Scotiabank Gold American Express® CardScotiabank Gold American Express® Card•Earn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points + no annual fee in your first year†
FR
FR
FRBest offers

The best credit cards for electric charging stations

8 min read
Editorial integrity
The best credit cards for electric charging stations
Share

Approximately 10% of electric vehicle (EV) charging occurs outside the home. What is the best credit card for earning rewards points at public EV charging stations?

Public electric charging stations

*** This article from December 23, 2021 was updated on March 24, 2023 and April 25, 2023.

In Quebec and Eastern Ontario, the most commonly used public EV charging stations are those of the Circuit Électrique and Flo. There is also the Petro-Canada fast-charging network along the Trans-Canada Highway.

My colleague Frédéric explains that certain types of purchases in stores earn extra points or cash back. This depends on the Merchant Category Code (C C C) or the Merchant Category Code (M C C).

For electric charging stations, the CCC created by Visa and Mastercard is 5552 – Electric Vehicle Charging.

Therefore, to determine the category of your charging transaction, you must contact your financial institution. Or, go to the Developer Tool in your browser to find out.

The best credit cards for electric charging stations - code

For example, I used the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card at a EV charging station from Petro-Canada in Ontario. The CCC code for this transaction is Class 5552 – Electric Vehicle Charging.

This is despite the fact that Petro-Canada’s primary business is selling gasoline(code 5541).

The best credit cards for electric charging stations - Petro Canada St Nicholas Terminal

Confusion among issuers and businesses

This merchant category code 5552 is very recent. This causes major differences in how it is coded at merchants associated with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points per dollar on all eligible gas purchases. However, this Petro-Canada 5552 refill is classified as « Other ». As a result, I only got 1 point per dollar for this charge.

As a side note, I even got a $5 promotional credit for any purchase (reloading my Circuit Électrique account) of $10 or more during the last American Express Shop Small promotion! This is the equivalent of 31 kWh of free energy (or about 170 kilometres with my battery type), at a 100 kWh Circuit Électrique fast charging station.

Since points and rewards vary from one card and issuer to another, the best approach is to run your own tests at EV charging stations with your credit card.

The best credit cards for electric charging stations - Neuville terminal

For Tesla drivers, the Supercharger detects the owner of the vehicle being charged and simply bills the expense to the credit card on file.

Depending on the credit card issuer, Tesla can be coded as either:

  • Transportation
  • Public services/electricity (Utilities)
  • Car dealership

Yes, it is an inexact science!

The best credit cards for electric charging stations

The cards that stand out for earning rewards at EV charging stations are:

Earning per dollar
CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card4% cash back
RBC ION+ Visa Card3 Avion points
BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*3% cash back
CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card3% cash back
National Bank World Elite Mastercard®2 NBC points
Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite +* Card2% cash back
National Bank Platinum Mastercard®1.5 NBC points

Please note that RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card and RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card holders have an exclusive offer for Petro-Canada electrical charging stations.

Sign up for the offer in your profile, pay for the charge with one of these cards, and automatically receive a rebate. This will be in the form of a credit of up to $100 by August 31, 2024.

BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*

In its welcome offer terms, the BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* states:


Enjoy a 3% cash back rate on the first $300 in automobile and vehicle fuel purchases per statement period, and a 1% cash back rate at all times thereafter. (…) To qualify for the bonus cash back rate, automobile and vehicle fuel purchases must be made through merchants classified under Mastercard merchant category codes as “Gas stations, service stations” (MCC 5541), “Automated fuel dispensers” (MCC 5542), or “Electric vehicle charging stations” (MCC 5552).

You will therefore earn 3% cash back at EV charging stations with the BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*.

Note that you need to be careful with the BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*. When I tried it, my Circuit Electrique recharges did not code as « electric charge ». Instead, they fell into the « Other » category with a 1% return in 2022. Perhaps this has changed since then. Yet Circuit Électrique is perfectly coded at 2 points per dollar with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard®.

