WEX Fleet Cards Review: Right for Your Fleet?

WEX is one of the best fleet card providers in the US, offering four branded cards starting from $2 per card, per month, with solutions for fleets of all sizes and types.

Accepted at 95% of gas stations, across 50 states, WEX cards are a viable choice for both local businesses and ones that cross state lines. Its average fuel rebate of 3¢ per gallon isn’t the most generous we’ve seen, with Comdata and potentially Shell beating WEX depending on fuel spend, but it’s a good compromise for unparalleled network coverage. 

We’ve conducted extensive research on several fleet fuel card providers, using our findings to put WEX’s fuel card options under the microscope. In this review, we look at the fees, coverage, and hidden costs of WEX fuel cards to help you learn if they’re right for you.

WEX Fleet Cards: Fees and Discounts

Here’s a side-by-side overview of the charges, fees, and discounts of WEX’s four fuel cards:

Generally, WEX’s fleet cards will set you back $2 per card, per month, which is equal to competitors, ExxonMobil and Shell, but a lot cheaper than Comdata, which charges $8 per month. If you opt for a WEX FlexCard, you’ll pay zero setup, annual, or card fees, which is a pretty good offer.

In terms of fuel rebates, you’ll get an average of 3¢ off per gallon of gas with WEX fuel cards, although this can increase or decrease depending on how much fuel you purchase. This is a slightly lower discount than competitors Comdata, Shell, and ExxonMobil. Comdata offers a rebate of between 7¢ and 25¢ per gallon, and Shell and ExxonMobil offer up to 6¢ off per gallon.

To compare fleet card pricing, use our free quote comparison tool. Just give us a few details about your business and we’ll do the rest. You’ll then receive obligation-free quotes from trusted suppliers.

The Pros and Cons of WEX

Below we detail the advantages and disadvantages of WEX fuel cards when it comes to managing your fleet’s fuel expenses:

Wex Pros

• Excellent network coverage: WEX fuel cards are accepted at 95% of US gas stations in all 50 states, meaning WEX fuel cards are accepted almost anywhere. The WEX Connect app also helps drivers locate nearby stations quickly, saving time.
• App for tracking expenses: The WEX SmartHub app lets fleet operators track spending, manage cards, make payments, and check available credit. WEX’s 24/7 US-based customer service is also a great convenience when things don’t go to plan.
• Detailed reporting: The WEX ClearView reporting system helps businesses review spending, budget future costs, and spot cost-saving opportunities, making end-of-month reporting simpler.
• Tight security features: WEX offers sophisticated security measures like two-factor authentication, spending limits, and fraud protection. Its SecureFuel technology helps address unusual activity and remotely block cards if needed, too. From our research, Edenred is the only other provider offering this mix of features.

Wex Cons

• Fuel rebates not as high as competitors: As we’ve noted, the average fuel rebate of WEX fleet fuel cards is 3¢ per gallon. While that’s better than nothing, competitors such as Comdata, Shell, and ExxonMobil have fuel cards with higher rebates, reaching 25¢ per gallon in the case of Comdata (although you fuel spend needs to be high to take advantage of this).

WEX’s Fleet Cards Explained

Let’s take a look at how WEX’s fleet cards are similar. All four of the fleet card programs we compare below include:

• Acceptance at 95% of the US fuel stations (that’s over 165,000 retailers) and 45,000 service centers across the country
• 24/7 access to WEX’s US-based customer support team
• Use of WEX OnlinePortal for general card management, monitoring, and analytics
• Use of WEX ClearView, an advanced analytics platform that reports on the specifics of your fleet’s transactions and spending behavior
• The option to sign up to WEX Telematics, WEX’s fleet management software
• Use of WEX’s apps:
  • DriverDash – drivers can use this to make mobile payments at the pump
  • FleetSmartHub – used to track spending, manage your fleet cards, make payments, check your credit, and more
  • WEX Connect – drivers can use to find nearby fuel stations and service centers; filtering them by price, fuel type, open hours, and other criteria

Now let’s break it down, card by card.

