This offer is no longer available on our site: American Express® Green Card

Staying at an Airbnb is a popular lodging alternative to hotels for some travelers.

Whether you’re looking to rent an entire house, apartment or even a treehouse, Airbnb has many different options to choose from. But unlike some hotel chains, Airbnb doesn’t offer its own branded credit card. But there are still some credit cards that can help you maximize your next Airbnb stay.

Let’s take a closer look at our top Airbnb credit card picks.

• Best for premium travel benefits: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Best for earning points on travel purchases: American Express® Green Card
• Best for simple redemptions: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best for entry-level travel: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
• Best for no annual fee: Citi Double Cash® Card
• How we picked these cards
• How to make the most of credit cards for Airbnb

Best for premium travel benefits: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Here’s why: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a $300 annual travel credit, which you can put toward an Airbnb stay. This Chase credit card offers several premium travel benefits that Airbnb customers may enjoy.

• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or Nexus fee credit once every four years
• Access to airport lounges in the Priority Pass Select network
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Emergency evacuation and transportation coverage

Additionally, the card offers an 60,000-point sign-up bonus after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. These perks, along with other benefits this premium card offers, can quickly add up to offset part or all of the card’s hefty $550 annual fee.

Read more about Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Best for earning points on travel purchases: American Express® Green Card

Here’s why: With the American Express® Green Card, earning points on Airbnb purchases can be rewarding, especially if you stay at Airbnb locations several times throughout the year. Some Airbnb locations charge hundreds or thousands of dollars per night. This American Express credit card earns three points per $1 spent on travel, including Airbnb purchases.

You’ll also earn three points per $1 spent at restaurants, on transit, and other travel categories, such as airfare, cruises, car rentals and more. You earn one point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Read more about the American Express® Green Card.

Best for simple redemptions: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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Here’s why: With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn five miles per $1 spent on hotels, vacation rentals and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel, plus two miles per $1 spent on all other purchases — making it easy to earn points.

This Capital One credit card lets you use those miles to get reimbursed for past travel purchases, like Airbnb stays. And you can transfer miles to one of the travel loyalty programs that partners with Capital One. This can give you flexibility when using your rewards and provide an opportunity to maximize the value of your miles.

You’ll also get a bonus of 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months after opening your account.

Read more about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to help you decide if this card’s other features make it a good fit for your wallet.

Best entry-level travel: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

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Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

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Here’s why: The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card offers two points per $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

This Bank of America credit card charges a $95 annual fee. But you can offset the fee with its $100 in travel statement credits for airline incidental charges like seat upgrades or baggage fees. And if you plan use the card overseas, there are no foreign transaction fees.

New cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Find out more about the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card.

Best for no annual fee: Citi Double Cash® Card

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Citi Double Cash® Card

Citi Double Cash® Card

2.8 out of 5

1362 reviews

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Here’s why: The Citi Double Cash® Card is a straightforward card that offers 2% cash back on every purchase: You’ll get 1% cash back when you make purchases, and 1% cash back when you pay them off.

It’s easy to get caught up in the benefits and higher earning rates premium credit cards offer without realizing how much the annual fee cost can add up to each year. This Citi credit card is a no-annual-fee card with a straightforward cash back solution.

You don’t have any complex category structures to remember and the best part is that you can redeem your rewards for cash back, which you can use anywhere, including Airbnbs.

Read more about the Citi Double Cash® Card.

How we picked these cards

We looked at a wide range of credit cards — including several rewards, cash back and travel credit cards — to find the best credit cards that can help you earn or redeem points for Airbnb stays. We then identified several categories of perks many types of Airbnb users may be interested in when choosing a credit card.

How to make the most of credit cards for Airbnb

It’s a good idea to make sure you understand exactly how your card rewards and benefits work before trying to use them to earn or redeem points for Airbnb stays. Some rewards programs may exclude Airbnb from your benefits or rewards, so it’s best to call your credit card company to double check if you’re unsure.

