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December 10, 2021
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This article was last updated December 10, 2021 . Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
It can be stressful when your car needs sudden and expensive repairs. In fact, around 28% of Americans said they would not be able to cover a $500 car repair without taking on debt, according to a LendingTree survey. As a result, many might have to resort to putting that expense on a credit card.
If you have to rely on a credit card for car repairs, choosing the right card can make a huge difference in how it impacts your budget. We walk through some of the best credit cards for car repairs, how to use a credit card to cover car repairs most effectively, and what common mistakes to avoid.
With the Chase Freedom Flex℠, earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening! That’s a solid payout for a relatively low spending requirement, and if you have to finance car repairs, the sign-up bonus could help offset the cost.
Plus, there’s a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months. After, a 16.49% - 25.24% variable APR applies. If you have a big car repair bill you need to pay off over time, well over a year of no interest offers breathing room.
There is also a 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months. After, a 16.49% - 25.24% variable APR applies. The balance transfer fee is either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days. Then, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The card charges a $0 annual fee, so you don’t have to worry about paying to carry it every year.
For ongoing rewards, cardholders enjoy the following: 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. You must activate the rotating 5% cashback categories each quarter, and there’s a $1,500 spending cap at the 5% rate.
Be aware that there is a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
If you know you’re going to have to pay for car repairs with a credit card, opening one with a generous sign-up bonus and a long 0% intro APR on purchases can save you some money. Luckily, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has both. It’s our top pick for the best credit card for car repairs — just make sure before you apply that you know your Chase 5/24 status. The unwritten Chase 5/24 rule means if you’ve been approved for five or more credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months, Chase will deny you if you apply for a Chase card.
With the Chase Freedom Flex℠, earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening! That’s a solid payout for a relatively low spending requirement, and if you have to finance car repairs, the sign-up bonus could help offset the cost.
Plus, there’s a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months. After, a 16.49% - 25.24% variable APR applies. If you have a big car repair bill you need to pay off over time, well over a year of no interest offers breathing room.
There is also a 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months. After, a 16.49% - 25.24% variable APR applies. The balance transfer fee is either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days. Then, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The card charges a $0 annual fee, so you don’t have to worry about paying to carry it every year.
For ongoing rewards, cardholders enjoy the following: 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. You must activate the rotating 5% cashback categories each quarter, and there’s a $1,500 spending cap at the 5% rate.
Be aware that there is a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
If you know you’re going to have to pay for car repairs with a credit card, opening one with a generous sign-up bonus and a long 0% intro APR on purchases can save you some money. Luckily, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has both. It’s our top pick for the best credit card for car repairs — just make sure before you apply that you know your Chase 5/24 status. The unwritten Chase 5/24 rule means if you’ve been approved for five or more credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months, Chase will deny you if you apply for a Chase card.
With a lengthy 0% intro APR up to 21 months from account opening on purchases, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is a great option if you have to pay for expensive automotive repairs and need almost two years of no interest. After the intro APR period ends, a 15.24% - 27.24% variable APR applies.
Plus, if you initially put the repairs on another high-interest credit card, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card also offers a 0% intro APR up to 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers. After, a 15.24% - 27.24% variable APR applies.
The card offers an initial 0% intro APR period of 18 months. By making on-time minimum payments, cardholders can earn an extension of up to three months (for a total of 21 months).
If performing a balance transfer, you’ll pay a balance transfer fee of 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%; min: $5. The card’s annual fee is $0, but there is a 3% foreign transaction fee.
If you’re planning to pay for car repairs and would like to spread out your payments over time without incurring interest, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card‘s lengthy 0% intro APR on purchases can help. And if you already put a big car repair expense on an existing credit card but would like to transfer it to take advantage of a 0% intro APR on balance transfers, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is a great choice for that, too.
While the card does not offer a sign-up bonus, it does offer one of the longest 0% intro APR promotions you’re likely to find for both purchases and balance transfers.
There are a couple restrictions to keep in mind before applying. You might not be approved for the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card if you’ve opened any other Wells Fargo credit card in the past six months. And be aware that if you’ve opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the past 15 months and received a sign-up bonus or intro APRs or fees, you might not be eligible for the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card‘s intro APR offer.
With a lengthy 0% intro APR up to 21 months from account opening on purchases, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is a great option if you have to pay for expensive automotive repairs and need almost two years of no interest. After the intro APR period ends, a 15.24% - 27.24% variable APR applies.
