Auto Insurance And Travel Expenses: Unlocking Cash Back Secrets

Whether auto insurance counts as a travel expense for cashback depends on the credit card company. For example, Chase defines travel purchases as including car rental agencies, discount travel sites, passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages. However, some companies may have a more stringent approach to what counts as a travel expense. It's important to check with your credit card company to see their specific definition of travel purchases to determine if auto insurance is included.

Does auto insurance count as a travel expense for cash back?

Whether or not auto insurance counts as a travel expense for cashback depends on the credit card company. While some card companies include any travel-related purchase in this category, others follow a more stringent approach. For example, Bank of America® and Chase both count auto insurance as a travel expense, but Citi does not. Additionally, even cards from the same issuer might have different guidelines surrounding eligible travel purchases and redemption options.

It's important to carefully review the terms and conditions of your credit card agreement to determine whether auto insurance is considered a travel expense for cashback purposes. Each card issuer has its own definition of what constitutes a "travel purchase," and these definitions can vary widely.

In general, travel rewards credit cards offer higher reward rates on travel purchases, including things like airline tickets, hotel stays, and car rentals. These cards are designed to appeal to frequent travellers who want to earn points or miles that can be redeemed for future travel. However, the specific benefits and rewards structures can vary significantly from one card to another, so it's important to read the fine print before signing up for any travel rewards credit card.

Ultimately, the best way to determine if auto insurance counts as a travel expense for cashback on your credit card is to carefully review the terms and conditions of your card agreement or contact the card issuer directly for clarification.

What are the exclusions from the Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Category?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve travel category includes airfare, hotel stays, and car rentals, among other purchases. However, there are a handful of transactions that do not meet the travel category requirements, despite being travel-related. Here is a list of some notable exclusions:

• Goods and services purchased in-flight or while aboard a cruise line
• Purchases at merchants with physical locations in hotels and airports
• RV and boat rentals
• Merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling
• Educational merchants arranging travel
• Tourist attractions and sightseeing activities
• Gift card purchases from travel providers

What are the benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a great option for those who travel frequently and are looking for a card with a variety of benefits. Here are some of the key benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card:

• Generous sign-up bonus: New cardholders can earn up to 60,000 bonus points by spending a certain amount within the first few months of opening the account. This bonus is worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel.
• Bonus earnings on travel, dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases: Cardholders can earn up to 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases, 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
• 10% point bonus each year: Cardmembers receive a 10% anniversary bonus on total points earned in the previous year.
• 25% boost on points redemption for travel via Chase: Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel through Chase, offering a higher value compared to standard redemption options.
• $50 hotel credit: Cardholders can receive an annual $50 statement credit for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel.
• Combine points from multiple cards: Points can be transferred for free between Chase Ultimate Rewards cards, allowing cardholders to pool points and redeem them for higher-value rewards.
• Transfer points to airline and hotel partners: Points can be transferred to a range of airline and hotel partners, including United, British Airways, Southwest, Hyatt, Marriott, and more.
• Worldwide acceptance: As a Visa card with no foreign transaction fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is widely accepted globally.
• Travel protections: The card offers a range of travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, lost luggage insurance, travel delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, and travel accident insurance.
• Shopping benefits: Cardholders can enjoy benefits such as purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and subscription services like DoorDash DashPass and Instacart+.
• Customer service: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers 24/7 access to customer service specialists, providing support whenever needed.

What are the benefits of the Ink Business Preferred Card?

The Ink Business Preferred Card is a business credit card issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank. It offers a range of benefits to small business owners, including:

• A large welcome bonus of 120,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is worth $1,200 as cash back or $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel.
• 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year, including internet, cable, phone services, advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines.
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025.
• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Employee cards at no additional cost.
• Purchase protection for new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Extended warranty protection for an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
• Cell phone protection against covered theft or damage for you and your employees listed on your monthly cell phone bill when you pay it with your Chase Ink Business Preferred card.
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance of up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels, if your trip is cancelled or cut short due to illness, severe weather, or other covered situations.
• Rental car collision damage waiver when renting for business purposes, providing reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the US and abroad.
• Travel accident insurance of up to $500,000 for common carrier travel accidents and up to $100,000 for 24-hour travel accidents.
• Baggage insurance of up to $3,000 for lost or damaged baggage, with a $500 sub-limit for jewellery, cameras, and other electronics.
• Baggage delay protection of up to $100 per day for up to five days for toiletries, clothing, and a cell phone charger when your bag is delayed for more than six hours.

What purchases count as travel on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a popular travel credit card that offers generous rewards and benefits for a relatively low annual fee of $95. Here's a detailed overview of what purchases count as travel on this card:

5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel:

• Airlines
• Hotels, motels, and timeshares
• Car rental agencies
• Cruise lines
• Travel agencies
• Discount travel sites (e.g., Expedia, Travelocity)
• Campgrounds
• Operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges, and highways
• Parking lots and garages

2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases:

This includes travel bookings made directly with airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, etc., as well as other travel-related expenses such as:

• Ridesharing services
• Parking lots and garages
• Vacation rentals (including some VRBO rentals operated by individuals)

It's important to note that certain purchases may not count as travel expenses, even if they are related to travel. These exclusions include:

• Real estate agent fees
• Educational merchants arranging travel (e.g., school trips)
• In-flight goods and services
• On-board cruise line goods and services
• Tours and sightseeing activities
• Tourist attractions
• Merchants within hotels and airports (e.g., gift shops)
• Vehicle rentals for hauling
• Purchasing gift cards or extra points/miles

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a wide range of opportunities to earn bonus points on travel purchases, making it a valuable option for travellers seeking to maximize their rewards.

Frequently asked questions