Top Lifetime Free Fuel Credit Card to Opt for: Benefits, Eligibility & More 

Bio

Sandipan Mitra is the CEO and co-founder of Pice. He boasts eight years of experience in the B2B and fintech sector. Sandipan's journey includes significant roles at multiple Indian Unicorns Including Product at PayU, and as founding member / VP, Product at Open Financial Technologies.

  • 28 Nov 25
  • 6 mins
lifetime free fuel credit cards

Top Lifetime Free Fuel Credit Card to Opt for: Benefits, Eligibility & More 

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avatar of sandipan mitra Sandipan Mitra
  • 08 Mins
  • 28-11-25

Key Takeaways

  • A lifetime free fuel credit card with zero joining/annual fees does not currently exist in India.
  • Some fuel cards act like a lifetime free fuel credit card by offering annual fee waivers on meeting spending thresholds.
  • IndianOil HDFC, IndianOil Kotak, and HPCL IDFC FIRST Power+ are the closest alternatives to a lifetime free fuel credit card.
  • Eligibility for a lifetime free fuel credit card typically depends on age and minimum income criteria set by banks.
  • Before choosing a lifetime free fuel credit card, compare fee waivers, partner fuel networks, and spending requirements.

A lifetime free credit card for fuel sounds like a dream for vehicle owners. However, do such credit cards exist out there? In this guide, we will discuss the top lifetime free fuel credit cards available along with their benefits, eligibility criteria and more. Read on to find all about it.

Are There Any Lifetime Free Fuel Credit Cards in India?

A lifetime free fuel credit card comes with no annual or joining fee. Presently, there are no such fuel credit cards which are lifetime free. However, consumers can get the annual fee waived based on their spending habits. 

Here are 3 such credit cards that offer perks similar to lifetime free cards, along with the conditions to qualify for these benefits:

  1. IndianOil HDFC Bank Credit Card

Benefits:

  • Earn 5% Fuel Points on spends at IndianOil outlets.
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India (applicable on a minimum transaction of ₹400; maximum cashback of ₹250 per statement cycle)
  • You get to earn up to 1 fuel point for every ₹150 spent on all sorts of other transactions. 

The IndianOil HDFC Bank credit card is a co‑branded card that offers up to 50 litres of free fuel annually via accumulated fuel points. It has an annual fee of ₹500 plus taxes, which is waived if you spend ₹50,000 or more in the previous year.

  1. IndianOil Kotak Credit Card

Benefits:

  • Get to save 4% as reward points on spends related to IndianOil fuel.
  • Save up to 2% reward points on dining and grocery spends.
  • Get 0.5% back on expenditures in the form of reward points on all other types of purchases.

This lifetime free fuel credit card in India is ideal for those who want to maximise their travel savings every day, offering up to 5% savings on IndianOil fuel transactions. While the card has an annual fee of ₹449, this fee is waived if you spend ₹50,000 or more in the previous year. 

  1. HPCL IDFC FIRST Bank Power+ Credit Card

Benefits:

  • Get up to 6.5% savings on all your fuel expenses.
  • Get a welcome benefit of a ₹500 gift voucher on an HPCL fuel transaction.
  • 5% savings as rewards on grocery and utility expenses

The HPCL IDFC FIRST Bank Power+ Credit Card lets you save up to ₹18,500 annually, which is enough to buy over 175 litres of fuel. It carries an annual fee of ₹499, but this fee is waived if you spend ₹1,50,000 or more in the previous anniversary year.

Note: Apart from lifetime free fuel credit card benefits, make sure to check the policy documents carefully to determine the exact applicability of fuel benefits and waivers. 

What Are the Eligibility Criteria of Lifetime Free Fuel Credit Card?

Here are the eligibility criteria that you need to know about regarding fuel-free lifetime credit cards:

  1. For Salaried Indian Nationals:
  • Being in the age range of 21-60 years is mandatory to apply for such cards.
  • Applicants need to have a net monthly income of more than ₹12,000.
  1. For Self-Employed Indian Nationals:
  • Being in the age range of 21-65 years is mandatory.
  • Applicants need to have a net monthly income of more than ₹6 lakh yearly.

Note: The actual eligibility criteria may vary based on the bank that you choose.

Factors to Consider Before Opting for a Lifetime Free Fuel Credit Card

Apart from just lifetime free fuel credit card benefits and eligibility criteria, here are a few other things that you need to look out for:

  1. Annual/Renewal Fee

Make sure to check whether the annual or renewal fee is waived for life or just for a certain period of time.

  1. Fuel Pump Network

It is another factor to take note of when you apply for a lifetime free fuel credit card. The applicability of your fuel credit card benefits may be limited to the fuel pump brand partner networks associated with your credit card provider. 

  1. Fee Waiver Condition

There are many such fuel credit cards out there which waive off fees only on a minimum spend. In such an instance, if you do meet the set threshold of expenditure, your annual or renewal fees would not be waived.

💡Pay your credit card bills in an easy and secure way with the PICE App.

Conclusion

The idea of a lifetime free fuel credit card sounds appealing. However, in India, these offers often come with complex conditions. If you frequently travel using your own vehicle, you can unlock good value but only by meeting the required spending thresholds from the previous year.

Thus, it is important to be realistic about your spending habits and carefully read the policy documents before finalising your credit card choice.

FAQs

Which cards offer similar benefits to a lifetime free fuel credit card?

IndianOil HDFC, IndianOil Kotak, and HPCL IDFC FIRST Power+ offer fee waivers based on spending.

What is a lifetime free fuel credit card?

A lifetime free fuel credit card is one that charges no joining or annual fees while offering fuel-related benefits.

What income is required for a lifetime free fuel credit card?

Most banks require ₹12,000 monthly income for salaried or ₹6 lakh annual income for self-employed applicants.

Do these cards offer surcharge waivers?

Yes, most alternatives to a lifetime free fuel credit card offer 1% fuel surcharge waivers.

Who should apply for a lifetime free fuel credit card alternative?

Frequent vehicle users who can meet annual spending thresholds benefit most from such cards.
About the author
Sandipan Mitra

Sandipan Mitra

Sandipan Mitra is the CEO and co-founder of Pice. He boasts eight years of experience in the B2B and fintech sector. Sandipan's journey includes significant roles at multiple Indian Unicorns Including Product at PayU, and as founding member / VP, Product at Open Financial Technologies.

by Shreyansh Singh

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