Fuel loyalty programs are very popular among American car owners. Two-thirds (66%) of American gas and diesel car owners say they are members of at least one such program, according to YouGov Profiles. Membership is relatively consistent across age groups, though drivers aged 35-54 (68%) are slightly more likely to participate than those aged 18-34 (64%) or 55 and over (65%).

Who signs up

Patterns of participation vary across car owners. BMW (76%), Volkswagen (76%) and Chrysler (71%) drivers show the highest likelihood of belonging to a fuel loyalty program, while membership is less common among Cadillac (59%), Dodge (63%) and Honda (63%) drivers.

Ford (65%), Toyota (66%) and Chevrolet (67%) drivers sit closer to the national average, while Mercedes-Benz (64%) and Jeep (70%) owners show splits at either end of the spectrum.

Where drivers sign up

When it comes to the programs themselves, wholesale and supermarket chains are the biggest players. Costco and Kroger Fuel Points both capture 22% of loyalty members, while Sam’s Club follows at 19%. Among fuel-branded programs, Shell Fuel Rewards (17%) and Speedway Speedy Rewards (15%) have the largest membership bases, followed by Circle K Inner Circle (13%) and 7-Eleven 7REWARDS (12%). Exxon Mobil Rewards+ (10%) and regional players such as Wawa Rewards (7%) and RaceTrac Rewards (4%) round out the top ten.

What drives participation

For American motorists, the appeal of fuel loyalty programs lies squarely in tangible value. Nearly six in ten members (59%) cite the quality of rewards and discounts as one of the most important factors when choosing a program.

A further 43% say the selection of rewards available matters, while 41% highlight the ease of signup. Minimum spend requirements to redeem rewards (28%), data security (26%), and retailer availability (23%) also weigh into the decision for some.

Different programs, different expectations

Fuel discounts are the mainstay of every gas station loyalty program, with Shell Fuel Rewards (91%), Circle K Inner Circle (91%) and Kroger Fuel Points (90%) members most likely to cite savings at the pump. Costco (80%), Sam’s Club (81%) and Exxon Mobil Rewards+ (83%) also perform strongly, showing that price remains the central driver across the board.

Convenience store perks are where the biggest differences emerge. More than half of Circle K Inner Circle members (52%) and nearly half of Speedway Speedy Rewards members (49%) highlight in-store discounts, alongside 44% of Exxon Mobil Rewards+ users. By contrast, only around three in ten Kroger (29%) and Sam’s Club (32%) members say the same, and fewer than a quarter of Costco members (23%).

Additional benefits appeal to smaller but notable groups. Around one in five Exxon Mobil Rewards+ and Speedway members point to automobile-related perks, and up to 17% highlight offers at other retailers. Event access, EV charging discounts and charity donations attract modest shares but show potential as emerging differentiators, with Exxon Mobil Rewards+ consistently over-indexing across these niche categories.