The best credit cards for electric charging stations - NBC electric charging

Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite +* Card

The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite +* Card clearly states that:


You will receive 2% cash back on the first annual $25,000 in account purchases made at merchants registered in the Visa Inc. (Visa) network, as gas stations (which includes gas stations with or without ancillary services, automated fuel dispensing stations, and electric vehicle charging stations) (merchant category codes 5541, 5542, and 5552).

You will therefore earn 2% cash back at EV charging stations with the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite +* Card.

The best credit cards for electric charging stations - Laurentides Park charging station

Multiple RBC credit cards

CIBC credit cards code electrical recharges as « Other ». They therefore have a lower accumulation.

Since April 20, 2023, great news! Several CIBC cards will have the same earn rate as gas, and it is therefore higher. These are:

Aventura CIBC Visa Infinite

CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card

CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege

CIBC Aventura Visa Card

CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Students

CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business

CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business Plus

CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card

CIBC Dividend Platinum® Visa* Card

CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students

CIBC Dividend Visa Card

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Card

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Card for Students

My experience

I have had an electric vehicle since 2014.

We even took it to drive down to Florida! At that time, I used the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card. It was my payment card for the Electrify America charges. It saved me the 2.5% conversion fee.

Between January and May 2021, I stayed at home due to sanitary restrictions. But between June and November 2021, I took several road trips totalling 7,200 kilometres in Quebec and Ontario with my 100% electric vehicle.

In total, the cost of all my recharges at the various electric charging stations was $161.55. The breakdown is as follows:

TypeAmount
Circuit Électrique$119.63
Petro-Canada$27.83
Electrify Canada$14.09
Total$161.55
Which route to take from Quebec to Walt Disney World in Florida - Electric vehicle charging stations 1

The hotels I stayed at had free electric charging stations, such as the Delta Sherbrooke, Le Navigateur Hotel in Rimouski and the Fairmont Tremblant.

For example, over those 6 months, a holder of the National Bank World Elite Mastercard® would therefore have received a rebate of 323 points, or a maximum value of $3.23 (2 points * $161.55).

In conclusion, is applying for a credit card specifically for electric charging stations advantageous for occasional needs? In my case: No.

But YES, if you have a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), a two-car setup with an EV and a gas car, or if you regularly use public EV charging stations. The above credit cards are good allies as you will get discounts on both your gas and public electric recharges.

I would benefit much more from analyzing the best credit cards for groceries, because that is my largest budget item.

Do your calculations!

Conclusion

In short, MCC 5552 for EV charging is brand new. For now, you need to test your different credit cards at different EV charging stations.

I applaud all issuer initiatives and promotions on EV charging. There were none when I bought my first EV. The industry has grown so much since then!

Right now, the best credit card for EV charging stations is the CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card. She gives the most with 4% cash back!

In second place were, ex-aequo :

Come and join us on the Milesopedia Facebook group to tell us your findings and help us update this article!

Our credit card selection
Credit cardAnnual feeWelcome offer
CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card
Apply Now
Annual fee$120 $0Welcome offer
Up to $250
Apply Now
RBC ION+ Visa Card
Apply Now
Annual fee$48Welcome offer
Up to 28,000 pointsEnds Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions about Best credit cards for EV charging stations in Canada

Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about this card.

Why does my credit card not always give bonus cash back at EV charging stations?

EV charging stations in Canada use merchant category code 5552, which only became standard in 2022, and many charging networks (Petro-Canada EV, Circuit Electrique, ChargePoint, Tesla Supercharger) still occasionally code transactions under generic utilities, parking, or even grocery codes. This means cards advertising 4 percent cash back on EV charging (like the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite) or 3X points (like the RBC ION+) sometimes pay only the base 1 percent rate. Milesopedia readers typically test small charges first and check their statement before relying on a specific card for high-volume EV charging.

Which Canadian credit card pays the highest cash back on EV charging?