Remember, the best Airbnb credit card may not be the most obvious choice. A frequent traveler may find that high-annual-fee travel credit cards provide more ongoing value. Or you might prefer a straightforward cash back credit card for long-term value — especially if you don’t have a use for the travel perks and benefits a premium rewards card may offer.

Before adding one of these cards or any other card to your wallet, it’s important to consider your spending habits and lifestyle.

Almost every state requires you to carry car insurance if you want to drive a vehicle — but getting insurance isn’t always a simple process.

Each person has a unique combination of factors influencing their car insurance rates. On top of that, each insurer can evaluate each customer’s risk differently.

So finding the most affordable car insurance policy isn’t as straightforward as getting a single quote — especially if your driving history isn’t great. Drivers with accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs or other negatives on their driving records can face higher rates.

If you fall into this category, you’ll likely need to do more digging to find the most affordable car insurance option. To help you zero-in on some options, here’s a look at our picks for best high-risk car insurance companies.

• Best overall: Geico
• Best for people with a military affiliation: USAA
• Best for discounts: State Farm
• Best for getting a quote: The General
• How we picked these insurers
• FAQs about high-risk auto insurance

Best overall: Geico

Why Geico stands out above the rest: Geico is generally a highly accessible insurer, with availability in all 50 states and the District of Columbia (though some discounts, coverages or other features may not be offered everywhere).

What to know about Geico auto insurance

Geico offers basic coverage options like liability, collision, comprehensive and uninsured/underinsured motorist, as well as optional add-ons such as emergency road service, rental reimbursement and mechanical breakdown coverage.

Those needing an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility can indicate so during the quote process. Though there’s a fee (and a possible surcharge depending on which state you’re in), you’ll only have to pay it once, and Geico will file the certificate on your behalf.

Younger drivers can also have higher risk profiles, but can save with Geico’s good student, driver’s education and defensive driver discounts.

Read our full review of Geico to learn more.

Best for people with a military affiliation: USAA

Why USAA could be a good choice for high-risk drivers with a military affiliation: USAA’s customer service makes it a standout. While it didn’t meet criteria to officially rank in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, USAA received high scores in most regions against the official rankings. The company offers various car insurance discounts that could lower your auto insurance costs. Just note that only people with a qualifying connection to the military are eligible for USAA membership and its products.

What to know about USAA auto insurance

USAA is available to military members and their families nationwide. The company offers liability, comprehensive, collision and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages. Other optional coverages include roadside assistance (which pays for things like towing, tire changes and fuel delivery after a breakdown) and rental car reimbursement (which covers rental car expenses if you’re involved in an accident).

If mandated by your state, you can get a statement of financial responsibility (SR-22) on USAA’s website or by calling and talking to a representative. USAA’s usage-based insurance program, SafePilot, may lower premiums for people who establish good driving habits. The company also has a variety of discounts that may help offset costs for high-risk drivers.

Read our full review of USAA to learn more.

Best for discounts: State Farm

Why State Farm could be a good choice for finding discounts: State Farm knows offers tips and info on its website about getting coverage and minimizing premiums with various discounts. The company’s customer satisfaction track record is solid, too — it’s above average in most areas covered by J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.

What to know about State Farm auto insurance

State Farm is available nationwide and offers full coverage auto insurance (liability, comprehensive and collision), as well as optional coverages like rideshare, emergency road service, medical payments and car rental and travel expenses.

If you’re a high-risk driver, State Farm offers a few ways to get a break on your premium, including taking an approved defensive driving course or staying accident-free for at least three years. The company’s Steer Clear certification program offers another way to save for qualifying young drivers under age 25 with potentially high-risk profiles. To get a Steer Clear certificate, the program requires you to complete five training modules and five hours of driving practice along with having no at-fault accidents or moving violations for the past three years.

State Farm’s usage-based insurance program, Drive Safe & Save, also gives people in eligible states a chance to lower their rates. State Farm provides vehicle safety, passive restraint, anti-theft and bundling discounts, too.

Read our full review of State Farm.

