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Best Credit Cards for EV Charging in 2025 – Earn Rewards on Every Charge
February 6, 2025
Electric vehicles (EVs) are more popular than ever – nearly 18% of all cars sold in 2023 were electric. In response, credit card issuers have supercharged their rewards for EV drivers, often matching gas rewards for spending at charging stations.
Whether you’re powering up at a public charging station or paying a higher electric bill at home, certain credit cards can give you cashback or points for those charges. Let’s dive into the best credit cards for EV charging and how to maximize your benefits as an EV owner.
Why Use a Credit Card for EV Charging?
Using a credit card to pay for charging your EV can turn a routine expense into valuable rewards. Many major banks now classify EV charging as a bonus category, just like gas. This means you can earn 3%, 4%, even 5% back on charging costs with the right card – effectively getting a discount on every kilowatt-hour.
For example, Sam’s Club World Elite Mastercard® gives 5% back on EV charging (same as on gas purchases), and the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi earns 4% back on eligible EV charging spend. Over a year, those rewards add up, especially as electricity for EVs is already cheaper per mile than gas.
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Beyond station charging, credit cards can help with other EV expenses. You might install a home charging station or see your power bill spike from nightly charging. Some cards let you earn bonus cashback on home utility bills, and others offer 0% intro APR financing – handy if you need to spread out the cost of a charger or a new EV battery. In short, the right card can offset your EV costs and even fund a fun road trip with the rewards you’ve earned.
Best Credit Cards for EV Charging Rewards
When it comes to maximizing EV-related rewards, we’ll look at two scenarios: public charging and home charging. Below are the top cards in each category, plus how to use them effectively.
Maximize Rewards at Public Charging Stations (On-the-Road Charging)
If you primarily charge your car at public stations (like Tesla Superchargers, ChargePoint, EVgo, etc.), you’ll want a card that specifically rewards EV charging station transactions. Thanks to a recent update in how purchases are coded, Visa and Mastercard now tag charging station spends under a unique category (MCC 5552) – which certain cards treat as bonus spending.
🥇 PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
5x Points on EV Charging: This credit union card leads the pack with 5 points per $1 spent at EV charging stations (and gas stations). That’s equivalent to 5% back if points are redeemed optimally. Heads-up: You’ll need to join PenFed Credit Union (open to all) to get this card, and point redemptions for cash are limited – but if you don’t mind redeeming for travel or gift cards, it’s a top earner.
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🥈 Citi Custom Cash® Card
5% Cash Back on EV Charging: The Custom Cash is like a chameleon – it automatically gives 5% back on your top spending category each billing cycle (on up to $500 in spend) and yes, EV charging is an eligible category. If charging is your biggest expense in a month (or you dedicate this card to charging), you’ll earn 5% cashback easily. For an average commuter, $500 in monthly charging is plenty (that’s about $125 a week, likely more than enough for most EVs). Just be mindful of the $500 cap; beyond that, the rate drops to 1%.
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🥉 U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
4x Points on EV Charging: Originally known as a travel card, the Altitude Connect shines for EV drivers with 4 points per $1 on “gas and EV charging stations” (up to $1,000 per quarter). At a penny-per-point value, that’s 4% back. It also offers useful travel perks and an annual fee waiver the first year ( $95 thereafter). This card was among the first to explicitly add EV charging as a bonus – a sign of how issuers are recognizing EV trends.
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Many gas credit cards now include EV charging automatically. So if you already have a gas rewards card, check if EV charging is covered – you might be pleasantly surprised.
Maximize Rewards for Home Charging & EV Ownership Costs
One huge perk of EV ownership is waking up to a “full tank” when you charge at home. But charging at home means your electric bill will rise. Fortunately, a few cards reward those costs:
🏡 US Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card
5% on Home Utilities: The Cash+ card lets you choose two categories each quarter to earn 5% back (up to $2,000 combined). One option is Home Utilities – which typically includes electric bills. If you charge at home, you’re essentially paying for “fuel” via your utility bill, so earning 5% back on that is huge.
