6 Best Gas Station Credit Card Processing Companies in 2024

When it comes to deciding which credit card processor will be the cheapest solution for your gas station, a key factor to consider is sales volume: do you process lots of smaller transactions for fuel, or do you also take higher-value payments for auto repair and maintenance services?

Some gas stations will save more by choosing a service with a monthly subscription and flat transaction fee, whereas others will find that an interchange-plus model lets them keep more of their earnings.

Furthermore, gas stations that have a thriving business selling replacement parts (batteries, tires, brake pads) or have an onsite convenience store may benefit from accounting and inventory management tools. Not all credit card processors offer these cost- and time-saving features, however.

After researching dozens of services and taking into account the payment processing needs of different types of gas stations, I’ve compiled this list of the best credit card processing companies servicing this industry. Leaders Merchant Services (LMS) is my top choice for its low rates and free POS hardware that includes useful industry-specific tools.

Keep reading to discover which one is best suited to your business.

What We Look For in the Best Credit Card Processing Companies for Gas Stations

When researching credit card processors to find the most affordable options for gas stations, I focused on the features and benefits that will have the biggest impact on your bottom line.

• Transparent pricing. With the credit card processors on my list, you’ll know exactly how much you’ll be paying for every type of transaction. You’ll never have to worry about hidden fees with these processors.
• Low processing rates. These credit card processors charge some of the lowest processing fees on the market. This makes them ideal for small businesses like gas stations that have razor-thin profit margins and process lots of small transactions.
• Fast payouts. The credit card processors on this list have quick payout times, usually around 24-48 hours. Some even offer same-day payouts.
• Fraud and chargeback protection. Settling disputed or fraudulent credit card charges can be costly. Every payment processor on this list helps you limit disputed charges. They also meet the highest level of Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard for payment processing.
• Free or discounted terminals. Point-of-sale (POS) hardware is expensive. All these credit card processing companies offer free or discounted equipment. If you have existing hardware, you’ll also find options to integrate your existing equipment with the new processor of your choice.

1. Leaders Merchant Services: Quick Approval and Custom Pricing for Gas Stations1

Leaders Merchant Services earned first place on my list because it tailors plans to your industry and needs. You’ll pay less because you won’t pay for tools you don’t need. Other benefits to LMS’s interchange-plus model include its low monthly cost of $9.00 and affordable transaction fee of ~0.15% + $0 for chip, swiped, and contactless in-person payments.

You’ll also get top-of-the-line POS equipment from Clover and SwipeSimple with built-in tools for managing your gas station business and the option to download additional useful apps and features. These include the Clover Fuel app, which allows you to accept fleet and bank cards at the pump while selling fuel and merchandise in your store.

If you’re just starting out or want to upgrade your gas station with new signage or state-of-the art gas pumps, LMS also offers cash advances that you’ll pay back through a small percentage of your future sales.

Features and Benefits

• Negotiable rates. LMS promises to meet or beat your current payment processor’s rates or give you a $200 gift card for letting it try. And even if you’re just starting out, you may still be able to bargain for an attractive rate.
• Flexible payments. In addition to all major credit and debit cards, LMS lets you accept payments from Google, Apple, and Samsung Pay. If you’ve purchased a Clover terminal, you can also accept PayPal and Venmo payments.
• High approval rates. Not only is the application process easy, but LMS also approves 98% of merchant accounts. Once you’ve signed up, you can begin processing payments within 24 hours.
• Security. LMS’s advanced security measures, which include PCI compliance, end-to-end encryption, and tokenization, ensures the security of your customers’ financial information and reduces the risk of fraud and disputed payments.

Our expert LMS review has more info about rates.

2. Paysafe: Great for New Gas Station Owners1

Paysafe is an excellent processor for new gas stations due to its free mobile card reader and mobile pay app. Using the Paysafe Mobile Pay app, you can use your iPhone or Android device as a POS system to process payments, key in credit card information, and prepare receipts. You can also get a custom solution with Paysafe’s partnership with PCS Payments, which specializes in petroleum-related transactions.

With Paysafe’s cash discount plan, you can offset up to 100% of your processing fees by surcharging your customers 1-4%. To join its cash discount plan, you’ll pay $16.00/month and won’t have to worry about cancellation fees. Alternatively, Paysafe offers a reasonably priced interchange-plus plan where you’ll pay 0.50% + $0.10 per transaction and $7.95/month.

Every Paysafe merchant gets a dedicated account manager who guides you through the setup process. They’ll help you choose the best POS system for your gas station’s needs. Better yet, Paysafe’s risk management team will monitor your transactions to reduce the risk of chargebacks and fraud. You can also pay for an enhanced security package, which acts as an insurance policy.