The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite pays the highest published rate at 4 percent cash back on EV charging (capped at the same $20,000 annual gas/grocery limit), followed by the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard at 3 percent and the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + at 2 percent. The RBC ION+ Visa earns 3 Avion points per dollar (worth roughly 3 to 4.5 percent), and the National Bank World Elite Mastercard earns 2 NBC points per dollar. Coverage works only when the charging network properly codes transactions under MCC 5552, so test before committing your full charging spend.

Is EV charging at home billed to my credit card eligible for bonus rewards?

No. Home EV charging is billed to your residential electricity provider (Hydro-Quebec, BC Hydro, Hydro One, etc.), which codes as a utility bill rather than EV charging under MCC 5552. To earn rewards on home charging, you would use a card that pays bonus rates on utilities or recurring bills, such as the Neo World Elite Mastercard at 4 percent on recurring payments or the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite at 5X points on bills. Public charging stations on highways, in workplace lots, and at retail locations are where the dedicated EV charging bonuses actually apply.

Are Tesla Supercharger sessions eligible for credit card EV charging bonuses?

Tesla Superchargers in Canada often code under MCC 5552 (EV charging) for credit card purposes, which means they should qualify for bonus rewards on the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite (4 percent), BMO CashBack World Elite (3 percent), and RBC ION+ (3 Avion points). However, Tesla Canada sometimes codes the transaction as a generic merchant or under Tesla Inc., which falls back to the base 1 percent rate. The same volatility applies to Petro-Canada EV, Electrify Canada, and Ivy Charging Network. Test a small session first and verify your statement before scaling up.

Our featured card

Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card

ScotiabankCash BackFirst-Year Annual Fee Rebate
Annual fee
$0 $120
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$420
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$300Annual fee rebated$120Total$420Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to $300
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

The Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite*+ card is recognized, year after year, as one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada. Milesopedia has even named it best cash back credit card in 2026.

Currently, thanks to this promotional offer, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card has no annual fee for the first year, including on additional cards. And you can get 15% cash back on all your purchases for the first three months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).

It also includes a new convenient benefit for travellers: enjoy 10 GB of free GigSky global mobile data for 15 days, as well as access to Travel Essentials to use essential apps like messaging, maps, and email while on the go. Cardholders also continue to receive 1 GB of free GigSky mobile data per year, plus a 20% discount on future GigSky purchases.

With the Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite+ card, you get:

  • 4% cash back on grocery purchases and recurring payments
  • 2% cash back on gas purchases, public transit, carpooling, and food delivery
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on grocery purchases and/or recurring payments, you will get $40 cash back per month, or $480 per year, with this card, for this purchase category. And that’s not counting the other purchases you make with this card and the benefits it offers (including its excellent insurance coverage).

Also note that you can use your cash back at any time (the cash back balance must be at least $25).

Legal

1 Offer Terms and Description: The 15% cash back, 0% introductory balance transfer rate, and first-year annual fee waiver offer (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ credit card accounts (the “Accounts”) opened, and any additional cards issued, between July 2, 2026, and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the Account), subject to the terms and conditions set out below. We will waive the initial annual fees, for the first year only, for the primary card and for each additional card. The Offer may be changed, cancelled, or extended at any time, without notice, and cannot be combined with any other offer.

Description and Terms of the 15% Cash Back Offer: You will receive 15% cash back on the first $2,000 in eligible purchases charged to your new Account during the three months following its opening date (the “Promotional Period”). Eligible purchases mean purchases, minus refunds, returns, and any similar credits, and exclude payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, and card and other fees. After the Promotional Period, you will earn the usual cash back on your purchases, at the regular rate (the “Program Cash Back Rate”) described in the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ cash back program terms (the “Program Terms”). The 15% cash back rate for each category is the sum of the regular cash back rate (which varies by category) and the bonus cash back rate that varies during the Program Cash Back Rate (the “cash back rate”).