Best for getting a quote: The General

Why The General could be a good choice for drivers who can’t find quotes elsewhere: If you have trouble getting quotes from other insurers, The General may be an option for you. This company specifically says it offers insurance to customers with driving violations, accidents and less-than-perfect credit, and to those who’ve had a lapse in insurance. Note that The General isn’t included in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.

What to know about The General auto insurance

The General offers limited coverage options but markets specifically to high-risk drivers. Liability, comprehensive and collision coverages are available, as are medical payment coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist. The General is available in most states.

For people needing SR-22 or FR-44 filings, The General will help take care of any state-mandated proof of insurance forms. Some potential discounts are based on things like academic achievement, completing a defensive driving course and having a clean driving record for a significant period of time.

Read our full review of The General.

How we picked these insurers

We used information from each insurer’s website to select the best auto insurers for high-risk auto insurance. We also considered data from J.D. Power’s overall auto insurance customer satisfaction rankings in their 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study and the availability of each insurer’s offerings across the country. In total, we considered seven insurers before narrowing down our list to the top four listed above.

FAQs about high-risk auto insurance

You may be able to find a deal buying a used rental car from Enterprise, but you’ll want to consider a number of factors before you make this choice.

New cars often depreciate heavily in the first years of ownership, so purchasing a used car can be a wise financial decision — and rental car company Enterprise sells its used rental vehicles, sometimes at prices lower than other used-car dealerships.

Buying a car from Enterprise may be attractive if you’re looking to save money, but used rental cars have some drawbacks. You don’t know who drove each rental car and how hard renters drove it. This could affect a car’s future longevity and value. As you can imagine, evaluating a used rental car is tricky.

You’ll have to line up auto financing even if the car is a good fit. Enterprise works with lending partners to offer loans, but you should compare any dealership’s offer to private loan quotes you’ve received to find the best deal.

If you think buying a used car from Enterprise may be a good fit, here’s what you should know before getting started.

• Is buying a car from Enterprise a good idea?
• Pros and cons of buying a used car from Enterprise
• How to buy an Enterprise used car
• Which other rental car companies sell their used cars?
• Enterprise auto loans

Is buying a car from Enterprise a good idea?

Used cars are often cheaper than new cars because of the depreciation that occurs over time. Enterprise’s used cars may seem like a good deal on the surface, but pricing may not always be the best around.

CarMax or other used-car dealerships sometimes offer lower prices than Enterprise on comparable models. Like any significant purchase, you should shop around to ensure you’re getting the best price.

Each driver who rents a car may drive it differently, which could result in aggressive use. On the other hand, many rental drivers don’t want to risk rental damage charges and drive vehicles as they would drive their own.

Buying one of Enterprise’s used cars may make sense if you’re looking to save money on a newer vehicle with higher mileage. Someone who drives very little around town may be able to use the car for their needs.

Over time, the high mileage from Enterprise’s rental activity may even out with your low usage. This could bring the car’s mileage in line with other similarly aged vehicles in a few years when you’re ready to sell the car.

Pros and cons of buying a used car from Enterprise

Buying a used car from Enterprise could save money, but there are some drawbacks.

Pros

• Potential lower cost at no haggle pricing — The sticker price you see online is the price you pay, not counting any applicable fees, taxes and other charges.
• Limited powertrain warranty — Get a 12-month/12,000-mile warranty (whichever comes first) on powertrain components.
• Enterprise certified — All vehicles are certified by Enterprise’s ASE-certified technicians before being put up for sale.
• Seven-day return policy — Return the car for any reason within seven days or 1,000 miles, whichever comes first, and receive a full-priced refund minus a $200 restocking fee.

Cons

• Driven by several unknown drivers — You don’t know how each person who rented the car drove it. Someone may have exceeded recommended usage during the break-in period, causing unknown damage.
• Lower resale value due to fleet history — A car owned by a rental company will show up as a fleet vehicle on a Carfax report. This can lower the car’s resale value down the road.
• Selection of cars — The used cars Enterprise sells are the same vehicles used in its fleet. This isn’t a wide range of vehicles from all manufacturers but is instead concentrated within certain brands and models.