Features and Benefits

• 260 payment methods. You can accept credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, Play+, Venmo, and more. This way, you can service any customer, no matter what odd situation they find themselves in while on the road.
• Reliable payouts. Every Paysafe merchant receives funds in 1-2 business days as standard. However, if you have urgent or last-minute expenses, like fixing broken gas pumps, you can pay extra for guaranteed next-day funding.
• Analytics software. Using Paysafe’s dashboard, you get access to your transaction history, monthly sales data, the ability to generate reports, and more. This helps you monitor your margins and ensure your business is competitive against neighboring gas stations.
• Compliance and security. Each device offered by Paysafe is EMV level 1 and 2 approved and PCI-certified and uses tokenization, end-to-end encryption, and more. This ensures you can safeguard your customer’s information and reduce the risk of fraud or chargebacks.

Read our extensive Paysafe review to learn more about its features.

3. Stax: Best for Established, Multi-Service Gas Stations1

By eliminating the percentage markup other credit card processors typically charge on transactions, Stax can help you save on credit card processing fees. You’ll pay a $99.00 monthly membership fee and a small 8¢ + interchange (in-person) fee on each transaction. This makes it easier to project your monthly revenue and keep track of your business’s finances.

Stax offers an additional advantage by seamlessly integrating with numerous popular business management tools, including those for tasks such as inventory tracking, automatic low-stock alerts, and the provision of easily comprehensible sales data. This proves to be of immense benefit to gas stations that operate convenience stores or provide maintenance and repair services, as it assists them in efficiently managing inventory and monitoring the demand for their products.

Stax can provide good value if you process at least $8,000 in monthly transactions because its plan fees can be steep for lower volume gas stations.  The higher your transaction volume (up to a maximum of $500,000 per year), the more likely you are to save with Stax.

Features and Benefits

• Free terminal. Stax offers a free POS terminal or mobile reader with any plan, though you’ll have to return the equipment if you cancel your plan. If you install Stax’s mobile app on your smartphone or tablet, you can use your device as a terminal.
• Financial management. Another perk Stax offers is integration with QuickBooks accounting tools. Though you’ll have to pay extra for this feature, you’ll get all the tools you need to manage your finances in-house.
• Secure payments. As well as being a level 1 PCI-compliant payment processor, Stax offers advanced fraud detection, payer verification, and end-to-end encryption, so you can be confident that your and your customers’ financial information is safe.
• No-fee surcharging. Passing the cost of your credit card processing fees onto your card-paying customers can save your business a substantial amount. Just be aware that surcharging is not allowed in every state.

Read our expert Stax review to learn more about features.

4. Payment Depot: Affordable and Transparent Processing for Gas Stations1

Payment Depot is a great option for busy gas stations, as you can pay a flat fee per transaction with no percentage markups. You’ll pay 0.2%-1.95% per transaction, no matter your chosen plan. On its Starter plan, you can process up to $125,000 per year for $0/month, whereas on its Growth plan, you can process up to $500,000 per year for $0/month.

When you open a merchant account, you’ll receive a free Dejavoo Z11 terminal or a SwipeSimple mobile reader – with the option to negotiate for other terminals. However, the Dejavoo terminal lacks business management tools, so Payment Depot’s paid terminals may be preferable. The paid options include the Clover Flex terminal, which allows you to process payments and manage your business from anywhere.

Payment Depot is one of the few payment processors that offers next-day funding by default without an extra fee. It’s a boon if you run a smaller gas station that needs quick access to funds. Similarly, you’ll find the entire Payment Depot setup process pretty efficient: you can apply, get approved, and start accepting payments within 24 hours.

Features and Benefits

• All-in-one payment dashboard. If your gas station includes a retail store, you can encourage your customers to spend more by using Payment Depot’s dashboard to offer discounts and run promotions.
• Responsive live chat. You can get a response from Payment Depot’s support team in less than 5 minutes if you use its live chat during regular business hours. Outside of these hours, you can use its phone or email support.
• Security. Payment Depot is PCI and GDPR-compliant and offers end-to-end encryption and tokenization, ensuring your customer’s financial data and card information stays safe at all times.
• 24/7 risk monitoring team. If you run into chargebacks, you can dispute them and compile evidence in your favor from your account area. Plus, Payment Depot’s risk monitoring team will regularly notify you of potential fraud threats and trends.

To find out more, read our comprehensive Payment Depot review.

5. Chase Payment Solutions: Quick and Easy Payment Processing for Gas Stations1

Chase Payment Solutions is a great choice for gas stations looking for quick and easy payment processing. You won’t be charged monthly fees and will pay 2.6% + 10¢ for card-present transactions and 3.5% + 10¢ for keyed-in transactions. In addition, traditional merchants benefit from monthly contracts with no cancellation fees. If you own a high-volume gas station, you can contact Chase to request lower fees – although you may be stuck with a long-term contract.

