Buying a automotive is a big expense. And sadly, it is often a diminishing funding that loses worth over time, beginning with the second you drive it off the lot.
The silver lining right here is {that a} automotive buy can earn you some severe rewards should you put some or — in uncommon circumstances — all the value on a bank card to earn invaluable factors and miles. A big buy, equivalent to a automotive down cost, can be an effective way to satisfy the minimum spending requirements for a bank card welcome provide.
In case you’re contemplating buying a automotive with a bank card, listed here are some playing cards to contemplate and key issues to concentrate on.
Greatest playing cards for purchasing a automotive
Choosing the proper card can earn you extra rewards in your automotive buy, making the method extra rewarding. Listed below are a few of the finest playing cards to make use of when shopping for a automotive or making a down cost.
American Categorical Platinum: Greatest for giant purchases
Annual charge: $695 (see rates and fees)
Welcome provide: New cardmembers can discover out their provide and see in the event that they’re eligible to earn as excessive as 175,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on the brand new card within the first six months of card membership. Welcome affords differ, and also you will not be eligible for a proposal.
Incomes price on automotive purchases: 1 level per greenback spent
Why it is a sensible choice: The Platinum Card® from American Express is a wonderful alternative as a result of it has no preset spending limit, making it perfect for a big buy like a brand new automotive. No preset spending restrict does not imply limitless funds, however should you’re seeking to make a big down cost and even buy a complete automotive, this card is a greater possibility than one with a hard and fast credit score restrict. The quantity you possibly can spend adapts based mostly on elements equivalent to your buy, cost and credit score historical past.
The Amex Platinum requires the stability to be paid in full every month, however with Pay Over Time, cardmembers can carry a stability (although it accrues curiosity). If buying a automotive, it is really helpful you repay the cardboard as quickly as doable and keep away from dropping worth you gained from incomes a pleasant sum of factors.
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To be taught extra, learn our full review of the Amex Platinum.
Apply right here: American Express Platinum
American Categorical Enterprise Platinum: Greatest for giant spenders
Annual charge: $695 (see rates and fees)
Welcome provide: Earn 150,000 bonus factors after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases inside the first three months of card membership.
Incomes price on automotive purchases: 1.5 factors per greenback spent on eligible U.S. purchases over $5,000 (on as much as $2 million in purchases per calendar yr)
Why it is a sensible choice: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is much like the private Amex Platinum and has no preset spending restrict. This card is one other perfect alternative because it earns 1.5 factors per greenback spent on purchases of $5,000 or extra. A $10,000 down cost on a brand new automotive would earn you 15,000 Amex factors, price $300 in keeping with TPG’s July 2025 valuations. The quantity you possibly can spend adapts based mostly on elements equivalent to your buy, cost and credit score historical past.
To benefit from this card, be certain that the automotive buy or down cost is not less than $5,000; in any other case, you are higher off utilizing a no-annual-fee card that gives rewards on nonbonus classes, equivalent to The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (see rates and fees), which earns 2% money again (on the primary $50,000 spent every calendar yr, then 1%).
To be taught extra, learn our full review of the Amex Business Platinum.
Apply right here: American Express Business Platinum
American Categorical Blue Enterprise Plus: Greatest for optimum factors
Annual charge: $0 (see rates and fees)
Welcome provide: Earn 15,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases inside the first three months of card membership. Plus, obtain a 0% introductory annual proportion price for 12 months from the date of account opening. (After that, the APR can be a variable price from 17.49%-27.49%.)(see rates and fees)
Incomes price on automotive purchases: 2 factors per greenback on the primary $50,000 spent every calendar yr (then 1 level per greenback)
Why it is a sensible choice: For a card with no annual charge, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express earns a formidable 2 factors per greenback spent on the primary $50,000 in purchases every calendar yr (and 1 level per greenback thereafter).
Because the card comes with a 0% introductory APR, it may be straightforward to make a purchase order with it and pay it off inside 12 months to keep away from curiosity prices.
Not like the 2 Platinum playing cards, this one comes with a preset restrict, so make sure you possibly can cowl the price of the automotive or down cost earlier than buying.
To be taught extra, learn our full review of the Amex Blue Business Plus.
