It is no surprise then that many credit cards offer rewards for rental cars. This is because of the investment banks have made in marketing credit cards to frequent travelers. You may be able to save money on a car rental when you use your existing credit cards during your travels.

Here are a few tricks to use travel credit card rewards for rental cars.

Consider using credit cards that have travel statement credits

Using a credit card that offers statement credits towards travel purchases is the simplest way to use points and miles to pay for your rental car. One of the best cards in this category is the National Bank Credit Card. The National Bank Cards offers 1 point on ALL card purchases without restrictions.

The current offer for this credit card allows you to earn 15,000 rewards points if $3,000 in net purchases. Or more are charged to the credit card account within the first three months following enrolment. The bonus rewards points under this promotion will be credited to the credit card account in a single payment no later than the 5th statement following the account opening. 

An alternative card that offers similar benefits is the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®. With the MBNA card, you can redeem points for cash back, gift cards from participating retailers, charitable donations, and travel.

2. Earning miles and points for car rentals

You can earn points by choosing the right travel credit card to boost your favorite hotel, airline, or travel loyalty program.

For example, the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve cards earn 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible hotels and car rentals.

Also, because car rentals typically code in most credit cards’ “travel” category, you can opt for a card that earns extra points on general travel expenses.

The best option in this category includes the Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card which earns a total of 5 points for every $1 on eligible travel.

3. Take advantage of loyalty programs to save money on rental cars

When renting a car, you typically want to join an airline or rental Car Company’s loyalty program and earn rewards that you can redeem for rental costs. The National Bank Platinum Master Card is my favorite among rental car loyalty programs.

Getting the National Bank Platinum MasterCard is great because you can accrue points every time you rent a car. As a result, this is ideal for individuals who usually rent for shorter periods. Rather than those who occasionally rent for several days at a time. In addition, it makes sense for people renting midsize or other inexpensive cars.

In conclusion

You can use credit card rewards and airline rewards to pay for travel expenses like hotels and car rentals. You can also find rewards programs with most rental car agencies. Understanding how to redeem points will help you get the most out of your credit card rewards options. 

With these tricks, you can rent a car without feeling ripped off if you take advantage of credit card rewards or points.