Quick Review
The Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card is a card that’s only worth considering if you’re an avid Chevron or Texaco fueler who can’t qualify for a traditional gas rewards card. Here’s what to know about it:
- No annual fee: Luckily, the card doesn’t charge an annual fee. So adding it to your wallet won’t cost anything unless you leave a balance on your card between billing cycles. In that case, you may be hit with expensive interest charges, as the card has a high rate.
- Low rewards: Using the card will get you a discount on every gallon of gas you buy at a Chevron or Texaco station. However, you’ll save much less money than you would with a traditional credit card that offers cash back, miles, or points on gas. On the flip side, the rewards are automatically applied as discounts, so you don’t need to fuss with redemption options.
- Decent welcome bonus: As a welcome bonus, the Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card offers 37¢ off per gallon in your first 90 days of card ownership. This could be a huge money-saver if you have big upcoming gas expenses.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No annual fee
- 37¢/gallon on all fuel purchases in first 90 days
- 3¢/gallon on all fuel purchases (6¢/gallon on Plus and 8¢/gallon on Supreme or Premium for a limited time)
Cons
- High APR
- Can only be used at Chevron, Texaco, and Synchrony Car Care
- Low rewards rates
- Can’t earn Fuel Credits on non-fuel purchases
Who Is This Card Best For?
- Chevron Supreme users: If you’re a dedicated Chevron patron and prefer filling up with Supreme or Premium fuel, this card offers a higher rewards rate for those purchases.
- Upcoming roadtrippers: If you have big gas expenses on the horizon (like a cross-country move or a road trip), your first 90 days of gas purchases will earn you extra discounts, reeling in 37¢ back on every gallon.
Alternative Cards
Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Visa® Card | Discover it® Secured Credit Card | Shell Fuel Rewards® Card |
Apply Now | Apply Now | |
Annual Fee $0 | Annual Fee $0 | Annual Fee $0 |
Deposit N/A | Deposit $200 – $2,500 | Deposit N/A |
Credit Score 580 – 669 | Credit Score 300 – 669 | Credit Score 580 – 669 |
Purchase APR 29.99% (variable) | Purchase APR 27.24% (variable) | Purchase APR 30.99% (variable) |
Rewards
| Rewards
| Rewards
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What the Crowd Says
Reviewers and cardholders don’t have a ton to say about the Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card, as most experts focus on the Visa alternative. However, the overall sentiment toward the card is negative-to-neutral, with many pointing out its minimal functionality and low rewards rates.
Publication | Rating |
---|---|
The Ascent (Motley Fool) | 2/5 |
WalletHub (user ratings) | 3.3/5 |
Credit Karma (user ratings) | 3/5 |
Compare Cards (Lending Tree) | 2/5 |
Travel Freedom | Negative |
CFI Blog | 3.6/5 |
Credit Shout | Negative |
Aggregate rating: 2.8 |
What Major Publications Say
Expert reviewers are pretty much in agreement that you can do better than the Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card when it comes to earning rewards at the pump. Reviews also point to the high APR and changing rewards scheme as major deterrents to getting the card.
What Cardholders Say
There aren’t many customer reviews for the closed-loop card, as opposed to the Visa option. However, many consumers who reviewed the card online seem to be displeased with the card’s borrowing terms and their interactions with customer service.
Compliments
- Offered higher credit limit than on other gas cards
- Automatic credit limit increases
- Approved with a low credit score
Complaints
- Long payment holds (multiple claims of 15-day pending payments)
- Low credit limit
- Unhelpful customer service
- Unexpected credit limit decrease
Rewards
Rewards:
The rewards program on the Techron Advantage® Card is a bit complicated, making it difficult for borrowers to understand how good of a deal they’re actually getting. While the welcome bonus fuel rewards rate is great, the ongoing rates are low and subject to change.
Here’s how the Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card’s rewards work:
- Earn 3¢/gallon on Regular or diesel when you fill up at Chevron or Texaco
- Earn 6¢/gallon on Plus when you pay in the Chevron or Texaco app (limited-time offer)
- Earn 8¢/gallon on Supreme/Premium when you pay in the Chevron or Texaco app (limited-time offer)
What You Could Earn
Category | Fuel Credits | # of Gallons | Rewards earned |
---|---|---|---|
Regular | 3¢/gallon | 20 | $0.60 |
Plus | 6¢/gallon | 20 | $1.20 |
Supreme/Premium | 8¢/gallon | 20 | $1.60 |
For comparison, if you bought 20 gallons of gas at $4/gallon with a traditional credit card that earned 1% back on gas, you’d earn $0.80. One benefit of using a traditional rewards card over the Chevron-exclusive card is that how much you earn will go up in tandem with rising gas prices.
