To ensure you receive all the rewards you deserve is to select a credit card that earns the highest rewards on your greatest expenses. If your highest expense categories are those everyday purchases, you may find that the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express could be a value-added asset to your daily life.
Let’s talk about how easy it is to earn rewards on the Blue Cash Preferred card, look at the card’s redemption options, and peruse the travel and shopping benefits/protections that come with the card.
We’ll also look at a couple of alternative cards that could be a potential fit if you’re looking to make sure
Earn a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly instalments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee of up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 14.24% to 24.24%
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-840)
Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Earning on Transit and at Gas Stations
For people who spend a lot at gas stations and on transit, you’ll enjoy the unlimited 3% cash-back for every dollar you spend. Transit includes ride-sharing services (like Uber and Lyft), buses, subway transport, parking, tolls, and much more.
Earning on Every Purchase
Every purchase you make that doesn’t fall into 1 of the bonuses earning categories earns 1% cash-back.
With several bonuses earning categories and up to 6% cash-back, earning lots of rewards dollars with the Blue Cash Preferred card for everyday purchases at grocery stores, on streaming services, at gas stations, and on transit, is a simple process.
Rental Car Program Benefits
Cardholders receive Hertz car rental benefits including discounted pricing, additional driver fees waived, and a 1 car class upgrade for rentals 5 days or more.
Use your eligible card and code 705500 at booking.
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
Use your card to reserve and pay for your rental car, decline the agency’s collision damage waiver coverage, and receive secondary rental car coverage for damage, theft, and loss of use. Rentals of 30 days or less are covered, up to $50,000 per rental agreement.
Secondary coverage means that you must first file a claim with any other applicable insurance company.
Access to Premium Car Rental Protection
Blue Cash Preferred card members qualify to purchase Premium Car Rental Protection for a flat rate of $12.95 to $24.95 per rental period of up to 42 consecutive days in length.
Premium Car Rental Protection is primary car rental insurance, offering up to $100,000 in benefits. You do not have to file a claim with your own insurance company first when you purchase this coverage.
Concierge and Travel Assistance
Receive help planning your trip or assistance services 24/7 when you’re travelling more than 100 miles from home.
Global Assist Hotline
Get help any time of the day or night with services that include legal and medical referrals, translation services, help to replace a lost passport, making emergency arrangements, and much more. Referral services are complimentary, but cardholders are responsible for the cost of actual services.
Redeeming Rewards
Redeem for Statement Credits
Simplicity also rules when it comes time to redeem your Blue Cash Preferred card rewards dollars. The cash-back you’ve earned can be used as a statement credit towards purchases — it couldn’t be easier.
Rewards Dollars must be redeemed in $25 increments.
Amex Offers
Amex Offers allows you to receive special offers posted to the online card account that can save you hundreds (even thousands) of dollars each year.
American Express Auto Purchasing Program
The Amex auto purchasing program saves members money by offering discounted pricing on new car purchases. In addition, you may be able to pay up to $2,000 or more of the purchase price when using your Blue Cash Preferred card.
Purchase Protection
It can be frustrating when a new item you purchased gets damaged or stolen. If you purchase a covered item with your Blue Cash Preferred card, you will have coverage for damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date. Benefit amounts are $1,000 per item, up to a maximum of $50,000 per eligible card.
Return Protection
Purchase an item with your eligible card and if within 90 days of purchase the merchant will not accept the return, you could receive up to $300 per item, a maximum of $1,000 in a calendar year per account.
Extended Warranty
Eligible items purchased with your card will have the manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less extended by 1 additional year. Benefit amounts are $10,000 per item, up to a maximum of $50,000 per account.
VIP Entertainment Access
Cardholders receive access to pre-sale ticket availability before the general public, member-only exclusive events, and priority event seating.
Complimentary Shop Runner Membership
Receive free 2-day shipping and free returns with your complimentary Shop Runner membership. Just use your card to shop at over 100 different stores. Membership has a regular value of $79.
Redeem for Merchandise and Gift Cards
While you have the additional option to redeem your rewards dollars for merchandise and gift cards, always compare prices elsewhere.
For example, for merchandise, check other retailers to ensure the price you’re offered is a good one. You can always redeem your rewards dollars for cash and purchase the item where you found the best deal.
Travel Benefits and Protections
Amex Car Rental Insurance
Cardholders have access to premium car rental coverage for 1 low fee that covers your entire rental period.
You’ll find a nice collection of travel perks and protections on the Blue Cash Preferred card. Here are some of the core travel benefits you can expect.
Lowest Hotel Rate Guarantee
If you book your prepaid hotel with American Express Travel using your eligible card and find the same room advertised online for less, you could receive the difference in price (restrictions apply).
Other Services
Amex Send & Split™
With Amex Send & Split you can send money and split purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App‡. Enrol today. Terms Apply.
Fraud Protection
When you use your American Express® Card, you won’t be held responsible for fraudulent charges. If you see a charge that you think is fraudulent, just call us at the number on the back of your Card. There’s no deductible, so you can use your Card with confidence.
Online Account Management
Accessing your account online is easy. Get up-to-date information on your Reward Dollar balance, spending, and reward possibilities, all in a few clicks.
Year-End Summary
The Online Year-End Summary, typically available in January, reflects charges posted to your account from January 1st through December 31st of the prior year.
Pay It Plan It®
Pay It Plan It®, two easy ways to control how you pay.
Pay It® Tap a purchase amount under $100 in the American Express® App‡ to quickly make payments throughout the month.
Plan It® Select purchases of $100 or more and split them up into monthly payments with a fixed monthly fee and no interest charges.
Plus, you’ll still earn rewards as you normally would.
Earn More Cash Back
You can earn cash back every time an Additional Card Member makes an eligible purchase with their Card in the same way you do on your purchase. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Shopping & Entertainment
Return Protection
With Return Protection‡, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take
them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories.
American Express Experiences
Stay in the know with exclusive access to ticket presales‡ and Card Member-only events in a city near you. Check out Broadway shows and concert tours, family and sporting events, and more.
