Buying a automobile 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} automobile buy can earn you some severe rewards should you put some or — in uncommon circumstances — the entire price on a bank card to earn precious factors and miles. A big buy, akin to a automobile down cost, can also be a good way to satisfy the minimal spending necessities for a bank card welcome provide.
In case you’re contemplating buying a automobile with a bank card, listed here are some playing cards to think about and key issues to pay attention to.
Finest playing cards for getting a automobile
Choosing the proper card can earn you extra rewards in your automobile buy, making the method extra rewarding. Listed here are a number of the greatest playing cards to make use of when shopping for a automobile or making a down cost.
American Specific Platinum: Finest for big purchases
Annual charge: $695 (see charges and costs)
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 is probably not eligible for a suggestion.
Incomes price on automobile purchases: 1 level per greenback spent
Why it is a sensible choice: The Platinum Card® from American Specific is a wonderful selection as a result of it has no preset spending restrict, making it perfect for a big buy like a brand new automobile. No preset spending restrict does not imply limitless funds, however should you’re trying to make a big down cost and even buy a complete automobile, this card is a greater choice than one with a set credit score restrict. The quantity you’ll be able to spend adapts based mostly on components akin to your buy, cost and credit score historical past.
The Amex Platinum requires the steadiness to be paid in full every month, however with Pay Over Time, cardmembers can carry a steadiness (although it accrues curiosity). If buying a automobile, it is beneficial you repay the cardboard as quickly as potential and keep away from shedding worth you gained from incomes a pleasant sum of factors.
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To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the Amex Platinum.
Apply right here: American Specific Platinum
American Specific Enterprise Platinum: Finest for giant spenders
Annual charge: $695 (see charges and costs)
Welcome provide: Earn 150,000 bonus factors after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases throughout the first three months of card membership.
Incomes price on automobile 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 Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Specific is just like the private Amex Platinum and has no preset spending restrict. This card is one other perfect selection 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 automobile would earn you 15,000 Amex factors, price $300 in line with TPG’s July 2025 valuations. The quantity you’ll be able to spend adapts based mostly on components akin to your buy, cost and credit score historical past.
To profit from this card, be certain the automobile buy or down cost is at the least $5,000; in any other case, you are higher off utilizing a no-annual-fee card that gives rewards on nonbonus classes, akin to The American Specific Blue Enterprise Money™ Card (see charges and costs), which earns 2% money again (on the primary $50,000 spent every calendar yr, then 1%).
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the Amex Enterprise Platinum.
Apply right here: American Specific Enterprise Platinum
American Specific Blue Enterprise Plus: Finest for optimum factors
Annual charge: $0 (see charges and costs)
Welcome provide: Earn 15,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of card membership. Plus, obtain a 0% introductory annual share price for 12 months from the date of account opening. (After that, the APR shall be a variable price from 17.49%-27.49%.)(see charges and costs)
Incomes price on automobile 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 Enterprise® Plus Credit score Card from American Specific earns a powerful 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 ensure you’ll be able to cowl the price of the automobile or down cost earlier than buying.
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the Amex Blue Enterprise Plus.
Apply right here: American Specific Blue Enterprise Plus
Chase Freedom Limitless: Finest 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 automobile purchases: 1.5% money again
Why it is a sensible choice: The Chase Freedom Limitless® (see charges and costs) may be a good way to earn money again — and switch it into precious factors.
A $15,000 automobile buy would earn you $225 money again. Nevertheless, if in case you have an Final Rewards points-earning bank card, you’ll be able to maximize your money again by turning it into 22,500 factors, that are price $461, in line with TPG’s July 2025 valuations.
Cardholders additionally obtain a 0% introductory APR on purchases and steadiness transfers for 15 months from account opening. After the introductory interval, a variable APR of 18.99%-28.49% applies. This may give you time to repay your automobile buy with out curiosity.
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the Freedom Limitless.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Limitless
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Choose: Finest 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 automobile purchases: 1 mile and 1 Loyalty Level per greenback spent
Why it is a sensible choice: Though the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard® solely earns 1 mile per greenback spent, the true profit for American Airways 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 complete buy on the cardboard, you could possibly earn a pleasant chunk of Loyalty Factors towards elite standing.
I put the down cost for my final automobile buy on my spouse’s Citi / AAdvantage Platinum as a result of she was just a few thousand Loyalty Factors wanting Govt Platinum standing, and this buy helped her safe it.
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation 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 offered by the cardboard issuer.
Buying a automobile with a bank card FAQ
Though shopping for a automobile 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’ll be able to placed on a bank card depends upon the automobile dealership. You could possibly negotiate how a lot it could actually 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 trying to buy a automobile fully on a bank card, it is beneficial to name forward and converse to a finance supervisor on the dealership. Some could not settle for bank cards for your complete automobile buy, whereas others shall be comfortable to simply accept them. In my expertise, a down cost when financing or leasing a automobile is often payable with a bank card, offered it is throughout 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. Once I put a down cost on my automobile 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 value with my bank card?
Once more, this depends upon the dealership, as some could solely can help you use a bank card for a down cost towards a lease or financed automobile. Others could can help you put your complete buy value of the automobile on a bank card.
Do I must pay my full steadiness?
In case you make the automobile buy on a card that’s providing a 0% rate of interest, then you’ll be able to pay the minimal steadiness monthly (often 1% of your complete steadiness) or make sufficient of a cost to repay your complete card throughout the promotional interval. In case you put the cost on a card that prices curiosity, your greatest plan of action is to pay the steadiness in full to keep away from curiosity.
Does shopping for a automobile with a bank card have an effect on my credit score rating?
When buying a automobile in your bank card, your credit score utilization will certainly improve, and this will negatively have an effect on your credit score rating. To maintain your utilization down, repay the steadiness as quickly as potential, and you will decrease the long-term impression.
Backside line
Buying a automobile with a bank card may be a good way to earn a big sum of factors, miles or money again. It is also a simple strategy to meet the minimal spending requirement on a brand new card.
Simply remember that not all dealerships will can help you cost the total buy value — many solely settle for bank cards for down funds — so you’ll want to test forward of time.
Associated: Finest bank cards
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.For charges and costs of the Enterprise Platinum, click on right here.For charges and costs of the Blue Enterprise Plus, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Blue Enterprise Money, click on right here
