Worried about rising gas prices? These 5 credit cards save on transit, rideshare and more

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It’s no secret that the last few weeks have put a lot of pressure on people filling up their gas tanks. We started 2026 with the lowest gas prices in years, with a national average of $2.81. As of April 21, that average sits at $4.02, an over 40% increase from January.

If you drive and are worried about the price of gas, you may be able to use public transportation (or even something two-wheeled) to minimize costs, depending on your location. CNBC Select takes a look at popular credit cards that earn rewards on public transit, rideshare and bike-share purchases or offer easy-to-use credits toward alternative forms of transportation.

There are a handful of travel credit cards that earn rewards on public transportation, but the mechanics can vary. For instance, some cards might offer 3% cash back on transit, but with a spending cap or the need to select it as a category in advance.

The Citi Custom Cash® Card comes with a spending cap, but you won’t have to activate or enroll to earn rewards. The card automatically earns 5% cash back on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle, on up to $500 spent (then 1% back). There are 12 total spending categories, including select transit, and as long as it’s your highest spending category for the month, you’ll earn up to 5% back (until you hit the cap).

The Citi Custom Cash’s select transit category encompasses a lot of purchases, including bus lines, subways, passenger railways and ferries. You’ll even earn on niche expenses, like bridge and road tolls and parking lots. (Note that bike and scooter rentals are excluded.)

If you spend more than $500 on public transit purchases each month (or simply want to earn rewards without a spending cap), the Wells Fargo Attune^℠ World Elite Mastercard® could be a good match.

The card earns an unlimited 4% cash rewards on purchases across three overarching themes: self-care purchases; select sports, recreation and entertainment; and planet-friendly purchases. The last category is the most relevant, as it includes spending on bus lines, local and suburban commuter passenger transportation, ferries, passenger railways and “other transportation services.”

One potential downside is that some Reddit users report the card doesn’t earn 4% back on rideshare services, like Uber or Lyft — but there are other credit cards that do (more on that below).

If you own the American Express Platinum Card®, you can take advantage of an Uber One credit when you pay for the membership using your Platinum card and receive up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year (for an auto-renewing membership, terms apply). Uber One gets you perks like 6% back on rides with Uber and automatic surge savings (or savings during typically higher-priced rideshare windows).

In addition to a comped Uber One membership, Amex Platinum cardmembers also get up to $200 in Uber Cash each year after adding your card to your Uber account, spread out as $15 in Uber Cash per month (and an additional $20 Uber Cash in December). Uber Cash can be used for rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction (terms apply and enrollment is required).

If you live in a relatively dense city, chances are you’ve seen bike-sharing companies. Bike sharing can be a great way to get around town fairly quickly, but the fees can add up over time, especially if you use it for commuting or routine excursions. Luckily, the Uber Cash Amex Platinum cardholders earn can also be applied to unlock Lime e-bikes and scooters through the Uber app.

Lime bikes are typically pedal-assist, while the scooters are fully electric and have roughly the same speeds, so it’s mostly down to preference. While these probably aren’t ideal for cross-town trips, they can be great for shorter journeys.

If you’re more partial to Lyft, three out of four tiers of Mastercard credit cards have credits that cover the cost of Lyft rides. If you use an eligible World Mastercard, World Elite Mastercard and World Legend Mastercard, you’ll earn $5 in Lyft credit after taking three eligible Lyft rides per month (offer expires Jan. 31, 2027). Plus, World Elite and World Legend Mastercards get 10% off scheduled rides to and from U.S. airports.

Bilt and Lyft also have a partnership that helps you earn rewards on rideshares. Once you connect your Lyft and Bilt Rewards accounts, you’ll earn 2X Bilt points on Lyft rides. You can also use Bilt Points to pay for Lyft rides. While these two perks don’t require you to have a Bilt credit card, owning one can help you accelerate your points earning for use throughout the Lyft ecosystem. The Bilt Obsidian Card (see rates and fees), for example, earns 3X Bilt Points on either dining or groceries (if you choose groceries as the category, there’s a $25,000 yearly spending cap).

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) offers a flexible $300 annual travel credit that includes more than just hotels and airfare. The credit automatically applies to all eligible travel purchases, including train tickets, taxi fares, rideshares, subways and more (in other words, you can get reimbursed for your travel purchases simply by paying with the card). There’s no activation required, and the credit automatically renews each year on your account anniversary date.

Even after you hit the $300 annual limit, the card earns 5X total points on Lyft rides and offers up to $120 in Lyft credits (up to $10 in monthly in-app credits for use on rides). Both of these perks are available through Sept. 30, 2027.

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For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.