Combat rise in fuel prices with co-branded cards; all you need to know

By redeeming the reward points and availing of other benefits, you can offset the recent rise in your fuel bills to some extent

• Opt for a co-branded fuel card that will be accepted at the gas stations that you use most frequently. A mismatch on this count will render these cards redundant 

• The annual fee on these cards ranges from Rs 199-1,000 

• This fee can be waived, provided you spend a minimum amount annually, which ranges from Rs 30,000-50,000 

• If your fuel expenditure is lower, you may be better off opting for a card that waives the fee at a lower spending limit   

• These cards also offer rewards and benefits at departmental stores, restaurants, movie bookings, etc. 

• Make sure that the benefits offered by the card match your spending pattern 

• The interest rates on revolving credit are quite similar for these cards, so that should not be a major criterion for selection