WEX Fleet Card

Ideal for: Small to medium businesses and grey fleet drivers

• Pricing: From $2 per card, per month
• Network Coverage: 95% of US gas stations (165,000+) and 66,000 charging points
• Fuel Types: Gas, diesel, and electric vehicle charging
• Rebates: 1-3¢ per gallon (fuel rebates based on gallons purchased)
• Truckstop Coverage: Yes
• Additional Perks: Access to the WEX EDGE Savings Network with exclusive discounts:
  • Fuel rebates at participating stations
  • Discounts on tires and parts at Bridgestone locations
  • Discounted rates at 18,000+ hotels
  • Deals on Sprint Business wireless solutions, data analytics, GPS tracking, and more

WEX FlexCard

Ideal for: Small businesses needing flexibility and no card fees

• Pricing: No card fees
• Network Coverage: 95% of US gas stations (165,000+) and 66,000 charging points
• Fuel Types: Gas, diesel, and electric vehicle charging
• Rebates: 3¢ per gallon
• Truckstop Coverage: Yes
• Additional Perks: Ability to carry a monthly balance, unlike all other WEX cards. Does not include WEX EDGE Savings Network access.

WEX Large Fleet Card

Ideal for: Large businesses with extensive fueling needs

• Pricing: $2 per card, per month
• Network Coverage: 95% of US gas stations (165,000+) and 66,000 charging points
• Fuel Types: Gas, diesel, and electric vehicle charging
• Rebates: Fuel rebates based on gallons purchased
• Truckstop Coverage: Yes
• Additional Perks: Enhanced security features and advanced analytics. Does not include WEX EDGE Savings Network access.

WEX Fleet Cross Roads Card

Ideal for: Truckers or fleets frequenting truck stops

• Pricing: $2 per card, per month
• Network Coverage: 995% of US gas stations (165,000+) and 66,000 charging points
• Fuel Types: Gas, diesel, and electric vehicle charging
• Rebates: Fuel rebates based on gallons purchased
• Truckstop Coverage: Extensive, including Pilot Flying J, Love’s, TA, and more
• Additional Perks: Access to WEX EDGE Savings Network with discounts on:
  • Tires and parts at Bridgestone locations
  • Reduced rates at 18,000+ hotels
  • Discounted Sprint Business wireless solutions
  • Data analytics, GPS tracking, and more

WEX Fleet Card Web Apps

To manage and track WEX Fleet Card expenses, there are two main web applications. There’s the WEXOnline Portal, which can be used with all the fuel cards discussed above, and WEX ClearView, which is similarly compatible but has three differently priced tiers.

WEXOnline Portal: Fleet Card Management

The WEXOnline portal is a comprehensive web-based platform that empowers fleet managers to oversee their operations. Accessible from any device at any time for zero cost for fleet card holders, it offers a suite of tools designed to streamline fleet management.

Key features of the WEXOnline Portal:

• Card and prompt management: Administrators can manage driver IDs and set authorization levels directly within the portal. This means fleet managers can make adjustments in real-time when required, such as allowing a usually restricted purchase for a driver when required.
• Analytical reporting: The portal provides access to detailed reports, enabling managers to review spending metrics and gain insights into fleet performance.
• Budget forecasting: With comprehensive data at their fingertips, users can accurately forecast budgets, aiding in financial planning and cost control.

By integrating the WEXOnline portal into daily operations, businesses can achieve greater transparency, control, and efficiency in managing their fleets.

WEX ClearView: Advanced fleet analytics

Where WEXOnline Portal is somewhat of an overview tool, WEX ClearView is designed to provide even more in-depth analytics and insights into your fleet operations across its separate web-based software. Its most notable features include:

• Data visualization: ClearView collects fleet card data and presents it through simple, graphic visualizations. This should help managers easily identify savings and cost-control opportunities.

