Introduction: DKV’s Legacy and Its Limitations

DKV has long been a heavyweight in fleet fuel cards – with 70,000 fuel stations and around 1 million EV charging points across Europe in its network, plus decades of experience and services like toll payments. It’s no surprise that over 400,000 customers rely on DKV’s platform today. Fleet managers appreciate DKV’s broad acceptance and one-stop solutions. However, many are also frustrated by certain limitations of the traditional fuel card model. Common pain points include complex pricing (DKV uses a “daily price” invoicing that often differs from the pump price drivers see), various service fees, and rigid systems. In online reviews, fleet operators complain of hidden charges, slow support, and outdated tech – “loads of hidden charges… app is slow and unreliable… 100% avoid” as one user put it. Another described how some fuel cards weren’t even accepted at needed locations, calling them “completely useless” when traveling on major motorways.

The search for a modern alternative is on. Fleet buyers in 2025 are increasingly seeking a fuel card that retains DKV’s strengths – extensive coverage and integrated fuel/EV payments – while solving its drawbacks in transparency, control, and admin efficiency. This is where Rally, a new fleet payment platform, comes in. In this post, we’ll explore the market context driving this shift, compare DKV vs. Rally head-to-head, and give an honest take on where each solution shines. If you manage fleets in Germany, France, Spain, or the UK and are considering alternatives to DKV, read on.

Fleet Fuel Cards in 2025: What Matters to Fleet Managers

Fleet operating costs and needs have evolved, and fuel card expectations are higher than ever. Here’s what fleet managers in 2025 are prioritizing:

• Price Transparency & Savings: With fuel prices volatile, nobody wants to overpay due to non-transparent pricing. Across Europe, pump prices vary widely. For example, in Germany highway fuel stations charge about €0.40 more per liter on average than stations off the Autobahn – meaning a 50 L tank can cost ~€20 extra if filled on the motorway. In France, hypermarket chains (grandes surfaces) dominate fuel retail, forcing prices down – oil companies have lost ~60% of fuel sales to hypermarkets there. Spain’s market is now 45% independent stations, which generally offer the lowest prices. And in the UK, regulators have warned that retailers (especially supermarkets) have doubled their fuel margins in recent years, contributing to drivers paying an extra £1.6 billion in 2023 in fuel costs. Fleet buyers want a card that lets them buy at the real pump price everywhere, with no hidden markups, so they can take advantage of cheaper local prices and avoid being a “cash cow” for providers.

• Control and Fraud Prevention: Traditional fuel cards often provide end-of-month reports but little real-time control. In 2025, fleet managers demand granular control over spending before costs spiral out of hand. This means setting limits on fuel types, budgets, or even time-of-day usage, and getting instant alerts if suspicious purchases occur. (Fuel theft and misuse can otherwise consume an estimated 5–7% of a fleet’s fuel budget through fraud.) Modern fleets want to stop losses before they happen with smarter, real-time controls.

• EV Compatibility: With electric vehicles growing in fleets, a fuel card must double as an EV charging card. Managers don’t want separate systems for fueling vs. charging. They need a solution that can handle diesel, petrol, and electron flows alike – ideally with unified billing. DKV has extended into EV charging (1M charge points in its network), raising the bar for any alternative. A viable DKV alternative must seamlessly support EV charging across Europe, alongside traditional fueling.

• Administrative Automation: Fleet and procurement teams are also looking to streamline back-office work. Traditional fuel cards typically provide consolidated invoices (no need for drivers to collect receipts), but there is still a ton of manual reconciliation, data entry, and chasing down missing info. In fact, fleets using older fuel card systems lose an estimated 20 hours per month on manual admin like reconciling fuel receipts and invoices. In 2025, buyers want those hours back. Features like real-time transaction data, auto-categorized expenses, tax-friendly invoices, and direct integration into accounting systems are highly valued. The goal is a near-touchless fuel expense management – saving time and reducing errors.

In short, fleet operators today need a fuel card that is transparent, flexible, EV-ready, and tech-enabled. They want all the benefits of a large network and deferred billing, without the headaches of opaque pricing, fraud risks, or manual paperwork. Now let’s see how DKV and Rally stack up on these criteria.

