SBI Card users will face revised charges on certain high-value fuel and transportation payments from December 1, 2026. The credit card issuer announced the changes in a communication dated October 27, with the new fee structure applicable across all SBI credit card variants. The revised policy sets separate spending limits for the two categories. Transportation payments will incur a fee based on the value of each transaction, while fuel-related charges will depend on the total amount spent during a billing cycle.
Cardholders who frequently pay for fuel, tolls, bus services and other eligible transportation expenses should review the updated rules to understand when the additional cost will apply.
Under the new structure, SBI Card will levy a 1 per cent fee on a single eligible transportation transaction exceeding Rs 30,000. The charge applies to transactions classified under Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) 4111, 4784, and 4131.
These codes include commuter transport services, toll and bridge payments, and bus transportation services.
For instance, a cardholder making an eligible transportation payment of Rs 35,000 will incur a fee of Rs 350, excluding applicable taxes. Payments of Rs 30,000 or below will remain outside this charge.
The threshold is assessed transaction by transaction rather than on the combined value of transportation expenses during a billing cycle. Therefore, several smaller payments will not automatically attract the fee merely because their cumulative value crosses Rs 30,000.
Fuel Spending Above Rs 50,000 To Attract 1% Charge
The rules for fuel transactions follow a different calculation method. SBI Card will impose a 1% fee if a customer’s total eligible fuel spending exceeds Rs 50,000 within a single billing cycle.
Unlike the transportation fee, which applies to an individual transaction crossing the specified limit, the fuel charge will be calculated on the entire eligible fuel expenditure once the threshold is breached.
For example, a cardholder spending Rs 60,000 on eligible fuel transactions during a billing cycle will have to pay Rs 600 as a fee, excluding applicable taxes.
The relevant Merchant Category Codes are 5172, 5542, 5541 and 5983. These cover fuel dealers, petrol pumps and fuel dispensers.
Customers whose eligible fuel spending remains at or below Rs 50,000 during the billing cycle will not be affected by this revised charge.
Who Will Be Affected By The Revised SBI Card Charges?
The changes could have a greater financial impact on customers with substantial fuel and transportation expenses. Fleet operators, taxi businesses and individuals who regularly make large fuel payments may need to account for the additional fees when planning their monthly expenditure.
However, the impact will depend on how much a customer spends and how the transactions are classified by the merchant.
SBI Card has clarified that Merchant Category Codes are assigned by network partners and may change. Consequently, cardholders should not rely solely on the description displayed for a payment when assessing whether it falls under the revised fee structure.
What Should SBI Credit Card Holders Do Before December 1?
Cardholders can prepare for the revised charges by checking their monthly fuel expenditure and identifying their billing-cycle dates. Understanding the difference between the individual transaction limit for transportation and the cumulative spending threshold for fuel will help customers assess their potential costs.
Those who frequently make large payments should also review their card’s applicable terms and conditions and monitor how merchants classify their transactions.
The revised charges are scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2026. Reviewing spending patterns before the implementation date can help SBI Card customers anticipate additional costs and plan their expenses accordingly.