Coast Card Review: Wide Acceptance, High Rebates

Coast is a relatively new player in the US fuel card market. Founded in 2020, it has steadily grown its user base, five-fold in 2023 alone, and has since partnered its Coast Card with various fuel brands to offer rebate rates as large as 10¢ per gallon in some US regions.

As recently as March 2024, Coast partnered with Visa to earn it more customizable controls, stronger security measures, and even wider potential usage across the US.

In our review below, we assess how all these changes have impacted the Coast Card, looking at its value compared to other US fuel cards for fleets. That includes its pricing and fees, the rebates and discounts the card offers, and what spending controls and security measures you have to protect your business finances.

What Does the Coast Fuel Card Offer?

Coast makes things very simple: it only offers one fleet card – the Coast Card – for $4 per card, per month. You’ll get a rebate rate of between 1¢ and 10¢ per gallon depending on where you re-fuel.

Here’s what else you need to know about the Coast Card before we dive into this full-length review.

Coast Card Pricing and Fees

Coast is notably transparent about its pricing compared to other fuel card providers I have assessed. It has the following short, straightforward list of costs and fees associated with its use (and misuse).

• Subscription fee: $4 per active card per month.
• Late payment fee: The greater of 1% of all amounts past due or $35.
• Returned payment fee: $35.
• Shipping fee: None, unless you opt for Express Shipping (via FedEx within 5 business days) or Priority (FedEx within 2 to 4 business days).

Does the Coast Card have any hidden fees?

As far as my research is concerned, there are no hidden fees to consider with Coast besides those listed above. In fact, the fleet card provider goes as far as to list the fees it won’t charge you so that you can be sure that it won’t be charging you in any hidden ways.

Is the Coast Card good value for money?

Given the potential rebate rates, as I detail below, the lack of any setup fees or hidden fees, and the relatively small cost of $4 per card, per month, I’d argue the Coast Card is a solid value option for US fleets.

How appealing it is depends on the rebate rates of the gas stations you frequent most, however. That’s because, unlike some other fuel cards, the rebate rates are based on location. Jump to our full comparison with other fleet cards for a deeper look at how Coast compares to the competition.

Coast Card Rebates and Discounts

Now let’s dive into the reason you would want a Coast Card to begin with: its rebate rates on fuel purchases and extra discounts on non-fuel purchases.

Fuel rebates with Coast

With the Coast Card, you’ll get a $2 per gallon rebate at every gas station as standard. However, Coast has also partnered with several gas station brands to bring even more enticing rebate rates between $4 and $10 per gallon.

According to Coast, there are over 29,000 of these partner gas stations in the US. Let’s break down what rates each of them offers.

Coast Card Reward Partners: Highest rebate gas stations

With the Coast Card, you’ll get the following rebate rates with these Coast partners across the US.

• 7¢ per gallon: 7-Eleven, Speedway, Sheetz (limited locations).
• 6¢ per gallon: Casey’s, Turkey Hill, Cumberland Farms, Minit Mart, Loaf ‘N Jug, Kwik Shop, Tom Thumb, Quik Stop, Certified Oil, Fastrac, Sprint.
• 5¢ per gallon: Maverik, Kum and Go.
• 4¢ per gallon: Exxon, Mobil, RaceTrac (+1¢ additional discount available).

Coast also partners with gas stations on a local level. By collaborating with local fuel providers, Coast says it can negotiate discounts that are more advantageous in those regions. These local rebates are higher and at present, they are restricted to the Northeast and Houston, Texas.

• 8¢-10¢ per gallon: Exxon, Mobil.
• 6¢-8¢ per gallon: BP, Global, Alltown Fresh, Sunoco, 76, Citgo, Shell.

Finding Reward Partners near you

To find Coast’s reward partners and their participating gas stations, Coast has a map on its website. You can input your ZIP code to find stations near your home address or navigate the map manually to find stations along your regular business routes or in your working areas.

While I find it annoying that you can’t filter by rebate rate, you can select to only show a specific brand of gas station on the map. And with sufficient zooming, you can hover over a gas station to see the exact rebate rate it offers.

However, after zooming in on the map, I couldn’t find any gas stations with a rebate rate of between 8¢-10¢ per gallon in the Northeastern region of the US or Houston, Texas no matter which gas station I hovered over.

To get some help, I contacted Coast’s support email to retrieve a list of the stations that were included in this bracket. Within half an hour, I received a map (linked here) showcasing the options available, as you can see below. The agent also told me that rebate rate filtering would soon be added to Coast’s website map, which is promising news.