DKV vs. Rally: Head-to-Head Comparison

How does the incumbent DKV Fuel Card compare to Rally’s next-gen fleet card solution? Below is a side-by-side look at key factors:

1. Acceptance Network
   • DKV Fuel Card: ~70,000 fuel stations in Europe (partner network) + ~1,000,000 EV charge points. Must use in-network for discounts.
   • Rally Fleet Card: Virtually 100% acceptance (Visa). Works at any Visa station in Europe. Covers fuel, EV charging, tolls, parking.
2. Pricing Model
   • DKV: “Daily price” list system, can differ from pump. Possible service fees. Invoices twice monthly.
   • Rally: Pump price only. No markups or hidden fees. Monthly or bi-monthly consolidated invoice in local currency.
3. Price Transparency
   • DKV: Pump vs invoice price can vary. Complex rebates, possible confusion.
   • Rally: 100% transparent. Pump price equals invoice. Captures local low prices.
4. Controls & Security
   • DKV: Standard spend limits, PIN. Limited real-time controls. Fraud resolution can take weeks.
   • Rally: Real-time rules per driver/vehicle. Instant alerts, block capability, proactive fraud prevention.
5. EV Charging
   • DKV: 1M+ charge points via DKV +Charge. Must use partner stations. Sessions on DKV invoice.
   • Rally: Integrated fuel + EV on one card. Works anywhere Visa is accepted. Unified reporting.
6. Administration
   • DKV: Consolidated invoices. Manual reconciliation common, up to 20h/month. Portal dated. VAT reclaim for fee.
   • Rally: Automated receipts and categorization. Snap receipt via WhatsApp. Saves ~18h/month in admin. Unified VAT-ready reports.
7. Pricing & Fees
   • DKV: Card/service fees. Fuel billed at DKV rate. Extra fees possible (out-of-network, FX). Complex contracts.
   • Rally: No monthly card fees. Transparent per-liter margin. No FX/handling fees. No lock-in contracts.
8. Customer Support
   • DKV: Large base, standard channels. Response can take weeks. Emergency hotline available.
   • Rally: 24/7 live chat support. Fast response, often minutes. Real-time issue resolution.
9. Extra Services
   • DKV: Toll devices, parking, maintenance, tax refunds. All-in-one mobility provider. Best for international HGV fleets.
   • Rally: Focused on payments/software. No toll boxes or extensive extras. Value is in simplicity and savings.

As the comparison shows, Rally’s approach addresses many of the common gripes with traditional fuel cards:

• Pump-Price Billing: Rally drivers pay the same price displayed at the pump – no more puzzling over an inflated “DKV price” on the invoice later. This means immediate savings especially in countries where local stations undercut official prices. (For example, in Spain independent stations sell petrol for ~€1.588/L vs. €1.64+ at major brands – with a conventional card you might not fully benefit from that difference, whereas Rally simply charges whatever low price the driver found). Transparent pricing also makes it easier to explain fuel costs to management and drivers alike.

• Full Network Flexibility: With Rally, any station is a valid station. Drivers aren’t constrained to a partner network – useful in markets like France or Spain where the cheapest fuel might be at a hypermarket or a small independent station. It also means drivers can avoid overpriced highway service plazas without worrying about card acceptance. Rally essentially turns a regular Visa into a specialized fleet card, combining wide acceptance with fleet controls on top. DKV’s network is huge, but there are gaps (drivers often detour to find an in-network station). With Rally, if there’s a pump, you can use it – convenience for drivers and potentially better fuel prices.

• Real-Time Control & Visibility: Rally’s digital platform gives fleet managers a live view of fueling activity. Rather than waiting for a biweekly invoice, you can get immediate alerts – for instance, if a driver attempts an off-hours fill or a transaction exceeds a set limit, you know right away. You can also adjust permissions on the fly (e.g. instantly lock a lost card or restrict a vehicle to only fuel, no store purchases). This level of control is a game-changer in preventing fraud and waste. DKV and others are catching up (they offer portals to monitor transactions), but the difference is Rally was built mobile-first with instant data in mind. As one Rally user (a fleet driver) described the experience: “Super simple. I didn’t need any setup or training. Just got a message, sent the photo and that was it.” – referring to the WhatsApp-based receipt capture that happens right after fueling. For managers, that means no missing receipts and a clear picture of spend in real time.

