How To Road Trip (Almost) Free: 8 Credit Card Tips For Major Savings
Simple credit card tips to save money on road trips. In the world of points and miles, we often focus on flight and hotel redemptions and airport lounge access. However, what about road trips? Can travel credit cards help you save money and offset costs? Yes! With a solid credit card strategy, you can explore for free or almost free, paying a fraction of what you would have spent using cash.
Planning a road trip can be a lot of fun, but it can also come with its fair share of expenses: hotels, gas, car rentals, groceries, etc. One way to ease the financial burden is by maximizing the benefits of the credit cards you already have in your wallet or tucked away inside your drawer.
As avid road trippers who clock in hundreds of miles a year, our credit card strategy is twofold. Not only do we use it to save on out-of-pocket expenses but we also use our travel rewards to fuel additional trips!
Here are eight easy credit card tips to help you maximize rewards, points, miles, and even cashback on road trips.
Do you love road trips? If so, you’ll love my podcast, Road Trip Ready, for endless road trip inspiration, planning tips, and destination ideas. Follow Road Trip Ready Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
1. Built-In Car Rental Insurance
Some cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Capital One Venture X Rewards, offer primary car rental insurance, saving you money on insurance coverage.
Note: You have to decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage typically covers theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles in the U.S. and abroad.
This is so valuable because, with primary car rental insurance, you do not have to file a claim with your insurance company. It functions as the primary coverage for car rental incidents.
Always read the terms and conditions, consider deductibles and exclusions, and understand the steps you have to take when filing a claim.
2. Roadside Assistance
Certain credit cards include roadside assistance benefits, such as towing, jump starts, gas, and tire changes. This coverage can be invaluable when you’re in a jam.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers up to four service events per year, each with a $50 coverage limit.
3. Earn Bonus Points, Miles, and Cashback
When preparing for a road trip, bring credit cards that provide bonus points for expenses like gas, dining, groceries, hotels, and other travel-related costs.
To maximize your earnings potential, look for cards that provide 2x to 10x the points and miles on gas purchases.
If you plan on eating out or using food delivery services like UberOne, consider using credit cards that offer additional points and miles for those purchases. Lastly, don’t forget to connect your Marriott Bonvoy and Uber accounts so you can earn Bonvoy points on qualifying stays.
Learn even more easy ways to earn points and miles through partnerships.
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4. Use CardPointers To Identify Best Cards For Purchases
CardPointers is our favorite app for figuring out which credit card to use for every scenario.
Stop leaving travel rewards and cash back on the table by optimizing every purchase on your road trip.
Bonus Tip: We’ve found CardPointers especially helpful for reminding us about hotel credits we may have forgotten about.
5. Hotel Credit
Some cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, offer a $50 hotel credit a year when you use your card to book hotel stays through the Chase Travel Portal.
It appears as a statement credit on your monthly credit card billing statement within 1-2 billing cycles after your purchase.
Other cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offer a free night on each anniversary of opening your account. Use this complimentary hotel night for your next road trip!
5. Erase Travel Purchases
We love cards like the Wells Fargo Autograph and Capital One Venture Rewards because they allow you to partially or completely erase travel purchases, saving you on out-of-pocket expenses. You can redeem your rewards for flights, hotel stays, and car rentals for your next vacation.
6. No Foreign Transaction Fees
If traveling internationally, bring credit cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees.
While small savings at a glance, it really adds up.
Following this tip alone can save you money when making every single purchase abroad.
Read Next: Best U.S. Bank Accounts For Travelers
7. It Pays To Be Loyal
Remember to provide your loyalty number when checking in at hotels to ensure you receive the rewards and perks of your stay. Additionally, providing the correct credit card at check-in maximizes hotel points with minimal effort.
8. Activate Promotions
Credit card companies often run special promotions that allow you to earn extra points or cashback on specific purchases.
This is quite popular for Chase IHG and American Express credit cards.
To maximize your rewards:
- Keep an Eye on Activation Bonuses via Email: Some credit cards offer activation bonuses for spending a certain amount within a specified timeframe. For example, you might earn extra points for using your card at gas stations or restaurants during your trip.
- Check for Seasonal Promotions: Credit card companies may have seasonal promotions that can help you earn more rewards. For instance, during the summer months, you might find offers that provide additional points for travel-related expenses, incentivizing you to use those cards over others.
Final Thoughts: Stop Leaving Money On the Table!
Although many people aren’t aware of the potential savings offered by credit cards, financially savvy road trippers, like you, are leveraging credit card benefits to reduce road trip costs and earn rewards toward future travel experiences.
Remember to maximize your credit card strategy, plan ahead, see what benefits come with each credit card, activate promotions whenever possible, and aim to maximize your perks and benefits. You’ve got this!
What other credit card tips for road trippers would you add? Leave your thoughts below!
Read Next: How To Start a Travel Fund (And Why You Need One)
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Danielle Desir Corbett is an award-winning and 6x grant-funded travel writer and podcast host who went from financial struggle to visiting 27+ countries all without waiting until retirement. Her story is proof that budget doesn’t limit adventure. Tune into The Thought Card Podcast for practical strategies to travel smarter and live on your terms. Say hello: thethoughtcard (at) gmail (dot) com.
