Sam's Club Gas Gift Card, Mastercard Cash Back & Payment Rules at the Pump
Yes, a Sam's Club gas gift card works at the pump, as long as it is a plastic card with a magnetic stripe. Sam's Club pumps also take credit cards, debit cards and Scan & Go in the Sam's app. They do not take cash or Apple Pay yet. This guide covers every way to pay at the 532 Sam's Club fuel centers we track in 44 states, what the Sam's Club Mastercard pays back on gas, and why the pump sometimes declines your card.
Gift Card at Pump
Yes
Plastic Sam's or Walmart card
Mastercard Gas Back
5%
First $6,000 a year, then 1%
Sam's Avg Regular
$3.466
Live, as of 2026-11-12
Card Hold
$100–$150
Varies by state
Sam's Club gas payment methods at a glance
| Payment | At the pump? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex | Yes | US-issued cards. Check the pump sign for your club. |
| Debit card | Yes | Expect a $100–$150 hold until the sale settles. |
| Sam's Club gift card | Yes | Plastic with a magnetic stripe. No eGift barcodes. |
| Walmart gift card | Yes | Same rule: plastic only. |
| Scan & Go (Sam's app) | Yes | Scan the pump QR code and pay in the app. |
| Walmart Pay (Walmart+) | Yes | Walmart+ members, through the Walmart app. |
| Apple Pay, Google Pay, tap | No | Walmart says pumps get tap to pay by mid-2027. |
| Cash | Workaround | Buy a gift card inside with cash, then use it. |
| Fleet cards | Workaround | Corpay (Fleetcor) cards are accepted. Check others. |
Can you use a Sam's Club gift card for gas?
Yes. Sam's Club's help center says Sam's Club and Walmart gift cards can both be used at its fuel centers. There is no special Sam's Club gas gift card. Any regular Sam's Club gift card works, including the fuel-themed designs sold in the club.
The rules are short:
- It must be plastic. Sam's pumps read the magnetic stripe. Sam's Club says there is no way to scan a barcode-only gift card at the pump.
- It does not unlock the pump. Most Sam's fuel centers are for members. You scan your membership card first, then pay with the gift card.
- It is the way past the $100 limit. Card sales at the pump stop near the hold amount. Sam's Club says that if you want $100 or more of fuel in one sale, you can use a gift card.
Walmart gift cards follow the same rules at Sam's. Our Walmart gift card for gas guide explains where else they work. The short answer is Walmart-run pumps, but not Murphy USA.
Does the Sam's Club Mastercard have 5% back on gas?
Yes. The Sam's Club Mastercard is issued by Synchrony Bank and has no annual fee. It pays 5% back in Sam's Cash on gas and EV charging on the first $6,000 you spend each calendar year. After that it pays 1%. So the most you can earn from the gas tier is $300 a year. The card also pays 3% on dining and takeout and 1% on most other purchases. Total Sam's Cash is capped at $5,000 a year, which few drivers will reach.
The 5% applies to gas anywhere Mastercard is accepted, and that includes Sam's Club fuel centers. Synchrony's terms decide the category by the merchant code a station uses. Fuel bought at a supermarket or a different warehouse club can code as something else and earn only 1%. You need a Sam's Club membership to get the card. Sam's Cash usually posts within one or two billing cycles. You can spend it in the club or put it toward your membership fee.
The card's gas terms have changed over the years, so check the current terms when you apply. The rates above are for the Mastercard. The Sam's Club store card, the one without a Mastercard logo, works only at Sam's Club and Walmart.
What 5% back is worth at today's Sam's price
On 2026-11-12, regular gas at the Sam's Club fuel centers we track averaged $3.466 a gallon. Here is the cash back at that price.
| Example | Spend | Sam's Cash back |
|---|---|---|
| One gallon | $3.466 | 17.3¢ |
| One 15-gallon fill-up | $51.99 | $2.60 |
| A 15-gallon fill-up every week for a year | $2,703.44 | $135.17 |
At this price, the $6,000 cap covers about 1,731 gallons, or 115 full 15-gallon tanks. A weekly fill-up stays under the cap, so every tank earns the full 5%. That cash back alone covers a $60 Club membership with room to spare.
Do other credit cards count Sam's Club gas as “gas”?
Usually, but not always. Sam's fuel centers are widely reported to run as gas stations on card statements, which is what most bonus categories need. Some issuers exclude warehouse-club fuel by name, though. American Express says its gas bonus does not cover warehouse clubs. The Costco Anywhere Visa pays only 1% on gas at warehouse clubs other than Costco. The safe test is to buy one tank, check how it posts, and then decide. Our gas credit card guide compares the main options.
Is there a Sam's Club gas discount?
The main discount is the member price itself. At the few Sam's fuel centers open to the public, Sam's Club says members and Walmart+ users pay 5 cents a gallon less than non-members. New Jersey does not allow that gap. On top of the member price, the Sam's Club Mastercard adds 5% back. Paying with a gift card does not change the price. For who can use the pumps at all, see do you need a membership for Sam's Club gas. For Walmart+ members, see Walmart Plus at Sam's Club gas.