• Administrative Ease: By automating receipt collection and integrating data, Rally significantly reduces back-office workload. The platform can output all transactions with tax breakdowns, cost centers, etc., so your accounting department isn’t manually typing in fuel logs for hours. Rally’s sales data shows fleets save on average 18 hours per month of admin time after switching. DKV’s invoicing is robust, but many fleets still find themselves doing spreadsheet gymnastics to allocate costs or reclaim VAT. Rally’s more modern software can trim that toil.

Of course, not everything is in Rally’s favor. DKV retains some clear advantages, which we’ll discuss next.

An Honest Perspective: Where DKV Wins and Where Rally Excels

No solution is one-size-fits-all. DKV is still a strong choice in certain scenarios:

- Unmatched Specialized Services: If your fleet relies on value-added services like integrated toll boxes, roadside assistance, or extensive VAT refund handling across multiple countries, DKV’s package is hard to beat. They’ve built a comprehensive ecosystem over 90 years. Rally, being newer, is more narrowly focused on payments and software. For example, a long-haul truck fleet that needs automated toll payments in 10 countries might lean towards sticking with DKV for that convenience (Rally doesn’t offer its own toll device yet).

- Established Industry Presence: Some companies feel more comfortable with a longtime market leader. DKV’s scale (billions in fuel transactions yearly) and wide acceptance give a sense of security. There’s also the factor of existing contracts – if you’ve negotiated a certain fuel discount with DKV or have volume rebates, you might be hesitant to switch.

That said, for many fleet managers the scales are tipping toward Rally as a better fit for modern needs:

- Cost Savings: Rally’s core promise is 5–10% fuel cost savings after switching from traditional fuel cards. This comes from paying less at the pump (no added margin) and avoiding various fees. Real-world fleet experiences seem to validate a noticeable reduction in fuel spend. In an era of tight budgets, this is a compelling reason to switch.

- Flexibility and Driver Satisfaction: Drivers no longer need to hunt for a specific brand of station or carry multiple cards (for fuel, charging, etc.). They fuel up, get an instant WhatsApp ping, and are done. This ease of use can boost driver compliance – they’re less likely to make out-of-policy purchases if the system to do things right is convenient. Rally’s approach of “no app required” for drivers (leveraging WhatsApp, a tool they already use) has been very well received. Happier drivers and simpler processes ultimately make the fleet manager’s job easier, too.

- Future-Proofing & Innovation: Rally is building a platform for the future of mobility payments. The company is quick with updates and new features (as a tech startup, they iterate faster than a legacy provider). For example, as electric mobility grows, Rally can integrate new payment tech, telematics data, or reporting features more nimbly. If your procurement strategy emphasizes digital transformation and staying ahead of the curve, Rally aligns with that mindset. DKV is innovating too (they haven’t sat still, especially on e-mobility), but their legacy infrastructure can make change slower.

In summary, DKV remains a reliable, broad-solution fuel card with huge network coverage, well-suited for fleets that value its all-in-one services and are comfortable with the status quo. Rally is the upstart alternative focusing on transparency, control, and automation – ideal for fleets that want to cut costs and modernize their operations. Many fleet managers in Germany, France, Spain, and the UK are finding that Rally better addresses the pain points they’ve had with DKV and similar cards.

Conclusion: Time to Rally for Change?

If you’re a fleet manager or procurement leader feeling the pain of fuel card frustrations, it may be time to explore what a modern DKV alternative like Rally can do for you. The industry is moving toward solutions that put cost savings, simplicity, and flexibility front and center. Rally embodies this shift – from paying pump prices to automating admin work – and it’s helping fleets large and small save money and time.

Don’t just take our word for it: Compare your next fuel invoice with what it could have been at pump price, or calculate the hours spent each month on fuel admin. The potential improvements are significant.

Ready to learn more? Take the next step by reaching out for a demo or consultation with Rally. See how their platform can fit into your fleet’s workflow and deliver the transparency and control you’ve been missing. The best DKV fuel card alternative in 2025 might just be the one that transforms your fleet’s fuel management for the better.

Ultimately, whether you stick with DKV or switch to Rally, your goal is the same – keeping your fleet moving efficiently and affordably. With new tools now available, you have more power than ever to achieve exactly that. The fuel card game is changing – and your fleet can be the next to benefit from the change.

Curious about Rally? Book a demo now