You’ve probably seen a U-GO petrol station pop up in your neighboured. For everyday motorists, it’s a great addition to Australia’s fuel network. However, you can’t use a traditional fuel card at U-GO Petrol, and that’s a key reason many businesses and fleets won’t get full value from filling up there, even though the fuel itself is comparable to other major brands. U-GO is built primarily for drivers paying with personal debit and credit cards, not for companies that rely on detailed fuel card reporting and controls.
What Is U-GO Petrol and Who Owns It?
U-GO is a fully self-serve fuel brand owned and operated by Ampol, one of Australia’s largest fuel retailers. Launched in late 2023, it converts selected sites into unmanned, pay-at-the-pump locations with no staff and no convenience store, focusing purely on quick, 24/7 refuelling.
These sites form part of Ampol’s broader network and growth strategy, sitting alongside its traditional branded stations and its planned acquisition of EG Australia’s network. The idea is to run lower-cost, “fuel only” locations while keeping Ampol fuel and pricing in front of more drivers around the country.
Can You Use a Fuel Card at U-GO?
In short: no, fuel cards are not accepted at U-GO. Ampol is explicit in its FAQs that AmpolCard and AmpolCash cannot be used at U-GO self-serve terminals, and payments are restricted to standard bank cards.
What U-GO Accepts
- Visa debit and credit
- Mastercard debit and credit
- American Express
What U-GO Does Not Accept
- AmpolCard and AmpolCash
- Other fuel/fleet cards
- Gift cards, Buy Now Pay Later, or cash
For businesses that depend on fuel cards to manage spend, set limits, capture odometer readings and pull consolidated GST-friendly invoices, that’s a major drawback. Even though your drivers can technically pay with a personal or company credit card, you lose the core benefits that led you to a fuel card in the first place.
What U-GO Told Us About Future Fuel Card Plans
Fuel Card Report asked U-GO directly whether fuel cards would be supported at U-GO and what the future rollout might look like. They confirmed four key points:
- It is “unable to comment on future site conversions or expansion plans beyond what has already been publicly disclosed.”
- Decisions about which sites become U-GO are based on “a range of commercial, operational, and customer considerations.”
- U-GO fuel comes through Ampol’s own supply chain and meets the same specifications as Ampol-branded fuels.
- AmpolCard is not accepted at U-GO, and Ampol is “unable to comment on future fuel card acceptance or integration plans unless and until they are formally announced.”
In other words, there is no committed timeline or detail on when, or if, fuel cards will be enabled at U-GO. For now, fleets should assume these sites will remain card-only.
How U-GO Fits Into Australia’s Fuel Market
U-GO has appeared at a time when Australian fuel retailers are under pressure from high operating costs, tight margins and increased scrutiny on pricing. ACCC monitoring shows that while prices have eased slightly in recent quarters, retail margins can still be high in some cities and regional areas, and operators are looking for ways to run leaner networks.
Unmanned formats like U-GO help reduce labour and site costs by removing staff, shops and some security overheads, while still offering mainstream fuel at competitive prices. For Ampol, U-GO also supports a strategy of expanding choice in its network – full-service convenience stores for some locations, and value-focused, self-serve sites for others.
Is U-GO a Good Option for Business and Fleet Users?
For many fleets, the answer is no. The inability to use fuel cards means:
- No consolidated monthly fuel card statement
- No built-in controls on spend, PINs, or product restrictions
- Extra admin to reconcile individual card transactions
If your business relies on these features, traditional Ampol sites and other network partners that accept fuel cards will remain more useful day to day. U-GO may still play a role as an occasional “emergency” top-up if a driver has a company credit card, but it won’t replace your core fuel card network.
For individual drivers paying with their own bank cards, U-GO can still be attractive: fuel meets Australian standards, pricing generally tracks the local market, and the 24/7, in-and-out model is simple to use once you understand the pre-authorisation hold. But from a fuel card and business perspective, the main benefit of U-GO will only be unlocked if and when Ampol chooses to integrate fuel card acceptance into these sites.
Looking for the Best Way for Your Business Save at the Pump?
If your business relies on fuel cards, unmanned sites like U-GO won’t give you the full benefits you’re paying for. For most fleets, the smartest move is to choose a fuel card that:
- Works across a wide national network of staffed servos
- Offers customised discounts
- Provides consolidated monthly invoices and GST reporting
- Lets you control spend by driver, vehicle or product
Use our Fuel Card Eligibility Checker to quickly find the best fuel card for your business, based on your fleet size, monthly fuel spend and preferred fuel brands. In a few minutes, you’ll see which cards you’re likely to be approved for and which networks your drivers should use to get the most value.
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