Other discounts with Coast

Unlike a lot of fuel cards, Coast offers a flat 1% discount on all non-fuel purchases with no tiers and no caps on your spending. That makes it an enticing proposition for using the Coast Card at other retailers besides gas stations.

Still, there are plenty of brand-specific discounts for retailers that are likely to be used by your fleet drivers:

Supplies

• Camfil, Koch Filters, Tennant, Leslie’s, John Deere, Sunbelt Rentals: Discounts available (specific rates not listed).
• HD Supply: Up to 25% off.
• CE Carrier, Ferguson, ABB, United Rentals: Up to 20% off.
• Grainger: Up to 24% off.
• Graybar, AirGas: Up to 18% off.
• Schneider Electric: Up to 40% off.
• Home Depot: Up to 22% off.
• Office Depot: Up to 35% off.

Maintenance

• Discount Tire: Save up to 8%.
• Jiffy Lube, Pep Boys: Up to 10% off on maintenance and oil changes.
• Take 5 Oil: 15% off oil changes.

Fleet Software

• WhipAround Fleet Management: 15% off the first year’s subscription.
• Field Complete: 6 months free field service management software.

Roadside Assistance

• HONK: Save 2% on roadside assistance.

Accounting Software

• QuickBooks: Save 30% for 6 months.

Coast Card Controls and Security

To help manage and protect your spending, Coast employs several controls and security measures on Coast Cards.

• Customizable spending controls: Administrators can set specific spending limits and restrictions for each card, such as limiting purchases to fuel only or allowing additional spending categories like maintenance and travel expenses.
• Assignment flexibility: Cards can be assigned to specific drivers, vehicles, or both, providing flexibility in managing fleet expenses and ensuring accountability.
• Driver verification via SMS: Relatedly, to prevent unauthorized use, Coast employs driver verification through SMS. That reduces the risk of PIN sharing and means only authorized personnel can use the cards.
• Real-time transaction monitoring and alerts: The platform lets you have immediate visibility into card transactions to quickly identify any irregularities. You can also set up real-time alerts to notify administrators of transactions as soon as possible, as well as enable automatic odometer readings.
• Instant card management: If any irregularities are present, cards can be locked or unlocked instantly, even if it’s just a potential security concern.

• EMV chip technology: Each Coast card is equipped with an EMV chip which, in practice (by today’s standards), means the cards are more difficult to clone or counterfeit.
• GPS-based transaction controls: When integrated with telematics solutions, Coast can automatically block transactions if the vehicle’s GPS location is too far from the gas station, preventing unauthorized fuel purchases.
• Custom policies and rules: Businesses can create tailored policies, such as limiting purchases by time of day or day of the week so that purchases are only made that align with business hours and thereby prevent any potential misuse.
• One-time purchase authorizations: The system allows for the authorization of one-off purchases when required, which could make for welcome flexibility while still maintaining control over expenses overall.

How Do You Apply for a Coast Card?

Applying for a Coast Card involves going through its online application process and evaluation.

You will be asked to provide personal identification, basic information about your business, and any other individuals who own 25% or more of the company, beneficially speaking, or have a major responsibility in the control, management, and direction of the business.

You may also be asked to provide additional documentation like a government-issued ID to verify your identity, financial documents like a bank statement to show accounting records, or utility bills to prove your address.

Are there any requirements to get a Coast Card?

The core requirement of Coast Card customers is that they are a business organized and registered as either a corporation, LLC, or partnership. In other words, if you are a sole proprietor you aren’t suitable for a Coast Card at this time.

Beyond that, however, there are no stringent criteria you need to meet (besides proving your identity as outlined above). Coast doesn’t require owners to guarantee company expenses and any applications will never affect your personal credit score either.

How long does a Coast Card application take?

In some cases, your application can be approved in minutes. In other cases, Coast may need to review more information or documents from you, which may add time to the application process.

Once your application is complete (which means you’ve provided any information and documents requested), Coast says it will get back to you by email within 3 to 5 business days (but may get back to you within 1 business day).

Coast Card Platform Agreement & Program Terms

We have reviewed Coast’s platform agreement and program terms to assess if there are any hidden clauses to consider when applying for a Coast Card. While we cannot offer professional legal advice, and encourage you to read both documents carefully, from our experience there is nothing unusual about what is considered.

Still, there are some things worth highlighting about Coast Card usage should you be accepted.