Plus, if you initially put the repairs on another high-interest credit card, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card also offers a 0% intro APR up to 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers. After, a 15.24% - 27.24% variable APR applies.
The card offers an initial 0% intro APR period of 18 months. By making on-time minimum payments, cardholders can earn an extension of up to three months (for a total of 21 months).
If performing a balance transfer, you’ll pay a balance transfer fee of 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%; min: $5. The card’s annual fee is $0, but there is a 3% foreign transaction fee.
If you’re planning to pay for car repairs and would like to spread out your payments over time without incurring interest, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card‘s lengthy 0% intro APR on purchases can help. And if you already put a big car repair expense on an existing credit card but would like to transfer it to take advantage of a 0% intro APR on balance transfers, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is a great choice for that, too.
While the card does not offer a sign-up bonus, it does offer one of the longest 0% intro APR promotions you’re likely to find for both purchases and balance transfers.
There are a couple restrictions to keep in mind before applying. You might not be approved for the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card if you’ve opened any other Wells Fargo credit card in the past six months. And be aware that if you’ve opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the past 15 months and received a sign-up bonus or intro APRs or fees, you might not be eligible for the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card‘s intro APR offer.
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers substantial value for road warriors and Costco shoppers. Cardholders earn 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases, and the annual fee is $0.
Plus, the foreign transaction fee is 0%, and the APR is a reasonable 17.49% (variable).
If you’re a Costco member, you might already know the warehouse club offers a 15% discount on auto parts, service and accessories (be aware there are exceptions). Once you factor in that discount along with the cash back you can earn by paying with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, you’re in a good spot to make sure your car is kept in great shape. However, be aware that though the card charges a $0 annual fee, a Costco membership will run you $60 or $120 per year depending on the membership type.
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers substantial value for road warriors and Costco shoppers. Cardholders earn 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases, and the annual fee is $0.
Plus, the foreign transaction fee is 0%, and the APR is a reasonable 17.49% (variable).
If you’re a Costco member, you might already know the warehouse club offers a 15% discount on auto parts, service and accessories (be aware there are exceptions). Once you factor in that discount along with the cash back you can earn by paying with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, you’re in a good spot to make sure your car is kept in great shape. However, be aware that though the card charges a $0 annual fee, a Costco membership will run you $60 or $120 per year depending on the membership type.
With the Capital One® Walmart Rewards® Card, earn 5% cash back at Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery. 2% back at Walmart stores and fuel stations, at restaurants and on travel. 1% back everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted And with a $0 annual fee, this card is hard to beat for Walmart shopping.
Plus, there’s a unique sign-up bonus if you set up Walmart Pay on your smartphone: 5% cash back in Walmart stores for the first 12 months after approval when you use your card with Walmart Pay
The card has a 17.99%, 23.24% or 26.99% variable APR.
If Walmart is your go-to chain for car needs and other shopping, you’ll probably get excellent value from the Capital One® Walmart Rewards® Card. However, one pitfall to be aware of is that after the first year, you’ll just get 2% back for in-store Walmart purchases, whereas shopping at walmart.com will net you 5% back.
With the Capital One® Walmart Rewards® Card, earn 5% cash back at Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery. 2% back at Walmart stores and fuel stations, at restaurants and on travel. 1% back everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted And with a $0 annual fee, this card is hard to beat for Walmart shopping.
Plus, there’s a unique sign-up bonus if you set up Walmart Pay on your smartphone: 5% cash back in Walmart stores for the first 12 months after approval when you use your card with Walmart Pay
The card has a 17.99%, 23.24% or 26.99% variable APR.
If Walmart is your go-to chain for car needs and other shopping, you’ll probably get excellent value from the Capital One® Walmart Rewards® Card. However, one pitfall to be aware of is that after the first year, you’ll just get 2% back for in-store Walmart purchases, whereas shopping at walmart.com will net you 5% back.
The Synchrony Car Care™ credit card charges a $0 annual fee and offers 6 months promotional financing on purchases of $199 or more. However, be aware this card applies something called deferred interest.
Unlike the 0% intro APR offered by the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, with the Synchrony Car Care™ credit card‘s promotional financing, deferred interest means you’ll owe interest on the entire purchase amount from the date of purchase if you fail to pay off the entire purchase within the financing period.
And with a steep APR of 29.99%, interest charges are likely to be expensive. However, if you’re disciplined about paying off your purchase in full before the promotional financing period ends, the Synchrony Car Care™ credit card could be a useful tool to help you deal with unexpected car repair expenses.
