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 Stations

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 ~2% + 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. Stax: Best for Established, Multi-Service Gas Stations

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 0% + 10¢ (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.

3. POS Pros: Custom Gas Station Point-of-Sale Solutions

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.

4. PAYARC: Affordable Rates and Tailored Solutions for Gas Stations

Unlike many credit card processors, PAYARC’s model is built on personalization and choice. It offers affordably priced membership and interchange plus plans, and a cash discounting program that allows you to pass your processing costs along to your customers.

What’s more, PAYARC will help you identify the right terminal for your individual gas station’s needs –  and even integrate your existing equipment with its platform. Whichever terminal you choose, you’ll get PAYARC’s proprietary software with tools to manage all aspects of your business, including invoicing, tax collection, deposits, and disputes. 

Mid-sized gas stations that also offer auto repair services will likely save the most with PAYARC’S membership plans. There’s no markup on the interchange rate – you’ll only be charged a monthly fee based on your processing volume and a small transaction fee.

Features and Benefits

• Fast payouts. Gas stations that operate on thin margins will appreciate PAYARC’s commitment to depositing funds to your account within 24-48 hours. There’s even an option for same day payouts, though there’s a monthly fee for the privilege.
• Useful integrations. PAYARC seamlessly integrates with your website or other software you may already be using. A standout feature is free two-way sync with QuickBooks, which many processors charge an additional fee to use.
• Fraud prevention. Velocity filtering, transaction limits, real-time address/zip code and security code matching, tokenization, and end-to-end encryption reduce the risk of fraudulent transactions, disputes and costly chargebacks.
• Exceptional customer support. Round-the-clock customer service by phone and email can help you resolve any technical issues or questions that arise. This ensures your business can continue to operate smoothly.

Learn more about rates in our in-depth PAYARC review.

5. ProMerchant:  Processing for Low- to High-Risk Gas Stations

ProMerchant offers two pricing models for gas stations: interchange-plus plans and zero cost processing. Plans are competitively priced and month-to-month, so you don’t have to worry about cancellation fees. Another plus is ProMerchant’s willingness to work with higher-risk gas stations that might have a hard time getting approved by other processors.

Three Clover terminals are available for purchase. These popular devices come with features that help gas station owners streamline their operations and improve their customers’ experience. You can accept EMV chip and swiped credit/debit cards, NFC (contactless), and even payments made via QR code. 

ProMerchant is one of the few payment processors that offers free next-day funding for every merchant account, a boon for small businesses that may need quick access to funds. You can also count on a fast and easy approval process and friendly and knowledgeable customer support.

Features and Benefits

• Business oversight. ProMerchant’s POS and virtual terminals give you tools to efficiently manage transactions, track sales, and process payments. This simplifies the payment and checkout process, reduces waiting times for customers, and increases customer satisfaction.
• Fuel management. Adding the Fuel app to your Clover terminal allows you to monitor and track fuel levels, pump performance, and fuel pricing. This helps gas stations optimize their fuel operations, ensure efficient stock levels, and respond quickly to fluctuations in fuel prices.
• Loyalty and rewards programs. You can boost sales and foster customer loyalty by offering personalized discounts, points towards purchases, or exclusive discounts.
• Mobile app. With the ProMerchant mobile app, gas stations can offer mobile payments, send notifications about special promotions, and allow customers to pre order parts and convenience store items through the app.

Our expert ProMerchant review has more details.

6. Flagship Merchant Services: Best for Negotiating Rates for Your Service Station

Flagship Merchant Services offers two pricing models: interchange-plus and tiered pricing. Although tiered pricing might seem like the cheapest option, I advise against it – tiered pricing fees tend to be higher than interchange fees in the long run, especially for small businesses.

While Flagship has one of the lowest monthly fees at $7.95, it charges additional fees for PCI compliance, use of the payment gateway, and ACH processing.

Like National Processing, Flagship also doesn’t offer a free terminal unless you sign a long-term contract. I’d recommend purchasing your own equipment from Flagship – it will cost less in the long run because you won’t need to pay monthly insurance and maintenance fees.

Flagship doesn’t disclose any information about pricing and fees on its website because it encourages merchants to negotiate. Be sure to contact the company to get a custom quote for your business.

Features and Benefits

• Custom account solutions. While the lack of pricing transparency on its site may be disconcerting, Flagship gives you the opportunity to negotiate a plan that’s right for your business. This means you don’t have to pay for features you don’t want or need.
• Merchant cash advances. Flagship offers quick and easy funding for any business needs. It will provide cash advances of up to $150,000 that can be repaid via an additional markup on your future transactions.
• PCI-compliant payment processing. Flagship is Level 1 PCI-compliant for credit card transactions, whether swiped, keyed in, or contactless. This processor also requires merchants to complete an annual PCI compliance assessment for a $99 fee.
• Loyalty programs. The Flagship plan offers you the opportunity to establish a digital loyalty program for your customers. This feature can assist local gas stations in distinguishing themselves from both competitors and major discount clubs.

Read our expert Flagship review for more features.

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.

Negotaible 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 recommendation for established gas stations.

If you process over $8,000 monthly, Stax is another affordable option. You’ll appreciate its client-centered approach and it can save you save money with an affordable monthly fee.

If your gas station is considered higher-risk, you can’t go wrong with POS Pros. Its plans and transaction fees are competitively priced and approval is fast and easy.

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. Lastly, be sure to weigh chargeback fees for fraudulent and disputed payments.

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

Both ProMerchant and Flagship Merchant Services have high approval rates, even for high-risk businesses. Of the two, ProMerchant is the better option for high-risk gas stations, offering month to month plans, no termination fee, free equipment, and processing of all 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.