Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred just became my go-to card for gas

As someone who spends many weekends chasing mountain towns, national parks and other off-the-beaten-path destinations, I spend a surprising amount of money on gas.Whether I’m driving to a weekend getaway or filling up a rental car on vacation, fuel has become one of my biggest recurring expenses.Until recently, I put all of those purchases on a catch-all rewards card (more on that below). But now that Chase refreshed the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), I’m changing my strategy.The card now earns 3 points per dollar spent at gas stations and EV charging stations, making it an easy choice for every fill-up — whether I’m driving my own car or topping off a rental before returning it.Here’s why the Sapphire Preferred has officially become my new gas card.Limited-time offer on the Chase Sapphire Preferred: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.Why the Sapphire Preferred is now my go-to gas cardWhile I enjoy hopping on a plane for international trips, some of my favorite adventures happen just a few hours from home.Living in Northern California means world-class destinations like Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park and countless small mountain towns are all within driving distance. I probably take two or three road trips every month, and nearly all of them start the same way: with a stop at the gas station.Those fill-ups add up quickly, which is why I’ve always tried to earn as many rewards as possible on every purchase.Until recently, that meant reaching for my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card at the pump. It earns 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, making it the best option in my wallet — even though it wasn’t specifically rewarding gas purchases.MASKOT/GETTY IMAGESI’d been keeping an eye out for a better card to use for gas purchases, but I never found one that felt worth adding. I preferred keeping my wallet relatively simple while earning transferable rewards I could use for future travel.Then Chase refreshed the Sapphire Preferred.The card now earns 3 points per dollar spent at gas stations and EV charging stations, giving me exactly what I’d been looking for without having to apply for a new card.That change might sound small, but for someone whose weekends often revolve around road trips, that’s a big change to my card strategy.Related: I’ve stayed in over 60 Airbnbs — here’s why the Chase Sapphire Preferred just became my go-to travel cardHow those gas purchases add up over timeOne of the things I like most about the Sapphire Preferred’s new gas-earning rate is that it rewards an expense I already have.Later this summer, I’ll be driving from Northern California to Lake Tahoe. Around my area, gas is currently about $5.50 per gallon, and prices in Tahoe are often even higher.Between filling up before I leave and topping off my tank before driving home, I’ll probably spend around $120 to $140 on gas over the course of the weekend. At 3 points per dollar, that’ll earn me roughly 360 to 420 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUYOn their own, those points aren’t life-changing. But this isn’t just about one weekend trip.Road trips are among my favorite ways to travel, and I also like to rent cars whenever I’m exploring destinations best experienced by driving. Every one of those fill-ups is now earning more Chase Ultimate Rewards points than it would have before.Over the course of a year, those extra points from weekend getaways, everyday errands and rental car fill-ups can really start to add up.If I spend roughly $250 per month on gas between everyday driving and road trips, that’s about 9,000 Ultimate Rewards points each year before even factoring in rental cars.Because Chase Ultimate Rewards points are my favorite transferable rewards currency, I know I can eventually transfer them to partners like United Airlines, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and World of Hyatt.For example, 9,000 points is enough for a one-way Virgin Atlantic economy award flight to London, where flights can start at just 6,000 points (plus taxes and fees). It’s also enough to get me most of the way toward a one-way United award flight to Hawaii, where awards can start at just 13,000 miles from the West Coast.One fill-up won’t get me there, but it’s nice knowing every stop at the pump is bringing my next trip a little closer.Related: 1 Chase Sapphire Preferred perk now offsets its $95 annual feeBottom lineAs someone who spends a lot of time exploring by car, the Sapphire Preferred’s new gas-earning rate feels like a natural fit for how I travel.Instead of reaching for a catch-all card every time I stop at the pump, I’m now earning 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on purchases I was already making.I didn’t have to open another card or change my spending habits. I simply changed which card I use when I fill up.Between everyday driving, weekend road trips and rental car fill-ups, those points will steadily add up and eventually help pay for my next adventure.To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.Limited-time offer on the Chase Sapphire Preferred: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.