Combat Petrol And Diesel Price Hike With These Credit Cards

With the government implementing a targeted diesel subsidy in June that saw an increase in prices from RM2.15 to RM3.35 per litre, Malaysians are beginning to feel the pinch as wholesalers and suppliers had to increase their prices to combat the increase in cost.

While programs such as the Program Bantuan Subsidi MADANI or BUDI MADANI are meant to help with some of the costs, it might be time for you to consider using your credit cards as a means to save money instead of as just a payment vehicle.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the credit cards you may wish to consider to combat the chain reaction that could result from the price hike.

1) Petrol credit card

As the name implies, petrol credit cards are credit cards with fuel-related privileges, which may be in the form of discounts, rebates and points.

These credit cards offer you the most straightforward means of resisting the impact of a petrol or diesel price hike. They do this by potentially reducing the amount of money you pay for fuel.

Some petrol credit cards you can consider:

• Hong Leong Wise Card* – 8% cashback every month for petrol, groceries and dining on the weekend
• RHB Shell Visa Credit Card/i – Up to 12% cashback on Shell petrol stations
• Maybank PETRONAS Visa Gold – Up to 8x Treatpoints for every RM1 spent on petrol at PETRONAS Service Station

* These are technically not petrol credit cards as they are not co-branded with any petrol service providers. However, they remain excellent options as they offer exceptional cashback on fuel.

At current, there are more than a dozen other petrol credit cards each with different benefits and privileges. If you’re serious about getting a petrol credit card, it might be worth your while to check out this petrol credit card comparison table.

2) Cashback credit card

Cashback credit cards are credit cards that give you rebates in cold hard cash every time you spend at a designated outlet.

Cashback credit cards are excellent means to help you save money on food and groceries. Some cashback credit cards also offer rebates on fuel in addition to your daily purchases.

Some cashback credit cards you can consider:

• Hong Leong Wise Card – 8% cashback on fixed categories of purchases, including groceries, utilities and petrol
• RHB Cash Back Credit Card/-i – Up to 5% cashback on all groceries. Up to 5% cashback on all petrol stations
• Alliance Bank Visa Signature Credit Card – Up to 5% cashback on all retail spending (i.e. petrol, groceries, online shopping, etc.)
• Hong Leong The Store & Pacific Gold Card – Up to 6% rebate at The Store and Pacific

The best way to save money using cashback credit cards is to use one that offers rebates at the places you frequent the most. To check out what your options are, go to our cashback credit card comparison table.

A tip to iMoney readers! Always make sure you understand all the terms and conditions of the card you are using. This includes understanding the fees and charges, before you sign up for a credit card.

Did you enjoy this article? You may want to read up on the 4 things to consider before you sign up for a cashback credit card.

This article has been updated on July 9, 2024.