Fuel Direct

Fuel cards for businesses and fleets in the UK

Fuel Direct is a British company specialising in fuel cards aimed at small businesses, sole traders, and growing fleets. Its proposition is based on automatic per-litre discounts, transparent pricing, and a digital dashboard to control spending, with no hidden fees. The company claims it was created out of frustration with other fuel card companies that promised big discounts and ended up charging more than the pump price.

How the card works

Applicants complete the application online and, according to the company, approval is instant once the process is finished, with identity checks carried out in the background. If any issue arises, the team makes contact by phone within one working day. Cards are produced and dispatched within three to five working days and typically arrive within a maximum of twelve working days by standard Royal Mail delivery.

To open the account, a debit or credit card must be registered as the payment method. Fuel charges are applied to that card once the discount has been deducted and the transaction processed. The company states that it does not accept cards with high fees because they would prevent it from offering its discounts. Payment details are stored by an external processing provider, and Fuel Direct states that it neither sees nor stores card details.

There is a one-off sign-up fee, usually £9.99, which can be reduced using partner discount codes. The company maintains that it does not apply hidden fees or additional charges.

Discounts, coverage, and rewards

The company offers discounts at more than 3,600 UK service stations and, according to its website, also abroad. It advertises savings of up to 6 pence per litre on Synergy fuels. In addition, users accumulate points for each refuelling that they redeem for extra discounts on top of the standard savings.

The dashboard allows users to track spending, simplify expense management, and download HMRC-valid receipts. Fleet managers can view spending per vehicle, set per-driver limits, and export data from a single platform.

Customer profiles it targets

• Rideshare and delivery drivers: refuelling discounts, digital receipts, and transparency, with no credit check and no hidden fees.
• Tradespeople and professionals with a van: fuel savings and reduced administrative work associated with reconciling receipts for tax returns.
• Fleet managers: nationwide coverage, automated receipts, and transparent reporting to reduce risk and monthly reconciliation hours.
• Small businesses: control and visibility from one to twenty vehicles, with per-driver limits and tracking of every transaction.
• Company car managers: real-time expense tracking, automated receipts, and flexible spending limits.

Examples of use cited by the company

The website includes several illustrative cases. A self-employed plumber in the Midlands who spent around £550 a month on fuel now saves 5 pence per litre and cuts over two hours a month of admin, with HMRC-ready receipts logged automatically. A florist in the South East with a diesel van and a support car saves around £280 a year, which simplifies its tax returns. A logistics company with eighty delivery vehicles has standardised refuelling at more than 3,600 stations and claims to save thousands of pounds a month in discounts and administrative time. A group of Manchester university students who work for delivery and rideshare apps save between £30 and more than £50 a month depending on mileage, and some have referred new customers through the bonus programme.

Partner programme

Fuel Direct offers a partnership programme for membership organisations, trade associations, and business networks. Partners can attract customers with exclusive fuel discounts, improve retention by offering added value, differentiate their brand with transparent mobility solutions, and increase customer spending through ongoing rewards.