Electric vehicles (EVs) now account for approximately 20% of all new vehicle sales in Singapore, and with that figure only set to increase, itโs time we look at the best credit cards for EV charging.
Unfortunately, banks have been slow to play catch up here. While there are numerous cards rewarding petrol spend, thereโs comparatively fewer with EV charging as a bonus category.
๐ณ Whatโs the Best Card forโฆ | ||
โ Overall Guide |
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โ๏ธ Air Tickets |
๐ Amaze | ๐ฐ CardUp |
๐ Car Rental | ๐ Charity |
๐ฝ๏ธ Dining |
๐ซ Education | โก EV Charging | ๐ฅก Food Delivery |
๐จ Hotels | โ๏ธ Insurance | ๐ฑ Kris+ |
โ๏ธ Medical | ๐๏ธ Overseas | ๐ Pharmacies |
โฝ Petrol | ๐ Public Transport | ๐ Supermarkets |
๐ฐ Utilities | ๐ Weddings |
How does EV charging code?
By right, EV charging should code as MCC 5552 Electric Vehicle Charging, but in practice there are several possibilities.
Charging Provider | MCC |
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4900 Utilities |
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5552 EV Charging |
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5552 EV Charging |
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5511 Automobile and Truck Dealers |
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5552 EV Charging |
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5552 EV Charging |
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5552 EV Charging |
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5541 Gas Stations |
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4789 Other Transportation Services |
๐ค Fun Fact |
MCC 5552 was introduced in October 2019 (Visa) and July 2020 (Mastercard) in recognition of the need for a separate MCC for EV charging. Prior to this, most EV charging stations would code under MCC 5542 (Automated Fuel Dispensers) or MCC 7523 (Parking Lots). For more on the implications, refer to this post. |
That said, Visa has published guidance saying that MCC 5552 should be used by merchants offering electric vehicle charging services to customers, so perhaps over time weโll see some of the stragglers migrate over.
Issuers are beginning to target EVC spend for rewards and other benefits, so it is important that these transactions are correctly classified to avoid cardholder complaints.
-Visa
If youโre uncertain about the MCC, hereโs three ways of looking it up before making a purchase:
Method | Ease of Use | Reliability |
โHeyMax | โโโ | โ |
๐ฑ Instarem app | โโ | โโ |
๐ค DBS digibot | โ |
โโโ |
Whatโs the best cards to use?
If it codes as MCC 5552
Assuming your EV charging transaction codes as MCC 5552, you can use the following cards to maximise your miles.
โก Best Cards for EV Charging (MCC 5552) |
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Card | Earn Rate | Remarks |
![]() Apply |
Up to 9.28 mpd | Min. S$1.5K per s. month, no cap |
![]() Apply |
4 mpd | Cap S$1K per s. month |
![]() Apply |
4 mpd | Cap S$1.5K per c. month |
C. month= Calendar month, S. month= Statement month |
The StanChart Smart Card is currently the sole card that offers bonuses for MCC 5552, but only as part of a limited-time promotion that ends on 31 December 2025.
Cardholders can earn anywhere from 3.17 to 9.28 mpd on EV charging and other bonus categories, per the table below.
Card Spend (per statement month) |
Bonus Categories* | Non-Bonus Categories |
Less than S$800 |
6 Dec 24 to 31 Mar 25 12.8 pts/S$1 4% 3.71 mpd |
1.6 pts/S$1 0.5% 0.46 mpd |
From 1 Apr 25 1.6 pts/S$1 0.5% 0.46 mpd |
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S$800 to S$1,499 | 25.6 pts/S$1 8% 7.42 mpd |
1.6 pts/S$1 0.5% 0.46 mpd |
S$1,500 or more | 32 pts/S$1 10% 9.28 mpd |
3.2 pts/S$1 1% 0.93 mpd |
*Selected fast food chains, streaming platforms, SimplyGo and EV charging. See T&Cs for full list. |
An uncapped 9.28 mpd would be sensational, but of course, thereโs a catchโ cardholders must spend at least S$1,500 overall in a statement month to trigger this rate.
Now, itโd be great if the entire S$1,500 could be clocked entirely on bonus categories, namely EV charging, selected fast food and streaming platforms, as well as SimplyGo. But since itโs unlikely that anyone will hit S$1,500 on these categories alone, youโll probably have to dip into the non-bonus categories, which drags down your overall earn rate.
You can earn an uncapped 7.42 mpd with a minimum spend of S$800, but even that would be tricky. Assuming a rate of S$0.70 per kWh, itโd cost about S$40 to fully charge a BYD Atto 3. Even if youโre charging an average of 1.5x a week, thatโs only S$240 per month. So either you eat a lot of fast food, or you subscribe to every streaming service there is. Neither sounds ideal.
If these minimum spends concern you, Iโd recommend just sticking to the tried-and-tested Citi Rewards Card and DBS Womanโs World Card, both of which will award 4 mpd on these transactions by virtue of them being processed online (Iโm assuming youโre making in-app payments).
If it codes as another MCC
Now letโs look at the other four possible MCCs.
Shell Recharge codes as MCC 5541, so you can basically pick whatever credit card youโd normally use for petrol, such as:
- UOB Ladyโs Card or UOB Ladyโs Solitaire Card (with Transport as your bonus category) for 4 mpd, capped at S$1,000 or S$2,000 per calendar month
- UOB Visa Signature for 4 mpd, capped at S$2,000 per statement month (and subject to a minimum spend of S$1,000 on petrol and local contactless spend in a statement month)
Do not use the Maybank World Mastercard, however, as the 4 mpd bonuses for petrol are only for offline spend.
Volt codes as MCC 4789, so you should not use the Citi Rewards as this MCC falls under the general travel-related exclusion. Instead, stick to the DBS Womanโs World Card.
Charge+ codes as MCC 4900, and unfortunately the only credit cards still awarding miles for utilities are Maybank, so the best you can do is 1.2 mpd with the Maybank Visa Infinite (or, you know, hope Manchester United win).
Juice+ codes as MCC 5511, which is neither an exclusion nor bonus category for any credit card. Use the Citi Rewards or DBS Womanโs World Card here.
Finally, if the recharging station supports contactless payments (i.e. tap to pay), then you can pay with your mobile wallet using the UOB Preferred Platinum Visa to earn 4 mpd.
Conclusion

EV charging isnโt as common a bonus category as petrol stations just yet, but Iโm hoping this will change over time. The only specialised spending card at the moment is the StanChart Smart Card, but its hefty minimum spends make it difficult to use, to say the least.
If you have data points for other EV charging networks in Singapore, do share them!
Any idea what MCC Tesla Superchargers code as?
MNL asia ev charger 5552
Volltality Pte Ltd also 5552
Volt now appears to code as 5552 (according to Instarem app).