Best Credit Cards for Car Expenses and Vehicle Repairs

Cars are an expensive commodity. At the moment your new ride hits the asphalt, it becomes a ticking time bomb of costly recurring maintenance and repairs.

However, as any savvy points and miles enthusiast knows, every expense is an opportunity for rewards.

Opening a credit card to cover car expenses like vehicle repairs can help mitigate the upfront cost of recurring maintenance. With the extra rewards you’ll earn, you might be able to book that award flight this year instead of next year.

Let’s look at the best credit cards for covering the cost of car expenses and vehicle repairs.

Best Credit Cards for Car Expenses and Vehicle Repairs: Overview

Here’s an overview of the best credit cards for car expenses and vehicle repairs.

Let’s examine each card in detail to help you decide which one is best for your needs.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns 1.5% cash back on non-bonus category spending, which you can use to cover auto repair shop expenses.

The Freedom Unlimited earns Ultimate Rewards points which you can then redeem for cashback rewards. However, the real value of Freedom Unlimited lies in point-pooling with premium Ultimate Rewards credit cards.

If you hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can transfer the Ultimate Rewards earned on your Freedom Unlimited card to one of these accounts. From there, you’ll be able to transfer your Ultimate Rewards to any of Chase’s 14 airline or hotel partners for outsized value redemptions.

That means your spending at the auto repair shop can go toward your next points-funded vacation.

In addition to its suitability for covering car expenses, the Chase Freedom Unlimited includes a range of other bonus spending categories, as well as a limited number of travel insurance perks—all for a $0 annual fee.

Pros

• 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 1.5% on all other purchases
• Ability to transfer cashback rewards to Ultimate Rewards points when you hold a Sapphire card or the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance. Coverage of up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable passenger fares charged to your card, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather or another covered situation.
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Complimentary three months of DashPass membership when you activate by Dec. 31, providing unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders with DoorDash and Caviar
  • After the complimentary period, you’ll be automatically enrolled in DashPass at 50% off for the next 9 months.
• Complimentary three months of Instacart+ membership when you enroll by July 31, providing unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders
  • After the complimentary Instacart+ membership period ends, you’ll be automatically enrolled in an annual Instacart+ membership. You can also earn up to $10 in quarterly statement credits through July 31, for eligible Instacart purchases.
• 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025.

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fee

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a slew of perks for a reasonable annual fee of $95.

Among its standout perks is the ability to earn 2X miles on all non-bonus category spending. This is incredibly advantageous since it lets you rack up miles while spending at the auto repair shop, on car parts, tools and accessories, and on any other non-bonus category spending.

Capital One has 18 airline and hotel transfer partners, with access to all three major airline alliances. This makes for lucrative redemption opportunities and maximum flexibility when booking award travel.

The card is designed with the traveler in mind, giving you complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status and a $100 statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership, every four years. It also includes a range of travel insurances, ensuring you’re protected while abroad.

For a low-tier annual fee, the Venture Rewards card offers massive value not only when traveling but also with earning miles on non-bonus category spending.

Pros

• 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles on all other purchases
• $120 statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership, every four years.
• Complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status¹
• No foreign transaction fees
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Baggage delay insurance
• Baggage loss insurance
• Travel accident insurance

Cons

• Capital One doesn’t have any U.S. airlines as transfer partners
• Certain transfer partners don’t use 1:1 ratios

Citi® Double Cash Card

The Citi® Double Cash Card offers 2% cash back on non-bonus category spending: 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay, coming in especially handy when you pay at the auto repair shop or with an online parts vendor

The Double Cash Card earns Citi ThankYou points, which you can either redeem for cash back or transfer to one of the following travel partners:

• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Wyndham Rewards
• Choice Privileges

However, if you hold the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, Citi Prestige® Card or the Citi Premier® Card (not open to new applications), you can pool your ThankYou points and transfer them to any of Citi’s full list of 16 transfer partners, at better ratios.

For a $0 annual fee, the Citi Double Cash Card offers a competitive points multiplier and lucrative redemption opportunities.