Welcome Bonus
You will earn 37¢/gallon at Chevron and Texaco stations in your first 90 days of card ownership.
Also, you’ll earn 6¢/gallon on Plus fuel and 8¢/gallon on Supreme or Premium fuel when you pay with your card through the Chevron or Texaco mobile apps. This is a limited-time offer, though, so this may not be the rewards rate you consistently enjoy.
Rewards Redemption
Of the Fuel Credits program, Chevron writes:
“Fuel Credits accrue during your billing period and will be applied as a cents-per-gallon discount at the pump or as a statement credit to the balance on your Card Account or Visa Card Account at the end of the billing period in which they are earned”
They also note that you will not be able to earn or redeem Fuel Credits if your account is not in good standing.
Rates & Fees
Fees
Fees:
The Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card doesn’t charge an annual fee, making it a relatively inexpensive card. However, we deducted points in this category for the card’s lack of functionality; for example, it doesn’t allow foreign transactions or balance transfers.
- Annual fee: None
- Cash advance fee: $10 or 5% (whichever is greater)
- Late payment fee: Up to $40
Interest Rates
APR:
The Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card suffers from a high APR (annual percentage rate), meaning if you leave a balance on your card after the statement due date, you’ll quickly gain interest charges on your balance.
- Purchase APR: 29.99% (variable)
- Cash advance APR: 29.99% (variable)
- Minimum interest charge: $2
Credit Limit
Credit Limit:
As we don’t know the actual minimum and maximum credit limits available on this card, we estimated the range based on online reports. If you’re approved for this card rather than the Visa alternative, it’s likely you’ll be offered a relatively low credit limit (under $1,000).
There’s no definite information on the range of credit limits available on this card. However, cardholders who have reported the initial credit limits they were offered cite numbers between $200–$600. Consumers also say they were given automatic credit limit increases (and decreases in some cases).
Benefits
The Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card offers a very minimal range of benefits, including:
- $0 fraud liability protection: You won’t be responsible for fraudulent charges made on your card.
- Mobile app: You can manage your card account—including payments and rewards—from the mobile app.
How to Get the Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card
Credit Score Required
While Synchrony Bank doesn’t advertise their minimum credit score requirements, you’ll likely need a fair credit score (aka a FICO score between 580–669) to qualify.
When you apply for the card, you’ll first be considered for the Techron Advantage® Visa®, which can be used anywhere Visa is accepted and earns more points than the closed-loop alternative. If your credit history doesn’t qualify you for that card, you’ll then be considered for the non-Visa option.
How to Apply
To apply for the Techron Advantage® Card, you can fill out an application form online or go to your local Chevron or Texaco station and ask an attendant if they have credit card applications. Regardless of your application method, you’ll be asked to provide personal details (including your Social Security number), contact details, and employment information (like your salary).
FAQs
Who issues the Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card?
The Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card is issued by Synchrony Bank.
Does the Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card report to the major credit bureaus?
Yes, the card’s issuer—Synchrony Bank—reports monthly to the three major credit bureaus. This helps your credit report stay up to date based on how you use your Chevron card.
Can I use the Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card for cash advances?
You can only use your Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card to take out cash advances if you have been approved for a credit limit of at least $500.
You’ll need to pay a fee of either $10 or 5% of the amount of your advance (whichever is greater), and you’ll be charged interest at an annual rate of 29.99% (variable). Because the cost is so great, we strongly recommend against taking out cash advances on this card. If you have to do so in an emergency, be sure to pay it off immediately.
Is there a grace period on the Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card?
Yes, there’s a 23-day grace period. If your account is up to date, the charges you make during the grace period won’t be subject to interest.
Can I add an authorized user to the Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card?
You can add authorized users to your Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card and receive cards for them with no additional charge.
Adding a family member (e.g., a teenager) to your card as an authorized user can be a way to help them establish a credit score and build their credit while limiting what purchases they can make.
How can I contact customer service about the Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card?
If you have any questions or concerns about your Chevron/Texaco Techron Advantage® Card, you can contact Synchrony Bank customer service in several ways. You can chat online with their virtual assistant through your account page, or call Synchrony Bank at one of the following telephone numbers:
General customer service:
(866) 419-4096
Lost or stolen cards:
(877) 295-2080
Card fraud:
(866) 834-3205
How We Rate Our Cards
Every card we review is rated on a 5-star rubric that's unique to the card's intended audience. A card's final rating will be based on factors like its:
- Fees
- Interest Rates
- Rewards
- Credit Limit
- Accessibility
- Benefits
Our rubrics are completely transparent and open to alterations as advised by you, our readers. Join us on Discord if you have thoughts to share about how we rate and review credit cards.