What is cardlock fuel?

Cardlock stations are unattended commercial fueling sites where businesses fuel 24/7 with a fuel card, at commercial pricing that's below the retail pump. They run on networks like CFN and Pacific Pride — the same sites trucking fleets, contractors, and farms have used for decades. There's no attendant and no convenience-store markup; just fuel, controls, and a card.

Why cardlock is cheaper

Retail gas stations build in a markup to cover the storefront, staffing, and convenience. Cardlock sites skip all of that — you're buying closer to the commercial/wholesale layer. In California, that difference is typically $0.20–$0.50 per gallon. Important: this is the removal of retail markup, not a tax break — road taxes still apply to clear (on-road) fuel.

The catch — and how the club fixes it

Historically, cardlock pricing was gated: you needed a fleet, a credit application, account minimums, and a B2B sales process. That's why everyday drivers and small businesses never got it. California Fuel Club removes the gate — we aggregate members into one buying club so anyone can get a cardlock card for a flat $5–$10/month. We never mark up your fuel; the membership is our only revenue.

Clear vs. dyed diesel (important)

Cardlock sites often carry both clear diesel (taxed, legal for on-road vehicles) and dyed diesel (untaxed, off-road use only — illegal in on-road vehicles). On-road vehicles must use clear diesel. The app and your card help you fuel correctly.

Where you can fuel

California Fuel Club members reach 780+ commercial cardlock sites (CFN & Pacific Pride) statewide, plus 7,500+ retail stations for fill-ups on the road. Browse stations → or estimate your savings →