SBI Card Transport Payments: SBI Card is bringing new charges for customers who make large fuel and transportation payments using their credit cards. The new rules will come into effect on December 1, 2026. The credit card company has published the changes on its official website and informed customers about the upcoming fees.
The new rules will apply to SBI credit cards across variants. Customers may have to pay an extra 1% on certain transport payments above ₹30,000 and fuel spending above ₹50,000 in a billing cycle. The two charges will work differently depending on the type of payment.
SBI Card’s New 1% Fee on Fuel and Transport Payments
In its notice to customers, SBI Card stated: “With effect from 1st Dec’26, following charges will be applicable on your SBI Credit Card as per the details given below”.
For transportation payments, the company will charge 1% on every eligible transaction worth more than ₹30,000. The fee will depend on each payment and not the total transport spending during a billing cycle.
For example, a single transport payment of ₹35,000 will attract a fee of ₹350. Payments of ₹30,000 or less won’t attract this new charge. The fee will apply to transactions marked under Merchant Category Codes (MCC) 4111, 4784 and 4131. These codes cover local and suburban transport, tolls and bridge fees, and bus services.
The fuel charge will follow a different rule. SBI Card stated: “If the total amount of all fuel transactions made in a billing cycle exceeds ₹50,000, 1% fee will be charged on the total fuel spends.”
This means customers spending ₹60,000 on eligible fuel purchases in one billing cycle will pay a fee of ₹600. The charge will be calculated on the full ₹60,000 and not only on the ₹10,000 spent above the limit. Applicable taxes will be charged separately.
Which Transactions will Come Under the New Charges?
SBI Card will identify eligible payments through their MCCs. Fuel transactions covered by the new rule fall under MCC 5172, 5541, 5542 and 5983. These codes cover petroleum products, service stations, automated fuel dispensers and fuel dealers.
The company has also warned customers that these codes may change. It stated: “The MCCs are defined by the network partners and are subject to change basis their discretion and such changes shall be implemented basis communication from the networks without any requirement for intimation/information to the customers”.
Who will Be Affected by the Revised SBI Card Fees?
The new charges may matter most to fleet operators, taxi businesses and other customers who use credit cards for large fuel purchases. People making high-value FASTag payments may also need to check whether their transactions fall under the eligible transport categories.
Customers whose total fuel spending stays at ₹50,000 or below in a billing cycle won’t face this new fuel fee. Likewise, eligible transport payments of ₹30,000 or less won’t attract the new transportation charge.