Apply right here: American Express Blue Business Plus
Chase Freedom Limitless: Greatest for incomes money again
Annual charge: $0
Welcome provide: New cardholders can earn $200 money again after spending $500 within the first three months from account opening.
Incomes price on automotive purchases: 1.5% money again
Why it is a sensible choice: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) may be an effective way to earn money again — and switch it into invaluable factors.
A $15,000 automotive buy would earn you $225 money again. Nonetheless, when you’ve got an Ultimate Rewards points-earning credit card, you possibly can maximize your money again by turning it into 22,500 factors, that are price $461, in keeping with TPG’s July 2025 valuations.
Cardholders additionally obtain a 0% introductory APR on purchases and stability transfers for 15 months from account opening. After the introductory interval, a variable APR of 18.99%-28.49% applies. This can provide you time to repay your automotive buy with out curiosity.
To be taught extra, learn our full review of the Freedom Unlimited.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Choose: Greatest for American Airways loyalists
Annual charge: $0 introductory annual charge the primary yr, then $99
Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases within the first 4 months from account opening.
Incomes price on automotive purchases: 1 mile and 1 Loyalty Level per greenback spent
Why it is a sensible choice: Though the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® solely earns 1 mile per greenback spent, the true profit for American Airlines frequent flyers is that the cardboard earns 1 Loyalty Level per greenback spent. If a dealership lets you put a big down cost or your entire buy on the cardboard, you can earn a pleasant chunk of Loyalty Factors towards elite standing.
I put the down cost for my final automotive buy on my spouse’s Citi / AAdvantage Platinum as a result of she was a number of thousand Loyalty Factors wanting Executive Platinum status, and this buy helped her safe it.
To be taught extra, learn our full review of the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum card.
The data for the Citi Platinum Choose has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Buying a automotive with a bank card FAQ
Though shopping for a automotive with a bank card could seem straightforward, listed here are some issues to bear in mind.
What’s the most quantity I can placed on a bank card?
The utmost quantity you possibly can placed on a bank card depends upon the automotive dealership. You might be able to negotiate how a lot it could possibly cost, as this was the case for me. I used to be capable of negotiate with my native dealership to extend the utmost allowed cost on a bank card from $5,000 to $8,000.
Do all dealerships settle for bank cards?
In case you’re seeking to buy a automotive totally on a bank card, it is really helpful to name forward and communicate to a finance supervisor on the dealership. Some could not settle for bank cards for your entire automobile buy, whereas others can be completely happy to simply accept them. In my expertise, a down cost when financing or leasing a automotive is often payable with a bank card, supplied it is inside the allowed restrict of prices.
What dealerships cost charges for utilizing bank cards?
This varies by dealership, and whereas some can cost a charge for a bank card transaction, different dealerships could select to not cost any charge. After I put a down cost on my automotive final yr, the dealership didn’t cost me a transaction charge, even after I negotiated charging the next quantity of the cost to my bank card. The best strategy to discover out is by calling dealerships in your space, however that will require extra effort in your half.
Can I pay a portion of the worth with my bank card?
Once more, this depends upon the dealership, as some could solely let you use a bank card for a down cost towards a lease or financed automobile. Others could let you put your entire buy value of the automotive on a bank card.
Do I have to pay my full stability?
In case you make the automotive buy on a card that’s providing a 0% rate of interest, then you possibly can pay the minimal stability per thirty days (often 1% of your entire stability) or make sufficient of a cost to repay your entire card inside the promotional interval. In case you put the cost on a card that prices curiosity, your finest plan of action is to pay the stability in full to keep away from curiosity.
Does shopping for a automotive with a bank card have an effect on my credit score rating?
When buying a automotive in your bank card, your credit utilization will certainly enhance, and this will negatively have an effect on your credit score rating. To maintain your utilization down, repay the stability as quickly as doable, and you may reduce the long-term impression.
Backside line
Buying a automotive with a bank card may be an effective way to earn a big sum of factors, miles or money again. It is also a straightforward strategy to meet the minimum spending requirement on a brand new card.
Simply take into account that not all dealerships will let you cost the total buy value — many solely settle for bank cards for down funds — so be sure you examine forward of time.
Associated: Best credit cards
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Enterprise Platinum, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Blue Enterprise Plus, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Blue Enterprise Money, click on here
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