Pros

• 2% cash back: 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay.
• 5% total cash back on hotel and car rentals booked via the Citi Travel℠ portal through Dec. 31.
• Ability to access Citi’s full list of transfer partners and the best transfer rates when you combine the Double Cash Card with the Citi Strata Premier Card, Citi Prestige Card or the Citi Premier Card (not open to new applications).

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fee
• Restricted to three transfer partners if you don’t hold a premium Citi card.

Capital One QuickSilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One QuickSilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns you 1.5% cash back on non-bonus category spending, making it a great card for earning a return at the auto repair shop.

Additionally, it earns 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

If you also hold the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Spark Miles for Business Card, you can transfer your cashback earnings to miles, enabling you to access the full list of Capital One’s airline and hotel transfer partners.

Overall, the QuickSilver Cash Rewards card is handy for covering those auto repair shop purchases that fall outside of typical bonus spending categories.

Pros

• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 1.5% cash back on all purchases
• Complimentary six months of Uber One membership through Nov. 14
• No foreign transaction fees
• Ability to transfer your cashback rewards to Capital One miles when you hold the Capital One Venture X, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Spark Miles for Business.

Cons

• Limited bonus spending categories
• Restricted to cashback rewards if you don’t hold an eligible Capital One Venture or Spark miles card.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card earns 1.5X points on non-bonus category spending.

However, the real value of this card is for Preferred Rewards® members who can earn 25% to 75% more points on every purchase.

If you have a three-month combined average daily balance between $20,000 and less than $50,000 in Bank of America deposit and Merrill investing accounts, you’ll qualify for Gold Tier with the Preferred Rewards program. Gold Tier members get a 25% point boost, earning you 1.875X points on non-bonus category spending.

Having a combined average daily balance between $50,000 and less than $100,000 means that you’ll qualify for Silver Tier. Silver Tier members get a 50% point boost, earning you 2.25X points on non-bonus category spending.

Finally, a three-month combined average daily balance between $100,000 and less than $1,000,000, qualifies you for Platinum Tier. Platinum Tier members get a 75% point boost, earning you 2.625X points on non-bonus category spending.

For Preferred Rewards members, this card can be extremely lucrative for car expenses, vehicle repairs and other non-bonus category spending.

It also comes with an annual $100 airline incidental statement credit for qualifying purchases including seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight services and airline lounge fees, as well as a $100 statement credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees, every four years.

For $95 per year, the card could be a lucrative option for Preferred Rewards members.

Pros

• 2X points on travel and dining purchases
• 1.5X points on all other purchases
• Annual $100 airline incidental statement credit for qualifying purchases including seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight services and airline lounge fees
• $100 statement credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees, every four years
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards members earn 25% to 75% more points on every purchase.
• Trip delay reimbursement. Coverage of up to $500 per ticket for delays of 12 hours or more
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance with coverage of up to $2,500 for non-refundable common carrier fares if your trip is interrupted or canceled due to a covered reason
• Baggage delay insurance with coverage of up to $100 per day for a maximum of five days for baggage delays of six hours or more, for essential item purchases
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Emergency evacuation and transportation insurance
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Bank of America doesn’t have any airline or hotel transfer partners.

Sam’s Club® Mastercard®

If you’re a frequent shopper at Sam’s Club, the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® could help you earn rewards on car expenses.

While the card has a $0 annual fee, you’ll need to have a Sam’s Club membership, which costs between $50 and $110.

You can earn 3% cash back on Sam’s Club purchases as a Plus member or 1% cash back as a Club member. This allows you to earn cash back on tires and other auto parts bought at Sam’s Club.

If you’re a Plus member, you’ll also get early access to Tire & Battery Center Services and 50% off tire installations on sets of four.

While this card isn’t as lucrative as travel rewards cards, it’s an extra way to earn rewards on car expenses if you’re already a Sam’s Club member.

Pros

• 5% cash back on gas and EV charging station purchases, up to $6,000 per year (1% cash back thereafter)
• 3% cash back on dining and takeout purchases
• 3% cash back on Sam’s Club purchases for Plus members and 1% cash back for Club members
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Plus Members get early access to Tire & Battery Center Services and 50% off tire installations on sets of four.
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• A maximum of $5,000 in Sam’s Cash can be earned in a calendar year.
• Sam’s Club membership is required to hold the card, which costs $50 per year.
• Plus membership costs $110 per year to access the highest rewards rates.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

If you’re a regular at Costco, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi could be a solid option for earning rewards on car expenses.