We recommend the Synchrony Car Care™ credit card with a note of caution — you don’t want to carry a balance on this card due to its high 29.99% APR. And you don’t want to fall short of paying off a purchase put on a promotional financing plan, because if you do, you’ll be hit with deferred interest, which is likely to be extremely costly.
However, where this card stands out is that it offers 6 months promotional financing on purchases of $199 or more. This means if you find yourself needing to pay for car repairs frequently, being able to take advantage of the promotional financing offer repeatedly might help you save money.
The Synchrony Car Care™ credit card also features partner offers, such as allowing cardholders to earn a certain percentage of spending — on purchases made at a partner merchant — back as a Visa prepaid card. But again, if you decide to take advantage of such offers, make sure to pay your credit card balance off in full within the same billing cycle. You don’t want to be charged interest for rolling over a balance.
The Synchrony Car Care™ credit card charges a $0 annual fee and offers 6 months promotional financing on purchases of $199 or more. However, be aware this card applies something called deferred interest.
Unlike the 0% intro APR offered by the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, with the Synchrony Car Care™ credit card‘s promotional financing, deferred interest means you’ll owe interest on the entire purchase amount from the date of purchase if you fail to pay off the entire purchase within the financing period.
And with a steep APR of 29.99%, interest charges are likely to be expensive. However, if you’re disciplined about paying off your purchase in full before the promotional financing period ends, the Synchrony Car Care™ credit card could be a useful tool to help you deal with unexpected car repair expenses.
We recommend the Synchrony Car Care™ credit card with a note of caution — you don’t want to carry a balance on this card due to its high 29.99% APR. And you don’t want to fall short of paying off a purchase put on a promotional financing plan, because if you do, you’ll be hit with deferred interest, which is likely to be extremely costly.
However, where this card stands out is that it offers 6 months promotional financing on purchases of $199 or more. This means if you find yourself needing to pay for car repairs frequently, being able to take advantage of the promotional financing offer repeatedly might help you save money.
The Synchrony Car Care™ credit card also features partner offers, such as allowing cardholders to earn a certain percentage of spending — on purchases made at a partner merchant — back as a Visa prepaid card. But again, if you decide to take advantage of such offers, make sure to pay your credit card balance off in full within the same billing cycle. You don’t want to be charged interest for rolling over a balance.
| Credit card | Best for | Key feature | Regular APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Overall | Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening! 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months. | 16.49% - 25.24% variable |
| Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | A long 0% intro APR | 0% intro APR up to 21 months from account opening on purchases. 0% intro APR up to 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers. | 15.24% - 27.24% variable APR on purchases. 15.24% - 27.24% variable APR on balance transfers. |
| Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi | Costco members | 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases. | 17.49% (variable) |
| Capital One® Walmart Rewards® Card | Walmart shoppers | 5% cash back at Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery. 2% back at Walmart stores and fuel stations, at restaurants and on travel. 1% back everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted | 17.99%, 23.24% or 26.99% variable |
| Synchrony Car Care™ credit card | Frequent car maintenance | 6 months promotional financing on purchases of $199 or more. | 29.99% |
The information related to the Synchrony Car Care™ credit card, the Capital One® Walmart Rewards® Card and the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
Paying for car repairs with a credit card won’t be the right choice for everyone. If you can’t afford to pay off your balance in full during the same billing cycle you charge the work to your card, you’re likely to end up paying interest charges on top of what the repairs cost you — unless you’re taking advantage of a 0% intro APR period.
One option is to ask if family or friends can help cover your car repairs. It’s never fun asking for money, but having to pay back those in your support network is likely better than taking on unplanned credit card debt.
Failing that, applying for a personal loan might be a better option than using a credit card. With a personal loan, you might be able to get a better interest rate than a credit card would offer. Plus, you’ll have set monthly payments and a predetermined repayment date. Because credit cards allow minimum monthly payments that go toward interest charges as well as toward the principal of the debt, it can take years to pay off the balance if you aren’t single-mindedly focused on paying more than the minimum payment due.
Take the time to check with multiple lenders before applying for a loan. You might find a better rate by applying with a credit union or an online lender compared with bigger banks. Finally, by signing up for a free LendingTree account, you can comparison shop for the loan that’s right for you and get offers from up to five lenders.
