SBI Card changes from December 1, 2026: New 1% fee on large fuel and transportation spends; check details

SBI Card will levy a 1% fee on large transportation and fuel spends from December 1, 2026, according to a revision of charges the card issuer has communicated to customers and posted on its website. The notice applies to SBI credit cards across variants, and follows a string of fee and reward changes the card issuer has made through this year.

Two new charges are being introduced.

On transportation, the card issuer will levy "1% of the transaction amount applicable on every transportation transaction exceeding ₹30,000." This applies per transaction rather than to the monthly total. So a single ₹35,000 payment would attract ₹350. Such payments are identified under Merchant Category Codes (MCC) 4111, 4784 and 4131, which typically cover commuter transport such as metro and local trains, tolls and bridge fees, and bus services.

On fuel, the rule is different: "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." The fee applies to the entire fuel spend, not merely the portion above ₹50,000.

An illustration shows ₹60,000 of fuel purchases in a billing cycle attracting a fee of ₹600, calculated at 1% of the total. Fuel transactions are identified under MCC 5172, 5541, 5542 and 5983, covering petrol pumps, fuel dispensers and fuel dealers. Applicable taxes are charged in addition..

SBI Card has also cautioned that the merchant codes sit outside its control: "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".

The impact of revised charges will be sharpest for fleet operators, taxi and transport businesses, and customers who recharge their Fastag in large amounts.

A household whose monthly fuel spend stays below ₹50,000 will be unaffected, and transport payments of ₹30,000 or less attract no fee.

SBI Card customers can track fuel spending against their billing-cycle dates, and split large travel payments where practical.