The cost of fuel is a challenge all drivers face in a volatile market. Traditional gas cards often restrict savings to a single brand, but the Pay with GasBuddy+™ Card (PGB+ Card) offers an innovative solution. It merges a Mastercard® powered payment card with the dynamic functionality of the GasBuddy app, allowing you to secure fuel discounts at virtually any gas station nationwide.
This guide will clearly explain how this specialized "savings card" works and how to maximize its potential for high discounts.
1.1 Nationwide Acceptance: The Mastercard Network Advantage
The PGB+ Card is issued by Fifth Third Bank and operates on the Mastercard® network. This grants the card exceptional universality: if a gas station or pump accepts Mastercard payments, you can use the PGB+ Card. This feature distinguishes it from many restrictive brand loyalty cards, ensuring you can access savings wherever you fuel up.
1.2 How It Works: Direct Debit from Your Bank Account
The PGB+ Card is not a credit card and provides no line of credit, so no credit check is required for application. It functions as a specialized debit card: after your fuel purchase, the funds are automatically and securely withdrawn from your linked checking account. This direct payment model allows GasBuddy to bypass high credit card processing fees, passing those savings on to you as a fuel discount.
1.3 The GasBuddy App: Discount Activation and Management
Your PGB+ Card must be linked to the GasBuddy application. The App is your central control platform for all discounts: card activation, finding deals, redeeming rewards, and tracking transactions all rely on the App.
The PGB+ Card's true value lies in its multi-layered stacking model, allowing you to potentially boost your savings to as high as 33¢/gallon.
2.1 Guaranteed Savings on Every Fill-Up
Wherever you use the PGB+ Card, it provides a fixed minimum discount, guaranteeing you save money on every fill-up. The minimum is at least 3¢/gallon, which may increase to 5¢/gallon at certain participating stations. This is your essential safety net when using the card.
2.2 Deal Alert: The Key to Maximum Savings
To move beyond the minimum discount and achieve the highest potential savings (up to 25¢/gallon extra), you must utilize the App's Deal Alert feature.
Manual Activation is Essential: Before fueling, you must locate and manually activate these dynamic deals through the GasBuddy App.
Time Constraint: Once a Deal Alert is activated, you are under a strict 4-hour time limit to visit the specified station and complete the transaction, or the discount will expire.
Discount Stacking: The discount provided by the Deal Alert stacks on top of your base savings. Achieving the maximum savings requires stacking these dynamic deals with your base savings and convenience store rewards.
2.3 Convenience Store Shopping Rewards
The card also incentivizes non-fuel purchases. For every $25 you spend on non-fuel items (like snacks or coffee) inside a convenience store using your PGB+ Card, you earn an extra 3¢/gallon discount for your next fuel purchase.
Because the PGB+ Card directly links to your bank account via the ACH network, users must be aware of certain constraints and risks.
3.1 Insufficient Funds Penalty
This is the primary financial risk: if your linked account has insufficient funds when GasBuddy attempts to withdraw the payment, you will incur an Insufficient Funds (NSF) penalty, often around $15. Strict monitoring of your bank balance is crucial.
3.2 Strict Spending Limits
The PGB+ Card enforces strict daily and weekly spending limits designed for security. For most users enrolled in auto-pay, the limit is
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400 per week. These limits make the card best suited for personal, moderate-volume fueling, rather than high-volume or commercial use.
3.3 Card Deactivation During Disputes
If you report suspicious activity, you must immediately "Lock" the card via the App. Be advised that during GasBuddy's dispute investigation (which can take around 30 days), your PGB+ Card will be temporarily deactivated, and you cannot use it for new fuel purchases. You should have a backup payment method available during this time.
The Pay with GasBuddy+™ Card is a powerful but demanding fuel savings tool. It provides high savings potential, coupled with the Mastercard network's nationwide universality and a guarantee of base savings on every transaction.
It is best suited for: Price-sensitive drivers who have moderate fueling needs and are willing to actively manage the GasBuddy App to locate and activate dynamic deals. If you are looking to maximize savings while avoiding brand restrictions and complex membership requirements, the PGB+ Card offers a robust, app-driven discount solution.
The Pay with GasBuddy+™ Card is a unique savings tool that functions like a debit card, offering fuel discounts at nearly any gas station nationwide. Its primary value comes from "stacking" a guaranteed base discount with high-value, time-sensitive Deal Alerts that must be activated in the GasBuddy app before fueling. While it requires active management and careful monitoring of your linked bank account to avoid penalties, for the engaged driver, it provides one of the most direct and powerful ways to achieve significant savings on every fill-up.