While the card is free of annual fees, you’ll need to be a Costco member to hold it, starting at $60 per year.

You can get 2% cash back on purchases made at Costco and Costco.com. That means you can earn a return on car parts, whether it’s new tires or oil.

Through the Costco Auto Program, Costco members also get 15% off parts, service and accessories, up to $500 per visit at participating Costco service centers nationwide.

You’ll also earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging stations for the first $7,000 spent per year (1% thereafter).

If you’re already a Costco member, this is a solid card to consider to earn a few extra rewards on car expenses.

Pros

• 5% cash back on gas at Costco and 4% cash back on other eligible gas and EV charging for the first $7,000 spent per year (1% thereafter)
• 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel, including Costco Travel
• 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Costco members receive 15% off parts, service and accessories, up to $500 per visit at participating Costco service centers nationwide, through the Costco Auto Program.
• No foreign transaction fees
• Car rental insurance
• Travel accident insurance

Cons

• Requires a Costco membership to hold the card, starting at $60 per year

How to Select the Best Credit Card for Car Expenses and Vehicle Repairs

When choosing which card to use for earning rewards on car expenses, you will need to consider how it will fit into your wider credit card strategy.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average American spends $792 per year on routine car repairs. While this isn’t cheap, it typically won’t be the largest proportion of your annual expenditure. Other spending categories such as dining, grocery shopping and travel tend to account for a larger proportion of the average American’s expenditure.

Opening a credit card for the sole purpose of earning rewards on car expenses might not be the smartest move. Instead, a better approach would be to open a card with a high points multiplier on non-bonus category spending.

Hardly any credit cards earn bonus points on “car expenses” as a bonus spending category. Rather, automobile-related expenses will fall under the “all other purchases” spending category. Cards with a competitive points multiplier on non-bonus category spending will earn you a lucrative return on car expenses and vehicle repairs.

The added benefit of this strategy is that you can use this type of card to cover a variety of purchases that fall outside of typical bonus spending categories. That includes car expenses, online shopping purchases, wedding expenses, bill payments and many other types of purchases. This card can become your go-to card for these typically rewards-resistant purchases.

Opening a card to cover both car expenses and other non-bonus category spending is also a smart way to avoid needlessly adding to your Chase 5/24 count.

When selecting a card for car expenses, consider whether you want to earn cashback rewards or a transferable rewards currency.

Many cashback credit cards allow their rewards to be converted into transferable points or miles when combined with a specific premium credit card, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, Capital One QuickSilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and Citi Double Cash Card. Effective pairings of cards can make for a killer card combo, enabling you to effectively earn more points on a cashback card than you would on a premium card alone.

The ability to earn a high rate of Ultimate Rewards points, Citi ThankYou points or Capital One miles on car expenses is an excellent way to make award travel a reality. While a Sam’s Club Mastercard or co-branded Citi Costco card may be a convenient fit for those with existing memberships, opting for a travel rewards credit card to cover your car expenses will be a better way of accumulating a lucrative rewards currency.

Should You Get a Card from the Dealership?

Some auto repair shops and car dealerships offer their own exclusive credit cards. These might seem like the best cards to go for when it comes to earning rewards on vehicle repairs and related expenses.

However, they typically come with extremely narrow redemption options, usually in the form of coupons that only can be redeemed with the auto repair shop or dealership, meaning that you can forget about using your points to fund award travel.

For this reason, you’re better off going for a general travel rewards card to maximize your redemption flexibility and value.

Earn Rewards on Your Next Dent, Scratch or Oil Change

You can’t escape the cost of car expenses and maintenance charges, but you can ensure you earn rewards on your expenditure.

Choosing a card to cover car expenses involves considering your wider credit card strategy. Opting for a card that can earn a high rate of points on multiple non-bonus category purchases is the best way to maximize your rewards and keep your card strategy simple.

With the right credit card on hand, you can at least look forward to point-funded vacations the next time the mechanic gives you the bill.

¹Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at the upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note that enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.