Does Sam's Club gas take Apple Pay?
Not yet. Sam's pumps do not have tap to pay. Walmart began adding tap to pay, including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Wallet, to its stores and Sam's Clubs on August 24, 2026. It says all stores and clubs should have it by the end of 2026 and fuel stations by mid-2027. Apple Pay also does not work inside the Scan & Go app.
How to pay with your phone: Scan & Go for fuel
Your phone can still pay at the pump through the Sam's Club app.
- Open the Sam's Club app and sign in to your membership.
- Tap Scan & Go and choose fuel.
- Scan the QR code on the pump screen.
- Pick the payment card saved in the app and confirm.
- Pump your gas. The receipt arrives by email.
This also solves the “no physical card” problem. You do not need your plastic membership card when you use the app. Walmart+ members use the Walmart app and Walmart Pay instead, as our Walmart+ at Sam's guide explains.
Can you pay cash at Sam's Club gas?
Not at the pump. Sam's Club fuel centers are pay-at-the-pump stations. There is no cash slot and usually no register at the fuel island. If you want to pay with cash, use a gift card:
- Go inside the club and buy a plastic Sam's Club gift card with cash.
- At the pump, scan your membership card.
- Swipe the gift card as your payment.
Sam's Club also suggests this route for Sam's Cash. You can cash out Sam's Cash onto a gift card and use it at the pump. The club must be open for this, and club hours are shorter than pump hours. Check Sam's Club gas hours before you go. Some fuel centers have an attendant kiosk, but we could not confirm that any take cash. Ask at your club.
The Sam's Club gas hold and why cards get declined
The pump does not know how much fuel you will buy. So it asks your bank to set aside money first. Sam's Club says this pre-authorization is $100 to $150 on credit and debit cards, depending on the state. You pay only for the gas you pump. The extra hold falls off when the sale settles. On a credit card you rarely notice. On a debit card the hold can tie up your cash for a few days.
Common reasons a card is declined at the pump
- Not enough available balance to cover the full hold, even if your fill-up costs less.
- Wrong ZIP code. The pump checks it against your card's billing address.
- Non-US card. Sam's Club lists cards from US-based accounts.
- Membership problem. An expired membership or an unscanned card stops the pump before payment.
- Fraud block. Banks watch pump sales closely. A new card or a card used far from home can trip a block.
Sam's Club tells members to try another pump first. If that fails, ask the fuel attendant or Member Services inside. A plastic gift card has no hold, so it is a good backup for a low debit balance.
Which other cards work at Sam's Club pumps?
Sam's Club accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express from US accounts. Its fuel help page says to check the sign on the pump, because acceptance can vary by fuel center. The Walmart store credit card is accepted at Sam's pumps. The Sam's Club store card does not work at Walmart gas stations.
Business drivers can use Corpay (formerly Fleetcor) fleet cards, such as Fuelman, at Walmart and Sam's Club fuel stations. That deal dates from 2017. We could not confirm WEX or Voyager acceptance at Sam's, so check your card issuer's station finder. SNAP benefits cannot be used for fuel.
Paying at Walmart's own pumps works differently. Our guide to Walmart gas payment methods covers it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a Sam’s Club gift card for gas?
Yes. Sam’s Club says Sam’s Club and Walmart gift cards work at its fuel centers. The card must be plastic with a magnetic stripe. Barcode-only eGift cards cannot be scanned at the pump. At a members-only club you still need a membership or Walmart+ to unlock the pump.
Does the Sam’s Club Mastercard have 5% back on gas?
Yes. The Sam’s Club Mastercard from Synchrony pays 5% back in Sam’s Cash on gas and EV charging on the first $6,000 you spend each calendar year, then 1%. That is up to $300 a year. It counts gas anywhere Mastercard is accepted, Sam’s Club fuel centers included.
Does Sam’s Club gas take Apple Pay?
Not yet. Walmart started adding tap to pay, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, to stores and clubs on August 24, 2026. It says fuel stations will follow by mid-2027. Until your pump has it, use a card or Scan & Go in the Sam’s Club app.
Can you pay cash at Sam’s Club gas?
Not at the pump. Sam’s Club fuel centers are pay-at-the-pump only. The workaround is to buy a plastic Sam’s Club gift card inside the club, which you can pay for with cash, then use that card at the pump.
How much does Sam’s Club gas hold on your card?
Sam’s Club says credit and debit cards get a pre-authorization of $100 to $150, depending on the state. The hold drops to the real amount once the sale settles, which can take a few days on a debit card.
Why does Sam’s Club gas decline my card?
The usual causes are too little available balance for the hold, a wrong ZIP code, a card from a non-US bank, an expired membership, or a fraud block from your bank. Try another pump first, then ask the fuel attendant or Member Services.
Can I use my Walmart credit card at Sam’s Club gas?
Sam’s Club’s help center says the Walmart store card is accepted at Sam’s Club gas stations. The Sam’s Club store card does not work at Walmart gas stations.
Check today's Sam's Club gas prices
All 532 Sam's Club fuel centers with live prices, plus gas hours and the state list.