• Anomaly detection: The platform helps in identifying and investigating purchasing anomalies.
• Performance monitoring: ClearView captures detailed information on driver and vehicle performance too, allowing for the enforcement of spending policies and sharing of information across the organization.

WEX ClearView tiers compared

There are three tiers of WEX ClearView that you can purchase to use with your fleet card. Let’s compare them side-by-side.

WEX is tight-lipped about its pricing for ClearView, so we aren’t sure what costs you can expect for each tier other than it increasing in cost from Snap to Advanced. We suggest contacting WEX to learn the exact prices you could face.

WEX Fleet Card Apps for Mobile

WEX also offers mobile apps to help manage fleet operations when you aren’t tied to your computer, too. Designed for businesses using WEX Fleet Cards, these apps – WEX Connect, WEX DriverDash, and WEX Fleet SmartHub – are practical tools that can save time, improve operational efficiency, and let you easily find cheap gas near your drivers. Here’s how each app works and how they can benefit your business.

WEX Connect: Find the lowest fuel prices

Fuel is one of the largest expenses for any fleet. WEX Connect helps you tackle this by finding the cheapest prices for gas and diesel near your drivers. With an intuitive map and up-to-date pricing information, the app ensures your fleet isn’t overspending on fuel.

You simply search for a specific location or update the results while perusing the map view, and a list or map view of various stations will appear that suit your criteria. You can filter these results by the type of fuel you need, the radius around your location you want to search (5, 10, or 25 miles), and the brand of gas station you want to find (particularly helpful if you want to exclude gas stations that are typically more expensive).

Naturally, using the WEX Connect app is particularly helpful for businesses with tight budgets or for those looking to optimize route planning by planning movements around cheaper gas stations whether in your local area or across states.

You can’t plan your whole route on the app and find cheap gas stations on the way like with Trucker Path, which might limit the station finder to more impromptu usage when you need cheap gas immediately, but besides this, the app functions very well for finding low-cost re-fueling spots to use your WEX fleet cards at.

Alongside helping fleet drivers find gas and diesel, the WEX Connect app also allows you to locate Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging stations, as well as service stations and places to wash your vehicles, too, as shown above.

Each section has a separate tab and the shown selection can be filtered by location using the map or list options as with fuel stations. You can also filter by port type when on the EV charging tab and the type of service you need, such as general maintenance or an oil change, on the service station tab.

WEX DriverDash: Streamlined payments on the road

Drivers often face delays at the pump, whether it’s fumbling with physical cards or dealing with misplaced receipts. So we think WEX DriverDash is a handy choice for drivers to install on their phones and eliminate these frustrations by enabling secure payments directly through a smart device.

The app is connected to your WEX fleet cards, so drivers can pay without swiping a card. It also simplifies expense tracking by automatically logging fuel purchases, helping your business stay organized.

WEX Fleet SmartHub: Centralized card management

Managing multiple WEX Fleet Cards could be overwhelming for fleet managers, especially for larger fleets. WEX Fleet SmartHub should be an appealing app to simplify those tasks by providing fleet managers with a single platform to monitor and control card usage. You can track transactions, set spending limits, and access detailed reports – all from your mobile device.

This app is especially valuable for businesses that need transparency and control over fleet spending, giving managers the tools to identify trends and prevent unauthorized purchases. With SmartHub, you get better financial oversight without being tied to your desk using the WEX Online Portal.

What Types of Businesses Are WEX Fleet Fuel Cards for?

Here are the types of fleet businesses that WEX fuel cards are suitable for:

Businesses that need wide network coverage

WEX’s fleet cards offer excellent coverage as they can be used to buy fuel at 95% of US fuel stations (and WEX says that includes every major station). Here are some of the biggest names on WEX’s widespread partner network:

• 7-Eleven
• 76®
• Chevron
• CITGO
• Conoco®
• ExxonMobil
• Marathon
• Maverik
• QuikTrip
• Shell
• Stripes
• Wawa

This means that, no matter where you’re based, your drivers should always be within a reasonable driving distance of a partner gas station.

