How Loyalty Programs Can Counter Rising Toronto Gas Costs
Canadians are feeling the burn when it comes to gas prices, with some experts predicting they could hit record highs this summer. As the cost of fuel continues to rise amid the conflict in Iran, every penny saved at the pump feels like a win for your wallet.
Here’s the good news: with the right combination of loyalty rewards programs and credit cards, you can save a lot on gas over time. You can unlock even more savings by stacking loyalty rewards memberships with partnered credit cards.
“You can definitely get a fair amount of savings with the right stack,” says personal finance and travel expert Barry Choi.
If you’re intimidated by all of the credit card and loyalty rewards options out there, Patrick Sojka, founder of Calgary-based resource Rewards Canada, recommends picking the cards you’ll use most based on your shopping patterns so that you can rack up points. “Gas can be a pretty big expense for a lot of people and you can save on it by using points or cash back,” Sojka says. “Any way you can try and bring your costs down is great.”
Sojka recommends downloading the app for whichever loyalty programs you sign up for. You can link accounts in these apps. He suggests checking your loyalty rewards program apps at least once a week to look for offers you can opt in to. Recently, Sojka says, Scene+ offered 750 bonus points on a 30-litre gas purchase at Shell. “That’s $7.50 back, which is a pretty decent return.”
Here are some of the top programs and cards to help you save on gas in Canada right now.
The best loyalty program and credit card combinations for saving on gas
Save at Petro-Canada with Petro-Points
Petro-Points members get 10 points per litre of gas purchased.
For those who drive a lot and fill up twice a week on average, “Petro-Points is probably the most valuable loyalty program,” Choi says, pointing to the Platinum Status, which members can achieve by purchasing 1,000 litres of gas every three months (which Petro says on its website is typically equal to filling up twice a week). You’ll earn 50 per cent more Petro-Points and get access to members-only perks and giveaways. You’ll also get up to $100 in Canadian Tire’s CT Money per year.
Every 1,000 Petro-Points gets you $1 off fuel.
Pair your Petro-Points card with: RBC and Triangle Rewards
Link your Petro-Points account with an eligible RBC credit or debit card or your Canadian Tire Triangle Rewards membership to get 20 per cent more Petro-Points.
If you pay with an RBC credit or debit card, you’ll save three cents per litre and get 20 per cent more Avion points.
If you link your Petro-Points and Triangle Rewards accounts, you’ll get up to three cents per litre in electronic CT Money — but you have to pay with cash or debit.
Use a Triangle credit card to get five cents per litre in CT Money.
Save at Shell with Scene+
Scene+ recently joined forces with Shell gas stations across Canada, where you can earn one Scene+ point for every litre of fuel you purchase.
You can earn 10 per cent more in bonus points on regular and midgrade fuel (or twice the bonus points on Shell V-Power Nitro+ fuel) if you link your Scene+ account with the Shell Go+ program.
You can redeem 1,000 Scene+ points for $10 off at the pump. Make sure you download the Shell app on your phone to unlock additional perks.
Pair your Scene+ card with: Scotiabank or Tangerine
If you have a Scotiabank or Tangerine credit card, you can save even more on gas.
With Scotiabank Gold American Express, you can earn three Scene+ points per $1 spent on gas.
With the Tangerine Rewards World Elite Mastercard, you can choose three accelerator categories (including gas) to earn 1.5 Scene+ points per $1 spent. You can also save up to 10 cents per litre at Shell gas stations.
With PC Optimum, you can earn 10 points per litre of gas at Esso stations.
CAA members can save an additional three cents per litre on gas.
By stacking all of these savings, Choi says, you could save 13 cents per litre.
Save at Esso and Mobil with PC Optimum
You can also earn points at Mobil gas stations, though the earn rates vary by location. (Tip: Earn more points at Mobil stations that are located adjacent to a Loblaw banner grocery store.)
Then you can redeem 4,000 points for 10 cents off per litre (up to 40 litres) when you fill up at Esso.
Pair your Optimum card with: PC Mastercard
You can earn up to 70 points per litre of fuel when you pay with the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard at Esso and Mobil gas stations.
With the PC Mastercard, you can get at least 30 PC Optimum points per litre of fuel at Esso and Mobil.
Save at Pioneer, Ultramar, Fas Gas and Chevron with Journie Rewards
As a Journie Rewards member, you can earn one point per litre at Pioneer, Ultramar, Fas Gas and Chevron stations. Once you’ve earned 300 points, you can claim seven cents per litre on gas.
Pair your Journie Rewards card with: CIBC and Aeroplan
If you pay with an eligible linked CIBC card, you can save three cents per litre of gas. Each time you reach 300 Journie points, you can save an additional seven cents per litre, giving you 10 cents off per litre. To link your CIBC account and get 75 bonus points, just download the Journie app.
Link your Aeroplan and Journie accounts to save even more. You’ll earn 300 Aeroplan points per 300 Journie points earned and get the chance to earn additional Aeroplan rewards when you reach 75 and 150 Journie points. You can also redeem 300 Aeroplan points to get seven cents off per litre (up to 50 litres) of gas.
Save at Irving with Blue Rewards
As of this month, Air Miles has transitioned to Blue Rewards (if you collected Air Miles, your points were automatically converted). Members can earn 16 Blue Points for every 20 litres at Irving gas stations. If you sign up for Irving’s Hometown Rewards program, you’ll get twice the points. Then you can redeem 1,500 Blue Points to save $10 when filling your tank at Irving.
Other credit cards worth looking into for gas savings
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card
This card gives holders four per cent cash back on eligible gas purchases, and you can redeem rewards any time starting at $10.
Neo World Elite Mastercard
Get three per cent cash back on gas.
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
You can choose three categories, including gas and groceries, to earn two per cent cash back. Bonus: there’s no annual fee.
American Express Cobalt Card
The Amex Cobalt Card provides twice the membership rewards points on eligible gas purchases and you can redeem 1,000 points to save $10 on gas.
TD Cash Back Visa Infinite
Get three per cent cash back on gas purchases with this card.
This article was first reported by The Star
