Caltex StarCard

Pauline Hatch

Pauline is a personal finance expert at CreditCard.com.au, with 9 years in money, budgeting and property reporting under her belt. Ask Pauline a Question about this card.

Caltex StarCard

The Caltex StarCard has some interesting differences. On the surface, it’s a fuel card that streamlines your company vehicle expenses and offers discounts to help you save money. It ticks all the boxes if you have drivers on the road.

But Caltex has gone one bigger by making its fuel card more adaptable for your business. Caltex has split its fuel card into two cards with different features that you can mix up depending on what will give you the biggest perk, at a competitively low cost in the fuel card space.

Before I go into the details of the card, I'll highlight its current promotion. It's called "6 for 12", and will give you a discount of 6c per litre on petrol or diesel at participating locations and the monthly fee is waived for 12 months. You need to be approved before 31 December 2023 to get the offer.

For a limited time, you can also snag a free takeaway coffee on eligible purchases over 50 litres of petrol or diesel in one transaction at participating Caltex and Puma Energy locations.

Editor's Review: What I love about the Caltex StarCard Fuel Card

It’s good to see something unique in fuel cards, and I appreciate that Caltex has thought out of the box with its StarCard. It has a unique flexibility and practical discounts that can help you save on your business expenses if you have drivers out on the road.

The first thing to explain about the StarCard is its two-card system. You can choose an Open Loop and Closed Loop card, and you can have a collection of both with your account.

For example, let’s say you wanted five fuel cards. You could choose two Closed Loop cards and three Open Loop cards, and use whichever card gives you the most benefit for the service you’re paying for.

I’ll explain the two types of card:

Open Loop StarCard: you’ll get better coverage with an Open Loop card, which can be used at Caltex and Puma Energy service stations as well as wherever WEX Motorpass cards are accepted, totalling 6000+ service stations and industry partners throughout Australia. The Open Loop also has non-fuel perks and discounts that include servicing, tyres, vehicle parts, taxi costs, car washing and accommodation.

Closed Loop StarCard: you’ll pay no transaction fees and have a tighter grip on fees and discount eligibility. Just note that this card can only be used at Caltex StarCard merchants.

You can also choose either a Driver card which is assigned to an employee to use in any vehicle, or a Vehicle card which is assigned to a vehicle and can be used by any driver.

Business perks

Fuel cards can be a good option whether you have a few cars on the road or a whole fleet. I’ll break down the benefits and perks of the Caltex StarCard.

One statement instead of a zillion receipts. Your drivers can tap and pay for a variety of fuel and non-fuel expenses, and all transactions are recorded in one statement. You’ll need to use the Open Loop card for non-fuel discounts.

Easy online management of your cards. You can set up and manage your account and individual cards with the StarCard Online Service Centre. You’ll also be able to see what transactions have been made and receive alerts if any card limits are reached by your drivers.

Set driver limits and restrictions. You’ll be able to set limits and exclusions for what your drivers can buy with the StarCard. For instance, a card can be limited to fuel only, fuel and oil, products only, all vehicle expenses including parking and car washing, or any combination of the options.

Caltex says the online application process takes around 10 minutes, and you’ll get a response within 7 business days. Your StarCard will be sent out the next business day after approval.

What’s not so great

You’ll need to weigh up the potential savings against the cost of the fuel cards.

To start, here are the fees you’ll pay:

• Cards are $2.50+GST per month each
• If you use the Open Loop card outside the Caltext StarCard network, you'll pay a 50c transaction fee (Closed Loop Cards can only be used within the Caltex StarCard network, so you won't pay transaction fees)
• You may be charged a fee if you exceed your spending limits or are late paying your account

These fees are fairly in line with other fuel cards in the market, with the added bonus that you won’t pay more for extra features like fuel discounts.

If you’re the type of business owner who says helpful phrases like “time is money”, you should also weigh up the time you’ll save in accounting costs and tax-time organisation. Fuel cards mean less time chasing up receipts and balancing accounts.

Just be aware that you’ll need to have held an ABN for at least 6 months before you can apply, and you’ll need to be authorised to apply on the company’s behalf (such as being a Director or Office Secretary).

Overall rating

The Caltex StarCard has some great features if you’re a business owner wanting a better way to oversee employees on the road. You’ll also be able to save money at the pump, as well as get discounts on a variety of vehicle-related services and expenses, all the way down to parking and taxis.

Caltex is giving you something a little more flexible with its two-card system. It allows you to get the best deal depending on which card you use and the choice of the best card for specific drivers. Paying zero credit card transaction fees on the Closed Loop card is a huge win if your fuel costs are high.

Overall, a StarCard could be a lost-cost way to make business life easier for you and your drivers, and get some much-needed discounts and perks as well.