The cash back earned under this offer will be credited to your Account, provided it is open and in good standing on the cash back payment date.
1. Bonus Cash Back Rate: Cash back earned at the Bonus Cash Back Rate may be credited to your Account approximately 5 months following its opening date, or otherwise, in accordance with the Program Terms.
2. Regular Cash Back Rate: Cash back earned at the Program Regular Cash Back Rate may be used as described in the Program cash back.

EXAMPLE: If the Program Regular Cash Back Rate for grocery purchases and recurring payments is 4%, the Bonus Cash Back Rate will then be 11% for that purchase category, so that all eligible everyday purchases in this category will qualify for a total cash back of 15% during the Promotional Period, on the first $2,000 in purchases. If you make eligible everyday purchases at grocery stores and recurring payments totalling $2,000, the cash back credited to your Account for this category will be calculated as follows:
(1) a Bonus Cash Back of $220 (11% x $2,000), credited as an adjustment on your statement, and (2) the Regular Cash Back of $80 (4% x $2,000), which will appear on your monthly statements as it is earned.

All other program terms continue to apply during the Offer period.

Description and Terms of the 0% Introductory Balance Transfer Offer: The 0% introductory interest rate offer on balance transfers (the “Rate Offer”) applies only to eligible cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions, collectively referred to as “cash advances”), subject to the conditions below. This introductory rate applies for 12 months from this date (the “Promotional Period”). After the Promotional Period, the interest rate on cash advances covered by the 0% promotional rate (including any outstanding balance of such cash advances at the end of the Promotional Period) will revert to the preferred interest rate applicable to cash advances (currently 22.99%). A fee corresponding to 2% of the amount of any cash advance made during the Promotional Period applies (minimum fee of $5.00).

The Offer is subject to any cash advance limit on your Account. This Offer is also based on your approved credit limit on the date of this Offer. This means that if the sum of transferred balances exceeds the approved credit limit, balance transfers may not be processed. This Offer cannot be used to transfer a balance from another Scotiabank account, nor to make a payment or deposit to another Scotiabank account.

Cancellation of the promotional rate: If we do not receive your minimum payment by its due date shown on your statement twice in a row, you will lose the benefits of this special rate offer and your interest rates will revert to the annual rates normally applicable to your Account (currently 25.99% for purchases and 27.99% for cash advances).

Application of Payments: For residents of Quebec: In general, if one or more interest rates apply to your Account, we apply payments according to the interest rate(s) applicable to the transactions posted to your Account (from highest to lowest rate). For residents outside Quebec: In general, if you make a payment greater than the minimum amount shown on your statement, the difference is applied proportionally to the different groups of charges billed to your Account. Charges are grouped based on the interest rate applicable to them. Your payment cannot be applied to the balance of your choice. Consult your credit card agreement for more information on how payments are applied to your Account.

Description and Terms of the Annual Fee Waiver Offer: We will waive the annual fees, for the first year only, for the primary card and for each additional card issued between July 2, 2026, and November 1, 2026.

Eligibility and Exclusions: You are not eligible for this Offer if you are currently a primary or secondary holder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or have been within the last two years, including if you transfer your balance from a Scotiabank personal credit card account and if you are a Scotiabank employee. Subject to the exclusions mentioned above, holders of a Scotiabank small business credit card are eligible for this Offer. By accepting this Offer, you confirm that you meet all eligibility requirements. We reserve the right to revoke this Offer at any time if we determine that you do not meet the eligibility requirements, including after its acceptance or the opening of the Account.

Rates and Fees: The current annual fees are $120 for the primary card and $50 for each additional card (including those issued for co-account holders and additional cardholders). The current preferred annual interest rates applicable to the Account are: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances. Rates, fees, features, and benefits, which are described in the application disclosure, may be changed.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 4xGroceries
  • 4xBills & recurring payments
  • 4xTelecom
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xStreaming
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,212
2nd Year Value$408

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 15 days
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.