Which Gas Stations Qualify for Costco Credit Card Rewards

The Costco Anywhere Visa card gives you 4% cash back on gas, but only at Costco gas stations and a few other places

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by American Express rewards you with 4% cash back on gas purchases, but that 4% only applies at Costco gas stations. If you buy gas anywhere else — at Shell, Chevron, Exxon, or an independent station — you earn 1% cash back instead, the same as most other purchases on the card.

This matters because the difference between 4% and 1% adds up quickly. On a $60 fill-up, 4% cash back is $2.40, while 1% is just 60 cents. Over a year, that gap can be substantial if you're filling up regularly.

The card also gives you 4% cash back at other warehouse clubs — Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club — but again, only at their gas stations, not on regular warehouse purchases.

Key Takeaways

• The Costco Anywhere Visa earns 4% cash back only at Costco gas stations, not at any other gas station or fuel retailer.
• Gas purchased at non-Costco stations earns 1% cash back, the same rate as general purchases like groceries or restaurants.
• You must be a Costco member to use the Costco gas station, so the card's gas rewards are only useful if you already have a membership.
• The 4% rate applies to the pump price only — it does not include convenience store purchases or car washes at Costco locations.
• Cash back from the card posts to your account monthly and can be used as a statement credit or deposited to a bank account.

Why Costco limits the 4% rate to its own gas stations

Costco prices its gas below market rate as a membership benefit. The company uses gas sales to attract and retain members, not to make a large profit on fuel itself. Because of that strategy, Costco can afford to offer cardholders a higher cash back rate — 4% — as an incentive to buy gas there instead of elsewhere.

If the card offered 4% cash back on gas at any station, Costco would be paying rewards on purchases that don't benefit the company at all. That's why the reward is tied to Costco locations only. The card issuer, American Express, and Costco both benefit when you pump gas at Costco: you stay loyal to the warehouse, and the card gets used more often.

What counts as a Costco gas purchase

At the pump, the 4% rate applies to the fuel itself — regular, premium, or diesel. It does not include add-ons like car washes, air fresheners, or other items sold inside the Costco fuel station kiosk.

If you go inside a Costco warehouse and buy gas gift cards, those purchases earn 1% cash back, not 4%, because you're buying a product inside the warehouse, not pumping gas at the station.

Costco gas stations are separate from the warehouse building. You do not need to enter the warehouse to use the pump — you can drive straight to the fuel station. However, you do need an active Costco membership card to access the pumps. The Costco Anywhere Visa card alone is not enough; it must be paired with a warehouse membership.

How to maximize the 4% gas reward

The simplest approach is to buy gas only at Costco if you want the highest cash back rate. Since Costco gas is typically priced lower than competitors anyway, you're getting a discount on the fuel plus 4% cash back on top of that.

However, Costco gas stations are not everywhere. If you live far from a Costco location or travel frequently, you may not be able to use Costco gas regularly. In that case, the card still earns 1% cash back on gas at other stations, which is better than no reward at all.

Some people use the Costco Anywhere Visa for everyday purchases and keep a different card for gas at non-Costco stations if that other card offers a higher rate. For example, if you have a card that earns 3% cash back on all gas purchases, you might use that card at Shell or Exxon and reserve the Costco card for Costco gas only.

Other rewards on the Costco Anywhere Visa

The 4% cash back rate is the highest reward on this card, but it applies to a narrow set of purchases. You also earn 3% cash back on travel (airfare, hotels, rental cars, and parking) and 2% cash back at restaurants and on travel purchases made through the Costco Travel website.

Everything else — groceries, clothing, household items, online shopping — earns 1% cash back. There is no annual fee for the card if you have a Costco membership, though American Express does charge an annual membership fee to Costco itself (separate from the card).

What happens if you don't have a Costco membership

You cannot use the Costco Anywhere Visa to buy gas at Costco without an active warehouse membership. Costco requires all fuel customers to show a membership card at the pump, whether they're paying with the Costco card or another payment method.

If you're interested in the card's rewards but don't have a Costco membership, you would need to join first. Costco offers different membership tiers — Gold Star (basic), Executive, and others — and the cost varies by location. Once you have a membership, you can apply for the card and start earning rewards at the gas station.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I earn 4% cash back if I buy gas at a Costco in another state?

Yes. The 4% rate applies at any Costco gas station in the United States, regardless of which state you're in. Your membership card and Costco Anywhere Visa work at all Costco locations.

What if I use a different payment method at the Costco pump?

If you pay with a different credit card, debit card, or cash, you don't earn any cash back from the Costco Anywhere Visa. The rewards only apply when you use the Costco card itself to pay.

Can I use the Costco card to buy gas at Sam's Club or BJ's?

Yes, the card earns 4% cash back at Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club gas stations as well. However, you would need a membership at those clubs to access their fuel pumps, just as you do at Costco.

Does the 4% rate include taxes?

The cash back is calculated on the total amount you pay at the pump, including taxes. So if your receipt shows $60 total, the 4% is calculated on that full $60.

When does the cash back show up in my account?

Cash back from the Costco Anywhere Visa posts to your account monthly. You can use it as a statement credit on your next bill, or if you set it up, American Express can deposit it directly to a linked bank account.