Contents11 sections
"Which fuel card suits my business?" The answer depends less on the brand than on your day to day: how fast do you want to start, should drivers pay at the pump, how much work does billing create for the office, and do you need tolls or travel abroad?
This comparison puts six options side by side: the fuel app DKV InstantFuel, the classic DKV card, the bp + Aral fuel card, the Shell Card, UTA Edenred and E100. DKV InstantFuel is our own product. To keep the comparison fair, we describe all six options using the same criteria; information on the other providers comes from their websites, price lists and terms and conditions (as of October 2026, sources at the end of the article). Classic fuel card terms are often agreed individually, so always request a concrete quote before deciding.
The six options at a glance: at the pump and in the office
| Provider | Time to get started | Paying at the pump via app | Receipts and billing |
|---|---|---|---|
| DKV InstantFuel | Online registration, no card delivery, around 5 minutes | Yes, in the DKV InstantFuel app | Receipt per fueling, monthly export as ZIP plus ZUGFeRD e-invoice, included in the price |
| Classic DKV card | Online application, review of company data, card sent by post | With APP&GO in the DKV Mobility app | Consolidated invoice every two weeks, by vehicle, licence plate and driver |
| bp + Aral fuel card | Application (also online), customer portal activated by email, cards sent by post | Per terms and conditions also available as a digital card with app-based access | Electronic invoice (PDF) free of charge |
| Shell Card | Enquiry, consultation, individual quote | Shell SmartPay in the Shell app at Shell stations | Regular statements, e-invoices free of charge in Shell Fleet Hub |
| UTA Edenred | Online order, or quote via contact form and callback service | UTA EasyFuel in the UTA Edenred Drive app, free for UTA customers | One invoice for fuel, tolls and services |
| E100 | Order, courier delivery, activation within minutes according to the provider | E100 Mobile, at stations offering mobile fueling | One document for all costs, electronic invoices in the client portal |
Administration, fees and contract compared
| Provider | Online administration | Fees according to provider | Credit check / credit line | Network according to provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DKV InstantFuel | Web dashboard: drivers, fuelings, receipts | €2.49 net per user per month, no setup fee, no minimum term | No check of its own, billing via the company card on file | approx. 12,000 stations in 10 countries |
| Classic DKV card | DKV Cockpit: transactions, limits, card blocking | No joining fee, no annual fee; card prices in the DKV shop (e.g. Fleet Card €3.99 per month) | Spending limit depending on creditworthiness | around 76,000 fuel stations in more than 50 countries |
| bp + Aral fuel card | Customer portal: order and block cards; Aral FleetProfi: reports | System fee 1.50% of gross turnover, setup €29.99 (price list cars/vans 09/2025) | Assessment of default risk, including via credit agencies (terms) | more than 30,000 sites in 32 countries, around 6,000 fuel stations in Germany |
| Shell Card | Shell Fleet Hub: cards, transactions, invoices; Shell Fleet App | Annual service fee €19.90 net per card, setup €29.99, percentage package fee depending on tariff (overview 09/2026) | Credit line, credit check documents on request (terms) | around 5,300 acceptance points in Germany, more than 26,000 in Europe |
| UTA Edenred | UTA Service Center: cards, EasyFuel activation | Card fee €0.95 to €3.45 per card per month depending on package, no joining fee | Spending limit, information from credit agencies (terms) | more than 93,200 acceptance points in 40 countries, including more than 70,570 fuel stations |
| E100 | Client Portal: invoices, data exports, app activation | No activation or shipping fee, individual terms | Payment terms based on the company's financial data | more than 20,000 acceptance points in 32 countries |
→ The network figures are defined differently (fuel stations, sites or acceptance points including service partners), so they are only partly comparable.
