Many business owners assume a fleet fuel card is designed strictly for purchasing gas or diesel. However, with Fuel Express, fleet cards can do much more when configured properly. Fuel Express offers a flexible payment solution that supports fuel purchases as well as certain maintenance and service expenses, making it a versatile tool for fleet management.
What Is the Fuel Express Fleet Fuel Card?
Fuel Express has been providing fleet fuel card services since 1989, offering a program designed for fleets of any size. The service includes no setup fees, no annual fees, and no hidden charges, making it a cost-effective option for businesses, nonprofits, and government fleets.
Each card can be assigned to a specific driver or vehicle. As transactions occur, they are logged in a central online account where fleet managers can review spending data, track fueling habits, and monitor costs. Fuel Express also provides extensive control settings such as spending caps, purchase limits, and card-level restrictions, helping businesses maintain full oversight of fleet operations. This system creates more than just a simple fuel card. It becomes a robust fleet-expense management tool.
Can Fuel Express Cards Be Used for Maintenance and Other Services?
Yes. Fuel Express allows its fleet cards to be used for more than fuel purchases. Depending on how the account administrator configures each card, drivers may be able to use the card at maintenance and service locations nationwide.
What Fuel Express Cards May Cover
Fuel Express supports the ability to authorize a card for:
- Fuel purchases only
- Maintenance purchases only
- Both fuel and maintenance
This flexibility allows fleet owners to decide exactly what each card can be used for. Maintenance-related expenses can include routine servicing and general vehicle care at approved locations within their nationwide network.
Because Fuel Express is accepted at more than 320,000 locations across the United States, drivers can typically access both fueling and maintenance facilities without having to use personal funds.
Why Allow Maintenance on a Fleet Fuel Card?
Fuel Express designs its fleet card program with broad fleet-management needs in mind. Allowing maintenance charges can benefit fleets in several ways:
- Simplified Accounting
All fleet expenses, whether fuel or maintenance, appear in a single reporting system, making bookkeeping and reconciliation faster and more accurate. No more loose receipts or reimbursement delays.
- Better Control Over Spending
Fleet managers can restrict cards to approved categories, set purchase limits, and monitor all activity through detailed transaction logs. This helps prevent unauthorized purchases and keeps budgets on track.
- Improved Fleet Visibility
Fuel Express captures data such as transaction amounts, locations, odometer readings, and spending patterns. This information helps managers identify inefficiencies, track vehicle performance, and schedule maintenance more proactively.
- Reduced Downtime
Drivers can handle necessary maintenance on the road without waiting for approvals or using personal funds. This keeps vehicles operational and reduces delays.
Maintenance Authorization Is Optional — and Controlled by the Manager
Even though Fuel Express supports maintenance purchases, this ability is not automatic. Each card must be configured to allow maintenance transactions. Fleet owners can choose different permissions for different drivers or vehicles, ensuring total control over how each card is used.
For example:
- Sales representatives who only need fuel may have “fuel-only” cards.
- Service technicians who handle repairs may have cards authorized for fuel and maintenance.
This customization ensures the right spending capabilities are assigned where they are needed, and nowhere else.
Bottom Line: Fuel Express Fleet Cards Can Cover Maintenance
So, can fleet fuel cards be used for maintenance and other expenses? With Fuel Express, the answer is yes. Our fleet cards are designed to support both fueling and maintenance purchases, provided the fleet manager enables these permissions.
This flexibility makes Fuel Express a powerful tool. You can operate with strict fuel-only controls or expand each card into a comprehensive fleet-expense solution. With nationwide acceptance, advanced reporting, and customizable restrictions, businesses gain a high level of control over their fleet spending. Contact us today to learn more.
