Owning a car comes with ongoing expenses – from gas and routine maintenance to surprise repair bills. The good news is you can earn rewards on all those car expenses by using the right credit card. While there aren’t many cards that specifically bonus “auto repairs” as a category, there are great general-purpose cards that effectively give 1.5% to 2% (or more) back on everything, including car maintenance.
Additionally, some cards tied to wholesale clubs (Sam’s Club, Costco) offer enhanced rewards or discounts on auto-related purchases. As someone who puts tires, oil changes, and even mechanic bills on a credit card whenever possible, I’ve researched which cards give the most back for these expenses. Below are the top picks and why they shine for car costs.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® – 1.5% Cash Back on All Car Expenses
This no-annual-fee card earns a flat 1.5% cash back (or 1.5X Ultimate Rewards points) on everything, which includes any spending at auto repair shops, service centers, or on parts. There’s no special category required – you simply use it for your mechanic bill or new tires and get 1.5% back.
The Freedom Unlimited’s flat-rate is reliable and uncomplicated. Plus, if you have a premium Chase card like the Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, the “cash back” actually can be converted to transferable points for potentially greater value. For example, we use Freedom Unlimited for miscellaneous car expenses, then combine those points into our Sapphire Reserve account to transfer to airlines for even more value (effectively turning 1.5% cash back into 1.5X airline miles).
This card also comes with other bonus categories (5% on travel via Chase, 3% on dining and drugstores), but its unlimited 1.5% on other purchases is what makes it a top choice for vehicle costs that don’t fall into typical bonus categories.
Citi® Double Cash Card – 2% Back on Car Expenses
The Double Cash is another no-annual-fee favorite for any bill, including auto-related. It effectively earns 2% cash back on everything – 1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay your bill. So that $800 brake job would net you $16 back. Like the Freedom Unlimited, these rewards can also be converted to Citi ThankYou points (20,000 points = $200) if you hold a card like the Citi Premier.
In fact, with a Citi Premier or Prestige (if you have one), those points become transferable to Citi’s airline partners. What we love is the simplicity: a flat 2% is one of the highest no-hassle returns on every dollar. There’s no need to worry if the auto shop qualifies for a certain category – you just pay and know you’re getting solid cashback.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – 2X Miles on All Car Expenses
The Venture (annual fee $95) is similar to Double Cash in that it earns a flat 2X miles per dollar on all purchases, but its rewards are miles that can be used for travel. Essentially, you get 2% value toward travel (each mile = $0.01 toward travel redemptions). Unique to Venture, you can also transfer those miles to airline partners for potentially more value. We include the Venture here because if you’re a traveler, using it for car expenses means you’re funding your next trip.
For example, a $500 repair yields 1,000 Capital One miles, which we can combine with miles from other spending to, say, book a flight. Or we can simply “erase” a travel purchase with those miles. The Venture card also currently offers a big sign-up bonus (often 60k-75k miles) which is a nice boost.
While it has a fee, it also provides perks like up to $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA Pre and no foreign transaction fees. For pure rewards rate on everyday spending, 2X on Venture and 2% on Double Cash are equivalent – the choice depends on whether you prefer travel miles or straight cashback.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card – 1.5% Cash Back (Convertible to Miles)
The Quicksilver (no annual fee) is Capital One’s version of a flat-rate card, giving 1.5% cash back on all purchases. It’s very comparable to Freedom Unlimited. One advantage: if you later get a Venture or Venture X, you can convert Quicksilver cash back into Capital One miles at a 1:1 rate. So all those small cashback rebates from oil changes can be turned into miles.
The Quicksilver also has no foreign transaction fees, which is a bit rare for a no-fee card, and even offers 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. We mention Quicksilver in this list because not everyone has a Chase or Citi setup; if you’re in the Capital One ecosystem, Quicksilver + a Venture card is a powerful combo for everyday expenses like car upkeep. Use Quicksilver for the 1.5% back, then when you want, move those rewards to Venture and redeem as travel.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card – Up to 2.625% Back for Preferred Clients
This $95-annual-fee card normally earns 1.5X points on general purchases (and 2X on travel/dining), which is a baseline 1.5% value. However, it becomes extremely powerful if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client. If you have sizeable assets with BofA/Merrill (starting at $20k), you get a 25%-75% rewards bonus on all earnings.
At the top tier (Platinum Honors, $100k+ with the bank), that means you earn 2.625 points per dollar on everything – effectively 2.625% back. For someone who can qualify, this card will out-earn even a 2% card on car expenses. It also comes with a $100 annual airline incidental credit and up to $100 Global Entry/TSA Pre credit, which more than offset the fee.
We personally use this card at 75% bonus, and it’s fantastic – our mechanic charges go towards both cashback and help use the airline credit for baggage fees, etc. The downside: if you’re not in Preferred Rewards, it’s basically a 1.5% card (still solid, but you might prefer a no-fee 2% card).
Sam’s Club® Mastercard® – 5% Back on Gas & EV Charging + 3% at Sam’s Club (for Plus members)
If you’re a Sam’s Club member, their co-branded Mastercard has some excellent auto-related perks. It offers 5% cash back on gas (including EV charging) on up to $6,000 per year, which is one of the highest gas rebates available (that’s $300 back if you max it). Additionally, Sam’s Club Plus members earn 3% back on Sam’s Club purchases (which would include tires or auto accessories bought at Sam’s), while regular Club members get 1% at Sam’s.
There’s also a unique benefit of 50% off tire installation at Sam’s for Plus members. The card has no annual fee beyond Sam’s membership, but to maximize (3% vs 1%), you’d want the $110/yr Plus membership. If you already shop at Sam’s and buy fuel there, this card is a no-brainer – 5% on gas is huge, and you’ll get early shopping hours and other Plus perks.
Costco Anywhere Visa® by Citi – 4% Back on Gas + Auto Program Discounts
Similar to Sam’s, the Costco Visa (no fee besides Costco membership) is known for 4% cash back on eligible gas (and EV charging) worldwide, up to $7,000. If you are a Costco member, using this for fuel is great (4% on gas is near the top of the market). In terms of car repairs, Costco’s Auto Program gives members 15% off parts, service, and accessories at participating dealerships for many car brands.
While you don’t need the card for that discount, having the Costco Visa means you can pay those service bills and still get rewards. The card also earns 2% back on Costco in-store purchases, so if you buy car tires or batteries at Costco, you’re getting 2% there (plus Costco’s typically low prices).
One limitation is that Costco Visa’s gas 4% is very broad, but note it’s 5% at Costco Gas specifically and 4% at other gas. Regardless, 4% on any gas is excellent. It also gives 3% on restaurants and travel, 1% other purchases.
If you’re a Costco member, this Visa is a top-tier gas card (4% back) and having it in your wallet when you go to the auto shop doesn’t hurt either – you’ll at least get 1% back on that expense, plus you might have saved 15% via Costco’s Auto Program partnership.
Maximize Car Maintenance Savings with the Right Rewards Credit Card
For car maintenance and repairs, your best strategy is to use a high flat-rate rewards card. If you’re tied into a points ecosystem, the Freedom Unlimited (1.5x) or Capital One Venture (2x) are fantastic choices as well. And don’t overlook store-branded cards if you patronize those retailers – Sam’s Club and Costco’s cards turn your membership into serious savings on gas and auto services.
Finally, consider any ancillary benefits: for example, several of these cards have no foreign transaction fees (useful if you drive across borders or order car parts from overseas), and some offer purchase protections which could cover a faulty part or service.
