Buying a automotive is a big expense. And sadly, it is normally 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 if you happen to put some or — in uncommon instances — all the price on a bank card to earn beneficial factors and miles. A big buy, reminiscent of a automotive down cost, can be a good way to satisfy the minimal spending necessities 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 think about and key issues to concentrate on.
Greatest playing cards for getting a automotive
Choosing the proper card can earn you extra rewards in your automotive buy, making the method extra rewarding. Listed here are a few of the greatest playing cards to make use of when shopping for a automotive or making a down cost.
American Categorical Platinum: Greatest for big purchases
Annual price: $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 provides fluctuate, and also you might not be eligible for a suggestion.
Incomes price on automotive purchases: 1 level per greenback spent
Why it is a good selection: The Platinum Card® from American Categorical is a superb selection as a result of it has no preset spending restrict, making it very best for a big buy like a brand new automotive. No preset spending restrict does not imply limitless funds, however if you happen to’re trying to make a big down cost and even buy a complete automotive, this card is a greater possibility than one with a set credit score restrict. The quantity you’ll be able to spend adapts primarily based on components reminiscent of 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 beneficial you repay the cardboard as quickly as doable and keep away from shedding worth you gained from incomes a pleasant sum of factors.
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To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Amex Platinum.
Apply right here: American Categorical Platinum
American Categorical Enterprise Platinum: Greatest for large spenders
Annual price: $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 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 good selection: The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Categorical is just like the non-public Amex Platinum and has no preset spending restrict. This card is one other very best 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 automotive would earn you 15,000 Amex factors, value $300 in accordance with TPG’s July 2025 valuations. The quantity you’ll be able to spend adapts primarily based on components reminiscent of your buy, cost and credit score historical past.
To take advantage of this card, ensure the automotive buy or down cost is a minimum of $5,000; in any other case, you are higher off utilizing a no-annual-fee card that gives rewards on nonbonus classes, reminiscent of The American Categorical 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 study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Amex Enterprise Platinum.
Apply right here: American Categorical Enterprise Platinum
American Categorical Blue Enterprise Plus: Greatest for max factors
Annual price: $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 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 charges and costs)
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 good selection: For a card with no annual price, The Blue Enterprise® Plus {Credit Card} from American Categorical earns a powerful 2 factors per greenback spent on the primary $50,000 in purchases every calendar yr (and 1 level per greenback thereafter).
For the reason that card comes with a 0% introductory APR, it may be simple to make a purchase order with it and pay it off inside 12 months to keep away from curiosity prices.
In contrast to the 2 Platinum playing cards, this one comes with a preset restrict, so make certain you’ll be able to cowl the price of the automotive or down cost earlier than buying.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Amex Blue Enterprise Plus.
Apply right here: American Categorical Blue Enterprise Plus
Chase Freedom Limitless: Greatest for incomes money again
Annual price: $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 good selection: The Chase Freedom Limitless® (see charges and costs) may be a good way to earn money again — and switch it into beneficial factors.
A $15,000 automotive buy would earn you $225 money again. Nonetheless, 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 value $461, in accordance 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 study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Freedom Limitless.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Limitless
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Choose: Greatest for American Airways loyalists
Annual price: $0 introductory annual price 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 good selection: Though the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard® solely earns 1 mile per greenback spent, the actual profit for American Airways frequent flyers is that the cardboard earns 1 Loyalty Level per greenback spent. If a dealership means that you can put a big down cost or the whole buy on the cardboard, you might 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 in need of Govt Platinum standing, and this buy helped her safe it.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum card.
The knowledge 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 automotive with a bank card FAQ
Though shopping for a automotive with a bank card could appear simple, listed here are some issues to remember.
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 relies on the automotive dealership. You might be able to negotiate how a lot it may 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 automotive fully on a bank card, it is beneficial to name forward and communicate to a finance supervisor on the dealership. Some might not settle for bank cards for the whole automobile buy, whereas others can be blissful to just accept them. In my expertise, a down cost when financing or leasing a automotive is normally 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 price for a bank card transaction, different dealerships might select to not cost any price. Once I put a down cost on my automotive final yr, the dealership didn’t cost me a transaction price, 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 relies on the dealership, as some might solely help you use a bank card for a down cost towards a lease or financed automobile. Others might help you put the whole buy value of the automotive on a bank card.
Do I must pay my full stability?
In case you make the automotive buy on a card that’s providing a 0% rate of interest, then you’ll be able to pay the minimal stability per thirty days (normally 1% of the whole stability) or make sufficient of a cost to repay the whole 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 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 score utilization will certainly improve, and this could negatively have an effect on your credit score rating. To maintain your utilization down, repay the stability as quickly as doable, and you will reduce the long-term impression.
Backside line
Buying a automotive with a bank card may be a good way to earn a big sum of factors, miles or money again. It is also a straightforward strategy to meet the minimal spending requirement on a brand new card.
Simply remember that not all dealerships will help you cost the complete buy value — many solely settle for bank cards for down funds — so be sure you test forward of time.
Associated: Greatest 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
