range of spending on the go can impact your decision on the best fleet payment card for you.

Charging/fuel 

The main one! Essential for fleet drivers on the go to be able to fuel their vehicles. The traditional fuel infrastructure for petrol and diesel is well established but charging is still relatively new. Don't fear - the technology is growing and there's many ways to work with the expansion to guide your fleet into the electric future.

For on-the-go spending 

It's not just the fleet vehicles that need to fuel up! On long travel days, it's important for the drivers to be able to stop and pick up supplies and food on the go. Support your drivers beyond the RFID card with their food and fuel on the road.

For issues on the road - extra tech 

It's never as simple as you think - for all types of fleets. For those offering a service, sods law is that at least one of your drivers will need to replace a part or pick up important equipment on the go. Rather than faffing around with invoices, or letting your drivers sit out of pocket - a full coverage payment card is the solution. Look for open loop technology, such as Visa Fleet 2.0, to back your drivers for all barriers they may face.

What types of payment cards are available? 

Open loop - works across all payment types. They can sometimes be limited by provider, so it's always worth checking the coverage of a card before making your decision. 

Closed loop - limited spending, restricted to fuel payments and at associated shops such as service stations. Your drivers can still buy their snacks on the go, but there’s usually limited coverage - associated with the card of choice.  

RFID cards - a Radio Frequency Identification card. With the rise of contactless payments, RFID is everywhere and super easy to use. RFID cards are commonly used for paying for charging sessions - and under Octopus Fleet, you can even start the charge with your Electroverse RFID card!

What should you think about when choosing a fleet payment card? 

The growth of EVs is throwing a spanner in the works to the complexities of fleet management. It’s no longer what is the best fleet card, but what is the right payment card for your fleet. A mixed fleet will have different needs to one just starting their fleet electrification journey, and to those close to being fully electric! 

1. Fuel type - probably the biggest consideration in the new world of EV fleets! From ICE to EV and everything in between, your fleet could look different from every angle. Incoming to the field is the mixed fleet - made up of a multitude of different fuel types. Choosing a card can be tricky - as you want something that covers everyone’s needs! 

2. Where you work: different fuel cards will have varied coverage. If you have fleets that travel across the country, you want to make sure your payment cards will work wherever they are. Some closed payments options will be limited - for example to branded names and companies. If this is the case, look for general providers that work across a multitude of partners.  

3. Spending controls: depending on driver habits, depends on what you need from a charging card. If it's simply for topping up the car, a simple fuel card can do the job - for both wet fuels or charging. 

4. Hidden costs - you want to make sure you know what you are paying for! Sometimes, fuel card companies can draw a pretty pricing picture but struggle to stick to it long term. You want to look for a card that does what it says on the tin - and costs no more! 

5. Customer service: hold music options are never as thrilling as companies think. Although many fleet managers wish everything can run smoothly, there’s always something that needs tweaking. When you subscribe to a fleet card, you want to get more than just the physical piece of plastic! A good option will offer you guidance and support for you and your drivers.

Best Fuel Cards UK 

Let’s see how the top contenders stack up for the UK and Europe! 

Octopus Fleet is here to help! 

Let us take care of the busy admin, and you can focus on a smooth running fleet - all in the name of a sustainable green future. We offer both an open and closed loop option for your drivers - all under one system. You can support both ICE and EV drivers in one place! 

• Fleet card: You can manage your petrol and diesel costs with our Visa backed Fleet card. Spend is restricted to fuel and vehicle related costs but the best part is, they are tracked under the same system as your EV drivers! All types of fuel from petrol and diesel to electric are covered under the Octopus Fleet system.

• Payments card: the all-in-one visa card for on the go spending. This complete payment solution covers your drivers from fuel to charging, to their snacks on the go. All transactions are consolidated under one platform, with a nice and neat invoice at the end of the month. 

One of the big benefits for fleet managers and drivers, is how it's all kept under one platform - for ICE drivers and EV. This means, on a fleet’s transition to electric, there’s no need to learn a new system or transfer to a new payments system - it all stays the same! Our intuitive platform can function around changes, such as new fuel vehicles. At Octopus Fleet we are motivated towards a sustainable future, making it as easy as possible for you to make the jump to electric - at any stage! 

Celebrated for our support, our customer service team is here to help! From smoothing out admin issues to driver guidance on the road, our operations team are happy to assist. Built to work with you on the road to fleet electrification, Octopus Fleet helps you every step of the way.

We offer more than top level payments solutions - we provide a complete plan for your fleet. With our transparent pricing, what you see is what you get - no sneaky surprises. Although the cards are for your drivers, the true luxury of Octopus Fleet is our streamlined platform From invoices, to charging payments, to wet fuels, all consolidated in one sleek platform. Fleet managers can view a full picture of fleet behaviours, and track all your drivers - from ICE to EV - under a single page. 

Keep fleet management simple, with Octopus Fleet.