Profile 1: DKV InstantFuel
DKV InstantFuel, a brand of DKV Mobility, is a fuel app for small businesses; the provider is PACE Mobility GmbH. At the station, the driver selects the pump in the app, fills up and pays in the app. Fuelings are charged to the company credit card or debit card on file (Visa, Mastercard, V-Pay). In the web dashboard, the office invites drivers via link, deactivates them when needed, sees every fueling with its receipt and exports all receipts monthly as a ZIP plus ZUGFeRD e-invoice. The price is €2.49 net per user per month with no setup fee and no minimum term (pricing). The network covers approx. 12,000 partner stations in 10 countries, including JET, Esso, AVIA and OMV, and is smaller than that of the classic DKV card; tolls are not part of the contract and EV charging is in preparation. More in the setup guide and on the live map.
Profile 2: Classic DKV card
The DKV Card is DKV Mobility's classic fuel card: spending limit, consolidated invoice every two weeks by vehicle, licence plate and driver, card and PIN at the pump. With APP&GO, DKV CARD customers can also fuel digitally in the DKV Mobility app. In DKV Cockpit the office sees transactions in real time, sets limits per card and blocks cards. Add to that tolls via DKV Box Europe, VAT refunds via DKV Refund and, with the DKV Card +Charge, charging at around 1.2 million charge points. More in the network comparison of the two DKV products.
Profile 3: bp + Aral fuel card
The issuer is B2Mobility GmbH, part of the bp group, and the card runs in the ROUTEX alliance (bp, Aral, Circle K, enilive, OMV). In Germany, partners such as AVIA, TotalEnergies and Westfalen add to the network; for Germany-only driving there is the Aral Komfort fuel card. At the till, the driver receives a delivery note after paying with card and PIN; according to the terms and conditions, the card is also issued in digital form with app-based access. In the customer portal the office orders and blocks cards, and the Aral FleetProfi software provides reports. Tolls and charging (Aral Fuel & Charge) are part of the offer.
Profile 4: Shell Card
Besides Shell, the German network includes AVIA, Eni/Agip, Esso, star/ORLEN and Westfalen. With Shell SmartPay, drivers pay in the Shell app directly at the pump of a Shell station once the fleet manager has enabled the function in Shell Fleet Hub (€0.50 net per card per month in the Flex tariff). In Fleet Hub the office manages cards, transactions and invoices; for smaller fleets there is the Shell Fleet App. According to Shell, toll billing is possible in more than 25 countries with one on-board unit.
Profile 5: UTA Edenred
UTA Edenred (UNION TANK Eckstein GmbH & Co. KG) bundles fuel, tolls and services on one invoice. With UTA EasyFuel in the UTA Edenred Drive app, drivers select the pump and confirm the fueling in the app. The function is free for UTA customers, is activated in the UTA Service Center and, according to the provider, is not available at every station in the UTA network. At a freely chosen home station there is a discount of up to 3 cents per litre, plus Europe-wide toll processing and tax refunds.
Profile 6: E100
E100 (E100 International Trade, based in Warsaw) mainly serves transport companies with routes across Europe and Asia. In Germany, the star stations of ORLEN Deutschland, among others, accept the card. With E100 Mobile, drivers fuel directly at the pump at stations offering mobile fueling; the fleet manager activates the app in the Client Portal, which also holds invoices and data exports. E100 covers tolls in 26 countries and offers payment terms of up to 30 days based on the company's financial data.
Decision guide: which option fits your situation?
