You already know that there are credit cards for almost all kinds of people. There are travel cards for those who love to travel (or dream of traveling), prepaid credit cards for those on a tight budget, cards that award reward points for purchases (gas, toys, groceries, etc.). But did you know that there is a credit card for car lovers? In addition to having an image of a truck or car on the front of the car, these credit cards provide amazing benefits to cardholders.
There are several credit cards that are affiliated with car companies, but the most popular are those that have ties to automakers like Subaru, General Motors, and Volkswagen. Credit card giant Citibank may not have made any exclusive tie-ins with a specific car company, but they have a card with services that will appeal to the car enthusiast in you.
Credit cards that offer car-related rewards are definitely ideal for those who live and breathe their cars (or those who dream of one day owning one of these cars). Manufacturer-affiliated cards award higher rewards points on most of your basic purchases (gas, groceries, etc.), plus rewards points can be converted to parts and service, merchandise, and gift certificates. Depending on the total rewards you have, you can use your points and apply them to keep, buy or lease a new or used car (subject to existing terms and conditions).
To further entice people to sign up for their services, companies offering car-related rewards credit cards add more enticing perks to the mix. Most of these cards do not charge an annual fee and offer additional services such as balance transfer (balance transfer fees waived) and online account management. Some cards even have incentive programs where you are given the opportunity to earn a little more.
If you think these credit cards can only be used within the United States, you’re wrong. You can use these cards anywhere in the world because aside from the fact that most of these cards are associated with one of the major credit card companies, these cards also carry the Visa or MasterCard logo. Wherever you are, establishments displaying the same Visa and/or MasterCard emblem will accept your credit card.
As with any credit card, you should use this powerful tool wisely. Even if you rarely have a car of your own, you can’t continually charge up a storm and expect to have accumulated enough points to be able to buy or lease a car of your own. You can earn points, but with these points, you’ll also incur more debt, which, if you can’t handle this properly, can negatively affect your credit rating. These cards are meant to give you more for your money. It is not a shortcut to owning your vehicle. These cards are simply things you use to make spending for yourself and your car more fun and enjoyable.