SBI Card Fees How to Check Your Fuel Spending

A cardholder who spends Rs 50,000 on eligible fuel in a billing cycle and another who spends just over that amount may face different costs from December. SBI Card's new fee is calculated on total eligible fuel spending once its threshold is exceeded.

Which payments are affected?

In a notice dated 27 October 2026, SBI Card says that from 1 December it will charge 1% of total eligible fuel spend when that spend exceeds Rs 50,000 in a billing cycle. It lists merchant category codes 5172, 5541, 5542 and 5983 for this rule.

A separate 1% fee applies to each eligible transport transaction exceeding Rs 30,000. The notice lists transport codes 4111, 4784 and 4131. The fuel test measures a cycle total; the transport test measures each transaction. Exactly Rs 50,000 of eligible fuel spend or exactly Rs 30,000 for one eligible transport transaction does not exceed the respective stated threshold.

The merchant category code is assigned in the card payment system. A cardholder may not see it on a normal receipt. Do not assume that every fuel-related or travel payment is included solely because of its everyday description. Confirm the code and the transaction's treatment with SBI Card when it is unclear.

Why the threshold matters

Suppose a cardholder has Rs 49,000 of eligible fuel spending in one billing cycle. The new fuel fee does not apply under the published threshold. If the total becomes Rs 51,000, the 1% fee on that full eligible amount is Rs 510 before applicable taxes. The difference between the examples is not simply 1% of the Rs 1,000 above the threshold.

As another hypothetical example, a single eligible transport payment of Rs 35,000 attracts a Rs 350 fee before applicable taxes. These calculations assume all spending is coded within the categories in the notice and exclude other fees, rewards and taxes. Upstox reports that applicable taxes are additional. They are illustrations, not statements about any individual cardholder's bill.

Does the change affect every household?

No. A household with fuel spending well below the cycle threshold and no eligible transport transaction above Rs 30,000 would not incur these particular new fees based on the published conditions. It should still check its own card terms and charges. People with a vehicle business, recurring high fuel bills or occasional large eligible transport payments may need closer tracking.

Comparing payment methods requires the whole cost, not just this one fee. Another card or payment channel may have its own charges, reward exclusions, credit terms, convenience costs or merchant restrictions. Rewards are not guaranteed to offset fees, and carrying a card balance can incur separate interest. Splitting payments may not be available or appropriate; confirm the issuer and merchant rules rather than assume a workaround will eliminate the charge.

The notice itself is more useful than a generic monthly estimate: its fuel threshold follows the billing cycle, which may not coincide with the calendar month. The transport threshold is checked separately for each eligible transaction.

What SBI Card Users Can Do Now

1. Find the cycle: Check the start and end dates on your SBI Card statement or account. Use that window when adding fuel spending, rather than assuming a calendar month.
2. Measure eligible fuel spend: Add fuel transactions in the current cycle and compare the total with the issuer's Rs 50,000 threshold. Ask SBI Card whether each transaction falls under the listed MCCs, especially where the code is not shown.
3. Screen large transport payments: Compare each planned transport transaction with Rs 30,000 and confirm its MCC and classification with the issuer. The comparison is per transaction, not the cycle total.
4. Compare total cost: Read the issuer's notice and card fee schedule and check with the issuer about taxes, existing fuel surcharges and reward eligibility before comparing another payment method.
5. Reconcile the statement: After 1 December, compare posted charges with the eligible amount and keep receipts. Raise an unexplained charge through official SBI Card support.

If eligible fuel spending is consistently below Rs 50,000 per cycle, consider a routine statement check rather than changing payment habits solely because of this announcement. If it can exceed the threshold, estimate 1% of the full eligible cycle total and any applicable tax before choosing a payment method. If a large transport payment is planned, verify its MCC and whether the single payment exceeds Rs 30,000.

Monitor the issuer's notices for changes before the 1 December effective date, your first statement after implementation, and any issuer clarification on merchant coding or taxes.

FAQ

When do the new fees begin?

The issuer's notice states 1 December 2026.

Is the fuel threshold monthly?

It applies to eligible fuel spending in a billing cycle, which may differ from a calendar month.

Is the fuel fee charged only on spending above Rs 50,000?

No. Once the stated threshold is exceeded, the notice says the fee applies to total eligible fuel spending.

Is transport assessed using a cycle total?

No. The stated transport threshold applies to each eligible individual transaction.

Are all travel payments covered?

The notice identifies particular merchant category codes. Confirm the code and treatment with SBI Card.

Do the examples include tax?

No. The examples show the 1% fee before applicable taxes and exclude other charges and rewards.

Sources

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• Important Notices for SBI Credit Cardholders notice dated 27 October 2026, SBI Card.
• SBI Card changes from December 1, 2026: New 1% fee on large fuel and transportation spends; check details published on 28 October 2026 in Upstox.

Evidence Caveats

The issuer notice gives the effective date, thresholds, rate and merchant category codes. Actual classification, applicable taxes, other charges and reward eligibility depend on the transaction and card terms. Examples are hypothetical and exclude those additional items.

How do you track fuel and transport spending across billing cycles, and what information would make card charges easier to understand? Share your experience in the attached discussion.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information, not personalised financial advice. Verify current terms with the issuer before making a payment decision.