Coast platform agreement

• Business-only use in the US: The services cannot be used for personal or household purposes. Personal use, cash advances, and transactions outside the US are prohibited. Misuse may result in termination and liability for fees or damages.
• Liability: Coast’s liability for damages is capped at the greater of $5,000 or the total fees paid in the prior three months. Users bear full responsibility for losses caused by unauthorized access, except in specific circumstances like protection under network card rules or unauthorized use after deactivation.
• Data sharing and privacy: Coast shares data with third parties for account management, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance. Users must ensure they have obtained proper consent from authorized users before providing personal data.
• Termination rights: Coast can suspend or terminate accounts at its discretion, even without prior notice, for reasons such as incomplete or outdated information, fraud suspicion, or policy violations.

Card program terms

• Fees and payment terms: Fees may change with 30 days’ notice. Users must regularly review fee schedules. Payments are due in full on the Due Date. Failure to pay may result in late fees, reduced credit limits, or suspension of account services.
• Charge disputes: Users must dispute charges within 60 days of receiving the statement. After this period, charges are deemed final and binding. Disputes are subject to Card Network rules and resolution may require detailed documentation.
• Payment methods: Payments can be made via ACH, automatic debit, or check (if available; timing is essential to avoid penalties or delays in posting).
• Periodic statements: You’ll receive statements summarizing all charges, fees, and credits. The terms suggest reviewing them promptly for dispute resolution and compliance.

How Does Coast Card Compare to Competitor Fuel Cards?

Without context of what other fuel card providers can offer your fleet, it’s difficult to understand just how competitive the Coast Card is. Here’s a topline comparison of the key features you need to know before I provide specific comparisons with two of our top-rated options.

Coast Card vs WEX Fleet Card

Similar acceptance: Both cards are accepted at the majority of US gas stations, with the Coast Card backed by Visa and the Wex Fleet Card accepted at 95% of US gas stations. It’s a dead heat here.

Rebates: Coast offers a flat rebate of 1¢ per gallon on all fuel purchases, with no minimum purchase requirements or caps, and potentially up to 10¢ per gallon depending on location. On the other hand, WEX provides rebates up to 3¢ per gallon, which similarly may vary based on fuel volume and station participation.

My use of Coast’s partner map showed there to be a considerable number of gas stations with at least 4¢ per gallon and many with 6¢ per gallon. And unlike WEX, this isn’t dependent on how much fuel you purchase, so I’d argue Coast is the better pick when it comes to rebate rates.

Pricing and fees: Coast charges a straightforward $4 monthly fee per active card, with no setup or annual fees. WEX’s fee structure includes a $2 monthly per-card fee and a $40 setup fee. With this information, I’ve calculated that the WEX Fleet Card is more affordable than Coast but only after 20 months of usage given it has that steep setup cost. For periods shorter than that, Coast will be cheaper.

Winner? I’d argue Coast is a better choice than the WEX Fleet Card given it offers the same acceptance, (likely) higher rebates (dependent on region), and zero setup costs. It does have higher monthly fees but it would take 20 months of usage with the Coast Card to match the catch-up with the total cost of the WEX Fleet Card during the same period.

Coast Card vs Comdata Card

Acceptance network: The Coast Card operates on the Visa network, allowing purchases at any location that accepts Visa (which is the majority of the US). In contrast, the Comdata Card is accepted at over 160,000 fuel locations nationwide, including major truck stops like TA Petro, Pilot Flying J, Love’s, AMBEST, Speedway/7-Eleven, and Sheetz. So, you’ll have wider acceptance with Coast, including partnerships with Exxon and Mobil stations.

Rebates: Coast and Comdata are similar in that they both offer rebates based on location rather than how much fuel you purchase. While Coast has rebates of up to 10¢ per gallon, Comdata provides tiered discounts of up to 25¢ off per gallon at TA Petro, 10¢ at Pilot Flying J, 8¢ at Love’s, AMBEST, Speedway/7-Eleven, and 7¢ at Sheetz locations.

Pricing and fees: Comdata’s fee structure includes an $8 monthly fee per card and a one-time $50 setup fee, which is a little more steep compared to Coast’s $4 monthly fee per card and zero setup costs. Because of this, no matter how long you use either card, Coast will be cheaper.

Winner? It’s a little more difficult to assess the winner of Comdata and Coast. I’d argue it’s dependent on the area in which you live/work since accessing the higher tier rebates of either option is based on the location of gas stations.

Should you work in a suitable area for Comdata, particularly near any TA Petro stations, you’ll get far higher rebates. If you want to spend less money upfront, however, Coast will always win given its lower monthly fees and zero setup costs. The Coast Card is also the better choice if you always want to be able to pay with a fuel card since it has near-universal acceptance and you’ll always get at least 1¢ off per gallon anywhere you re-fuel (and frequently 4¢ to 6¢).

How We Reviewed Fleet Cards Like Coast