| Your situation | What matters | Suitable options |
|---|---|---|
| You want to start today | Setup without application review or card delivery | DKV InstantFuel (online registration); E100 states activation within minutes after delivery |
| The office no longer wants to collect receipts | Receipts created automatically, export for accounting | Classic cards with a consolidated invoice (all five providers); DKV InstantFuel with a receipt per fueling and monthly export |
| Drivers should pay at the pump instead of at the till | Paying in the app, coverage on your routes | APP&GO (DKV card), DKV InstantFuel, E100 Mobile, Shell SmartPay, UTA EasyFuel; check available stations beforehand |
| You want to bill via your existing company card | No new spending limit | DKV InstantFuel |
| You need tolls or truck services | Toll devices, truck stations, tax refunds | Classic DKV card, UTA Edenred, E100, Shell Card, bp + Aral |
| You drive abroad in Europe a lot | Network in many countries, services abroad | Classic DKV card (more than 50 countries), UTA Edenred (40), bp + Aral (32), E100 (32), Shell Card |
| You want fueling and charging on one card | Access to public charge points | DKV Card +Charge, Aral Fuel & Charge, Shell Card, UTA Edenred (charging card as add-on); with DKV InstantFuel, EV charging is in preparation |
| You want a discount at a home station | Price per litre at a fixed station | Classic DKV card (preferred station, 2 ct/l on diesel with the Fleet Card), UTA Edenred (up to 3 ct/l) |
FAQ
What do the fuel cards cost compared with each other?
Depending on the provider, classic fuel cards combine card fees (UTA €0.95 to €3.45 per card per month, DKV Fleet Card €3.99), setup fees (bp + Aral and Shell €29.99 each) and percentage fees on turnover (bp + Aral 1.50%). In return they offer a spending limit, a consolidated invoice and extra services such as tolls. DKV InstantFuel costs €2.49 net per user per month with no setup fee; fuel purchases are charged to the company card on file. A real comparison needs a quote based on your fuel volume and the services you actually use.
How fast can I get started with a fuel card?
With classic cards, the review of company data and card delivery sit between application and first fueling; bp + Aral activates the customer portal by email, E100 states courier delivery and activation within minutes. With DKV InstantFuel there is no card delivery, registration takes place online in around 5 minutes (setup guide). If you switch from an existing card, check the cancellation terms of your current contract.
Which card has the largest acceptance network?
According to the providers, DKV lists around 76,000 fuel stations in more than 50 countries and UTA more than 70,570 fuel stations in 40 countries. For your day to day, what counts is coverage on your own routes. You can check the DKV InstantFuel network on the live map.
Which providers run a credit check?
In their terms, DKV, bp + Aral, Shell and UTA refer to creditworthiness or information about the company, and E100 to the company's financial data; this determines the spending limit or credit line. With DKV InstantFuel there is no separate credit check, because billing runs via your own company card.
Which cards cover tolls?
The classic DKV card (DKV Box Europe), UTA Edenred, E100 (26 countries), the Shell Card (according to Shell more than 25 countries with one on-board unit) and bp + Aral. DKV InstantFuel does not cover tolls; other DKV services are not part of this contract.
In short
There is no single best fuel card. Classic cards fit when network size, tolls, travel abroad and extra services matter. DKV InstantFuel fits when you want to start without card delivery, your drivers pay at the pump via app and you bill via your own company card.
The basics on models and selection criteria: Fuel cards 2026: the complete guide.
Further reading:
- Fuel cards 2026: the complete guide for fleets and SMEs: all models and selection criteria
- DKV acceptance network vs. DKV InstantFuel network: the two DKV products in detail
- Fuel card without a credit check: does it really exist?: the model of your own company credit card
Tools:
- Live map: all DKV InstantFuel stations, updated daily
- Glossary: all terms (your own company credit card, acceptance network, credit line) explained
Sources (provider information, retrieved 13 October 2026):
- Classic DKV card: dkv-mobility.com, fuel cards and FAQ, DKV shop, Fleet Card
- bp + Aral: Aral Fleet Solutions, bp + Aral fuel card, price list cars/vans 09/2025, terms 09/2025
- Shell Card: shell.de, Shell Card, Shell SmartPay, document centre with fee overview and terms
- UTA Edenred: fuel card for cars and vans, UTA EasyFuel, terms
- E100: fuel cards, E100 Mobile, Client Portal, about us, ORLEN Deutschland on E100 acceptance