Car IQ

San Francisco, United States Founded: 2016 • Age: 10 yrs Acquired By Element
Contactless in-vehicle payments for commercial fleet fuel transactions are enabled.

About Car IQ

Car IQ is a company based in San Francisco (United States) founded in 2016 by Sterling Pratz was acquired by Element in December 2025.. Car IQ has raised $43 million across 4 funding rounds from investors including Visa, Ally and TELUS. Car IQ offers products and services including Car IQ Pay and Car IQ App. Car IQ operates in a competitive market with competitors including PayByCar, Giant Eagle Prepaid, MineralAnswers, Fleet DriverDash and ZwiftPay, among others.

  • Headquarter San Francisco, United States
  • Founders Sterling Pratz
  • Sectors
    Financial Services
    Transportation, Automotive & Logistics
  • Email
    ***********
  • Phone
    *********
  • Website
    *********
  • Social
    *********
  • Legal Name Car Iq Inc
Operational Areas
Financial Services → FinTech & Digital Finance
Transportation, Automotive & Logistics → Road Transportation & Transit Systems
Key Metrics
  • Annual Revenue
  • Net Profit
  • EBITDA
  • Total Equity Funding
    $43 M (USD)

    in 4 rounds

  • Latest Funding Round
    $8 M (USD), Series B

    Jul 30, 2025

  • Investors
    Visa

    & 18 more

  • Employee Count
    Employee Count
  • Acquired by
    Element

    (Dec 02, 2025)

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Products & Services of Car IQ

Car IQ offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, including Car IQ Pay and Car IQ App. The company's diverse product and service offerings are designed to meet the evolving needs of its customers, address market demands, and provide comprehensive solutions that drive value creation and customer satisfaction across various segments and use cases.

Primary

Secure platform for fuel and toll payments to reduce fleet fraud.

Mobile app for easy fuel pump unlocking and transaction receipts.

Funding Insights of Car IQ

Car IQ has successfully raised a total of $43M across 4 strategic funding rounds. The most recent funding activity was a Series B round of $8 million completed in July 2025. This substantial capital infusion reflects strong investor confidence in the company's business model, growth potential, and market opportunities. The funding enables strategic expansion, product development, market penetration, and operational scaling to drive long-term value creation and competitive advantage.

  • Total Funding
  • Total Rounds 4
  • Last Round Series B — $8.0M
  • First Round

    (25 Jun 2019)

  • Investors Count 18
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2025 Amount Series B - Car IQ Valuation

investors

Feb, 2023 Amount Series B - Car IQ Valuation

investors

Aug, 2021 Amount Series B - Car IQ Valuation

investors

Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Investors in Car IQ

Car IQ has secured backing from 19 investors, including venture fund and institutional investors. Prominent investors backing the company include Visa, Ally and TELUS. This diverse investor base provides strategic capital, industry expertise, and valuable network connections that support the company's growth initiatives, market expansion, and long-term value creation.

All
Venture Fund
Institutional
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Investments are made in US tech companies by Forte Ventures.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital firm focused on CSAA Insurance Group
Founded Year Domain Location
-
Founded Year Domain Location
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Single family office of Amitabh Bachchan, founder of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation or AB CORP
Founded Year Domain Location
Startup ecosystems are ignited through strategic investments by Signite Partners.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is directed toward companies in multiple sectors.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is invested in cybersecurity, fintech, and AI startups.
Founded Year Domain Location

Investments & Acquisitions by Car IQ

Investments
Company Name Description Domain Location Founded Year Amount
Bionic investment advisor platform
2016
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016
Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
2014
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016

Financial Statements - Car IQ

Tata Steel revenue growth over time
Tata Steel profit and loss trends over time
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Car Iq Comparisons

Employees
+
Add Comparison
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Competitors of Car IQ

Car IQ operates in a dynamic and competitive business environment, facing competition from various established players and emerging companies in the market. The competitive landscape includes prominent companies such as PayByCar, Giant Eagle Prepaid, MineralAnswers, Fleet DriverDash and ZwiftPay, among others. This competitive environment drives innovation, market differentiation, and strategic positioning as companies strive to capture market share and deliver value to their customers. Understanding the competitive dynamics is crucial for assessing market positioning, identifying growth opportunities, and navigating the challenges inherent in a competitive marketplace.

Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Toll payments are enabled through text-based responses with E-ZPass integration.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Provides a mobile app for convenient fuel payments.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Portal providing information and news about oil and gas industry
domain founded_year HQ Location
Delivers a mobile app for seamless fuel payments and transactions.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Facilitates contactless payments specifically at gas stations.
Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Multiple services are booked via an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
On-demand services are booked through an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
App based platform offering on demand delivery and ride-hailing services
domain founded_year HQ Location
Operates an on-demand hyperlocal delivery app for food and groceries.

Latest news on Car Iq

Frequently Asked Questions about Car IQ

When was Car IQ founded?

Car IQ was founded in 2016 and raised its 1st funding round 3 years after it was founded.

Where is Car IQ located?

Car IQ is headquartered in San Francisco, United States. It is registered at San Francisco, California, United States.

Who is the current CEO of Car IQ?

Sterling Pratz is the current CEO of Car IQ. They have also founded this company.

Is Car IQ a funded company?

Car IQ is a funded company, having raised a total of $43M across 4 funding rounds to date. The company's 1st funding round was a Series B of $15M, raised on Jun 25, 2019.

What does Car IQ do?

Car IQ was founded in 2016 in San Francisco, United States. In-vehicle payment solutions for commercial fleets are offered in the fintech sector. Contactless transactions at fuel stations are facilitated through integrated vehicle systems. Physical fleet cards are replaced by centralized expense charging and consolidated billing. Operations focus on streamlining fleet management and payment processes across the United States.

Who are the top competitors of Car IQ?

Car IQ's top competitors include PayByCar, MineralAnswers and Giant Eagle Prepaid.

What products or services does Car IQ offer?

Car IQ offers Car IQ Pay and Car IQ App.

Who are Car IQ's investors?

Car IQ has 19 investors. Key investors include Visa, Ally, TELUS, Blackberry, and Citi.

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