Kudos Tip: Set a calendar reminder to select “Utilities” each quarter as one of your 5% Cash+ categories. This card is a bit high-maintenance, but the payoff (5% off your home charging costs) is worth it.
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💡 Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards
3% (or 5.25%) on EV Charging: This card now explicitly lists EV charging stations as a 3% cashback category. You pick that as your category and earn 3% back (up to $2,500 combined quarterly spend). What’s more, if you’re a Preferred Rewards client with BofA, you get a bonus — potentially up to 5.25% back on that category. That’s an excellent rate for home or public charging.
The catch: $2,500/quarter cap across your 3% category and grocery/wholesale clubs (2%). Still, $2,500 per quarter is $833 a month – plenty for most families’ combined gas and electric “fuel” costs.
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🔌 Financing Your Home Charger
If you need to buy a Level 2 home charger or install a charging outlet, consider a card with a 0% intro APR. For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers 15 months 0% intro APR on purchases – you could charge a $1,500 home installation and spread it out interest-free. Plus, it earns 1.5% back on everything (or more in bonus categories), so you’re still getting rewards. Just plan to pay it off in time.
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🚗 Other EV expenses
Don’t forget maintenance and accessories. EV tires, brake work, or the occasional paid charging session all add up. The Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa® is a unique one – it gives 3% cashback on “auto” purchases, including EV repairs and even buying an EV battery. While it doesn’t specifically boost charging rewards, it’s a nice complement for overall EV ownership costs (and has no fee).
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FAQ: Electric Vehicle Charging & Credit Cards
Do any credit cards offer rewards specifically for EV charging?
Yes – an increasing number of cards reward EV charging. Look for cards that mention “EV charging stations” in their bonus categories. If you pay for a charging session with those cards, you’ll earn bonus points or cash back, just as you would for buying gas.
Will a gas rewards credit card work at EV charging stations?
Often, yes. Many top gas cards now give the same rewards on EV charging by treating charging stations like gas stations. As long as the charger is coded correctly (MCC for EV charging), a gas card should recognize it. Major networks like Visa added a distinct merchant code for EV chargers in 2022, which made this possible. However, very new or obscure charging networks might sometimes code differently (e.g., as “parking” or “utilities”), so keep an eye on your statement.
How can I get cashback for charging my EV at home?
While you can’t swipe a credit card at your own outlet, you can still earn rewards by paying your electric utility bill with a cashback card. Choose a card that offers bonus rewards on utilities or home bills.
What purchases count as “EV charging” for credit cards?
Credit cards rely on merchant category codes (MCC) to identify spending categories. In 2019, networks introduced a specific MCC for EV charging stations. So whenever you pay at a dedicated charging station (Tesla Supercharger, public charger network app, etc.), it should tag as EV charging. All the cards we listed will reward those purchases. But note: if a charging station’s payment system is old, it might register as something else.
Is it worth getting a new credit card just for EV charging rewards?
It depends on how often you pay to charge. If you rely heavily on public charging or have significant EV-related expenses, a card that gives 3-5% back on those purchases can save you a lot – effectively $30–$50+ per $1,000 spent on charging. For many EV owners, that easily justifies getting a dedicated card. For example, if you spend $200/month on charging, a 5% reward nets $120/year in rewards – not bad! On the other hand, if you charge mostly for free or very infrequently use public chargers, it might not be as critical.
Conclusion: Charge Up Your EV Rewards (with Kudos!)
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Every time you plug in your car, you could be plugging into rewards. The rise of EV-focused credit card perks means you don’t have to spend a fortune to fuel (or rather, charge) your ride. By choosing one of these “best credit cards for EV charging,” you’ll earn points or cash back that can offset your charging costs – or even fund your next road trip.
Remember, the best card for you depends on your habits. Some EV owners might even carry two cards – one for public charging, one for home bills – and that’s where Kudos can help you juggle and optimize. Charging an EV already costs less than gassing up – and with the right credit card, it can cost even less. It’s like getting cleaner energy and free money back.
So go forth, charge up, and let your wallet enjoy the ride as much as you do. And if you need a hand deciding which card to tap at the station, your friendly Kudos extension will be right there to guide you. Happy charging! 🚗⚡
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