The fact that WEX offers this coverage on its card programs aimed at small fleets is a real boon for SMBs. Many of the popular fleet card programs in the US are provided by gas station chains, which tend to limit cards aimed at small businesses to their own branded stations. But WEX is a payment services provider, not gas – and would have no vested interest in limiting users to just one of the many gas station brands it has partnered with.

Small fleets

If you’re the owner-operator of a small fleet, the WEX Fleet Card and WEX FlexCard will suit you best.

Affording you advanced control and analytics, as well as a variety of discounts on the EDGE Savings Network, the Fleet Card is our favorite. For grey fleet drivers using their own cars, this card is hugely beneficial thanks to its extra discounts on hotel stays and vehicle maintenance.

If some (or all) of your vehicles are trucks, and your drivers tend to make use of truck stops, you may as well upgrade to the Fleet Cross Roads Card, which comes with the same benefits but can also be used at a variety of truck stops.

However, if you’re eager to save money, the simpler FlexCard is also a solid option. There are zero annual fees, no setup charge, or card fees to pay. Another plus is the ability to carry a balance to ease your cash flow. It is worth noting that rebates larger than 3 cents can be found with other providers, so if rebates are the key USP for you, you shouldn’t end your search here.

Did you know that you can use our free comparison tool to find a fleet card provider that’s been matched to your business? Give us a few brief details and we’ll do the rest. You’ll then be contacted by trusted suppliers with an obligation-free quote.

Large fleets

WEX’s Large Fleet Card is a good choice if control and insight is your priority, with advanced spending analytics that can help you action changes to your drivers’ spending habits and, as a result, save some money.

The only downside here is that, as far as we can tell, this card program doesn’t grant you any extra discounts. While such savings may not be your number one priority anyway, they can be a nice bonus – there are other large business cards out there that do sweeten the pot with such rewards. 

Trucking fleets

If your drivers tend to use truck stops, it’s worth investigating the Fleet Cross Roads Card specifically. This card boasts all the benefits of the WEX Fleet Card, but can also be used to make purchases at a variety of truck stops across the country – from independent spots to chains like TA, Love’s, and Pilot Flying J.

Read our best fuel cards for truckers page for a specific look at the top fuel cards with incentives for truck drivers.

How Do WEX’s Fleet Cards Compare to Its Competitors?

Price

At $2 per card, per month, WEX’s Fleet Card costs the same as Shell‘s Fleet Navigator ($2 per month) and is cheaper than the Edenred Essentials ($3 per month). It’s also much cheaper than the Comdata card ($8 per month). That being said since WEX doesn’t charge the transaction fee that Shell does, we’d consider it to be cheaper overall.

Except for the up to 3¢ per gallon rebates listed for the FlexCard and WEX Fleet Card, WEX doesn’t give a clear figure when it comes to its potential savings. Rather it states that rebates will be earned based on the volume of gas purchased so this is a little vague.

Its Fleet Card and Cross Roads Card give access to the WEX EDGE Savings Network, which can help you score exclusive non-fuel related discounts which may make for an overall larger combined saving.

On the other hand, Comdata claims to give huge savings of up to 25¢ which is more than WEX advertises, however since Comdata’s network is smaller, it may work out that your card is racking up fewer gallons due to a narrower range of acceptance.

Station coverage

WEX’s cards cover 95% of the gas stations in the US, which is a pretty hefty amount. Shell’s Fleet Navigator card is actually issued by WEX so has the same network, while Edenred is similarly vast since it is partnered with Visa. So across the board, the competition is pretty strong when it comes to network coverage. Comdata has a comparatively smaller network of 15,000+.

Simplicity

As these are credit cards, they come with lengthy (and important) terms and conditions, as well as a credit check. That can be a lot to get your head around if you only want a straightforward way to save a few pennies at the pump.

If you’re thinking “this is overkill for my business,” you should look into prepaid fuel cards for a simpler way to control your expenses.

Our Methodology: How Did We Review Wex Fleet Cards?