Whatever you do, avoid getting a payday loan. Payday loans typically charge extremely high fees, with a fee of $15 for every $100 you borrow being common, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). If you fail to pay off your loan quickly and are allowed to roll it over, you could be charged even higher fees, causing your debt to surge. In short, taking out a payday loan invites a dangerous cycle of rapidly increasing debt.
Putting your car repairs on a credit card has an upside you won’t get when paying cash or debit — credit cards offer protections that could help if the auto shop bungles the repair or charges more than was promised.
For example, under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you have the right to file a dispute with your credit card company if you’re unhappy with the quality of the service you received, and can’t get the repair shop to work with you to fix the issue or refund you. You can also file a dispute if a car repair shop incorrectly bills you.
Plus, some credit cards offer purchase protection as a benefit, covering new purchases against damage or theft for a certain period of time. If you need to buy car parts, this protection could come in handy.
When considering credit cards to pay for car repairs, evaluate the following:
Perhaps the most important thing to beware of when paying for car repairs on a credit card is the interest charges you might incur. If you’re not taking advantage of a 0% intro APR, and you roll over a balance from month to month, you’ll be charged interest. It’s not uncommon, especially if you’re dealing with a store card, to see APRs between 20% and 30%.
In addition, beware of deferred interest financing deals. With a 0% intro APR credit card, if you’re carry a balance after the intro APR period ends, you start accruing interest on the balance that remains. But with deferred interest promotional financing offer, you’ll be charged interest on the entire purchase amount from the date of purchase if you don’t pay off the full purchase before the financing period is over.
Plus, paying just the minimum monthly payment most likely won’t be enough to pay off your full purchase amount before interest charges begin, which can set cardholders up for failure unless they actively budget how much they need to pay and when their 0% APR period ends.
After paying off the bill for getting your car fixed, open a savings account specifically for your emergency fund. Ideally, you’ll want to keep enough money in the fund to cover from three to six months of your normal living expenses, but it’s OK to start small — for instance, working up to $1,000 in savings.
If you don’t currently have much cash on hand, you’re not alone. In the Federal Reserve’s report titled “Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2020,” more than a quarter of adults either had at least one monthly bill they couldn’t cover or were just an unexpected $400 expense away from being unable to cover all their bills.
By starting an emergency fund as soon as you pay your car repair bill off, even if you can only contribute a small amount such as $20 per month, you’ll be taking steps toward being more financially secure.
If you know you’re going to have to spend a significant amount of money on car repairs, opening a new credit card can offer an opportunity to earn a sign-up bonus to offset the cost of the repairs, and/or take advantage of a 0% intro APR and pay off the expense over time. By contrast, if you put the repairs on a card you already have, you probably won’t get a sign-up bonus or an intro APR, and you could end up incurring interest charges if you have to carry a balance.
Yes, there are credit cards that offer a 0% intro APR on purchases. For example, on this list, both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card fit that description. During such an intro APR period, every payment you make will go toward paying down the principal of what you owe, rather than interest charges as well as the principal.
While it might seem tempting to open a store card with an auto shop chain that you frequent, especially if it comes with discounts and promotional financing, applying for one of the cards in this article is probably a smarter decision. For one thing, auto shop store cards are likely to come with high APRs. For another, you might encounter deferred interest, which can turn a promotional financing period into an expensive mistake if you’re not careful. And finally, if you’re hoping to get multiple estimates on the cost of the repairs you need, or if you prefer to work with a local shop rather than a chain, an auto repair store card will limit your options.
The credit-scoring model typically used by lenders is the FICO Score, and amounts owed constitutes 30% of that score. If you’ve max out a credit card on car repairs, or any expense, that could hurt your score. By contrast, keeping utilization (the amount of credit you’re using compared with your credit limit) low can improve your score. However, as you pay down your balance, your credit score will recover.
Probably not. The cards recommended above for financing car repairs generally require good to excellent credit. If you have poor credit, the cards available to you are likely to be subprime unsecured cards, which come with high interest rates and expensive fees, or secured cards, which require a security deposit and are aimed at building credit.
Each one of the credit cards chosen for our list of best cards for car repairs has a specific feature that drivers in specific situations will find useful: an easy-to-earn sign-up bonus, 0% intro APRs, cash back for shopping in the Costco or Walmart ecosystem, or promotional financing.
In addition, all of the cards on this list charge no annual fee. When you’re focused on paying down debt, as with a costly auto expense, it just makes sense to pick a credit card without an annual fee.
Additional reporting by Kelly Dilworth.
The above offers and/or promotions may have since changed, expired, or is no longer available. Check the Issuers’ website for more details.