Using one of Chase’s business checking accounts gives you free same-day funding. Better yet, if you keep at least $2,000 in your checking account per day, Chase will waive its $15/month fee.

In terms of POS systems, Chase is quite limited compared to other payment processors. Chase only offers its own terminals, so you won’t have access to popular brands like Clover – meaning you may have to replace your device if you change your payment processor. Chase’s hardware isn’t free but reasonably priced, ranging from $79 to $499.

Features and Benefits

• Customer insights. You can use Chase’s intelligence platform to analyze when your customers shop and how much they spend. Thus, you can find the best time to schedule fuel deliveries and fix broken pumps.
• Payment methods. With Chase, you can ensure customer satisfaction by accepting most credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets. If one of your regular customers forgets their means of payment, you can also pay by link.
• Capital loans. If you need to fix, modernize, or expand your station, Chase offers loans of up to $500,000. The interest rates and loan terms vary but are flexible.
• QuickBooks. Chase can automatically sync your payments with QuickBooks Online at the end of each day, so you don’t have to manually input the thousands of transactions you’ve processed.

Read our expert Chase review to learn more.

6. POS Pros: Custom Gas Station Point-of-Sale Solutions1

Recognizing that gas stations have specific processing needs, POS Pros helps you choose the right POS equipment for your gas station and the services you offer: fuel sales, auto repair, car wash, or convenience store.

Recommended POS solutions like the Clover Fuel and Ruby SuperSystem come with fully-integrated software products that help you run your gas station’s front and back-end business. These all-in one POS solutions include special features like tank monitoring, electronic price controls, and unattended fueling for customer convenience.

Unfortunately, these technologically advanced systems don’t come cheap and POS Pros doesn’t offer them for free. That said, its interchange-plus and tiered plans are competitively priced, and all plans are month-to-month with no cancellation fees.

Features and Benefits

• Virtual system demos. This standout feature allows you to test the interface and features of recommended POS systems before you commit. Whether you’re a new business owner or looking to upgrade your POS hardware, this can help you avoid buying costly equipment that doesn’t suit your needs.
• Secure and convenient payments. Your customers can quickly and safely pay in a number of ways: by credit/debit card, EMV chip card, oil branded network cards, Fleet cards, or contactless payments at the pump or inside the store.
• Cash discount program. Cash discounting, which is legal in all 50 states, can help you reduce credit card processing fees by offering customers who pay with cash a 4% discount. This plan even includes a free Dejavoo Z11 terminal.
• Loyalty programs. Offering regular customers perks like gift cards and the option to enroll in a loyalty program can help small gas stations compete with big discount retailers that sell fuel at lower prices.

Read our in-depth POS Pros review for more details.

How To Choose the Right Gas Station Credit Card Processing Company for Your Needs

Choosing the best payment processor will vary depending on the services you offer, how established your business is, and the volume of transactions you typically process.

Negotiable rates, fast and secure processing, state-of-the-art POS equipment, and a money-saving meet-or-beat guarantee are why Leaders Merchant Services is my top recommendation1 for established gas stations.

If you’re looking for a payment processor with solutions tailored to gas stations, Paysafe is an excellent choice1 due to its free card reader and petroleum-focused payments partner.

If you process over $8,000 monthly, Stax is another affordable option1. You’ll appreciate its client-centered approach and affordable monthly fee.

I’ve put together a quick overview of each payment processor’s pricing and fees to make it easier to decide on the best service for your business.

FAQ

How can I reduce the cost of credit card processing for my gas station?

Choosing a processor that offers a free terminal and setup or that will reprogram your existing equipment for free can save you money. If you have the option to lease or buy equipment, choose the latter – it will be cheaper overall. You can also save by choosing a service that doesn’t charge fees for PCI compliance.

Which credit card processors are best for mid- and high-risk gas stations?

Both LMS and Paysafe have high approval rates, even for high-risk businesses. Of the two, Paysafe is the better option for high-risk gas stations, offering month-to-month plans, no termination fee, Level 1 and 2 EMV-approved equipment, and processing for over 260 payment types.

What are the best credit card readers for gas stations?

The best terminals and mobile card readers allow your customers to pay however they prefer: credit card, debit card, fleet card, or digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay). Some processors, like Stax, also offer terminals and card readers that allow you to accept payments made with Venmo and PayPal. The more options you can offer, the more likely people are to return.

Which credit card processor offers the best rates for gas stations?

It depends on the volume of your gas station’s transactions and the individual ticket amount. Multi-service stations that offer repair services will find Leaders Merchant Services offers the best rates for their business, while gas stations that exclusively sell fuel may save with ProMerchant because of its lower monthly fee.

Our expert review of the 10 best credit card processing services can help you choose the best one for your gas station.