How to buy an Enterprise used car

The process of buying an Enterprise used car is relatively straightforward. You can view inventory online or visit a local Enterprise used-car dealership to browse inventory in person. You can look at cars and even schedule a test drive of any vehicle you’re interested in.

Once you’ve decided on a vehicle, you can pay the price in cash, apply for financing through Enterprise or provide your own financing. Enterprise uses no-haggle pricing, so the price you see is the price you pay, plus any applicable fees and taxes. This is like buying a used car at other no-haggle car dealerships.

Which other rental car companies sell their used cars?

While each company has its own methods for disposing of its rental cars after use, there are other rental car companies that sell cars from their fleets.

Hertz

Hertz sells its used rental vehicles with no-haggle pricing and even offers home delivery. Cars come with a seven-day, 250-mile (whichever comes first) buy-back guarantee. Like Enterprise sales, Hertz’s used cars come with a 12-month/12,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.

Avis

Avis sells some of its rental vehicles as Avis-certified preowned cars. Like Enterprise, Avis’s vehicles come with a 12-month/12,000-mile powertrain component warranty and a full year of 24-hour emergency roadside assistance. You can test drive the car for two hours or keep it for two days for as little as $70 per day to see if it’s a good fit before buying.

Enterprise auto loans

Enterprise doesn’t offer direct financing, but it works with Chase to provide Enterprise auto finance loans. Chase owns the loans created through Enterprise transactions.

Enterprise may also work with other lenders but doesn’t disclose this information on its website.

If you’re buying a car from Enterprise, you don’t have to use a loan through an Enterprise partner. You can line up financing before heading to the dealership to make sure you get the best loan terms possible. It’s a good idea to shop around with multiple lenders to find the best rates you can qualify for.

What’s next?

Start looking for cars on the Enterprise website if you’ve decided to buy a rental car through the company. Before you head to the dealership to test drive and purchase a vehicle, get financing quotes and see what loans you’re eligible for.

Pros

• Solid sign-up bonus
• Travel benefits and perks
• Can redeem points for 20% savings on airfare

Cons

• High annual fee
• Lackluster base rewards rate
• Limited redemption options

What you should know about the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card

Offering a number of upscale perks, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card is a luxury travel rewards card from Bank of America that comes with a hefty $550 annual fee. If you’re considering adding this card to your wallet, here are a few important things to consider.

Decent sign-up bonus

For starters, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card offers a 75,000-point sign-up bonus after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. Depending on how you redeem your points, this bonus can have a $750 value.

The sign-up bonus could more than make up for the cost of the card’s annual fee in the first year. But remember this bonus is only a one-time offer and you’ll have to spend quite a bit to qualify.

Rewards rates are lackluster

You might expect a credit card with a high annual fee to offer outstanding rewards rates for purchases. But that’s not the case with the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card. It offers just two points per $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per $1 on all other purchases.

There’s no cap on the number of points you can earn, and points don’t expire. But compared to some other premium travel cards, these rates aren’t that great.

Bonus rewards for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members

If you want to boost your rewards-earning potential by up to 75%, you might want to consider joining Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program. While the program is free to join, you’ll have to have an active Bank of America checking account and retain a combined daily balance of at least $20,000 in a mix of qualifying Bank of America accounts and/or Merrill investment accounts.

Here’s how the requirements and bonus rewards break down for each tier.

• Gold (25% bonus rewards) — $20,000 minimum 3-month combined average daily balance
• Platinum (50% bonus rewards) — $50,000 minimum 3-month combined average daily balance
• Platinum Honors (75% bonus rewards) — $100,000 minimum 3-month combined average daily balance

At first glance, this seems like a potentially lucrative benefit. But keep in mind that qualifying for membership in the Preferred Rewards program may not be easy.

You can earn automatic statement credits

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card offers automatic statement credits that can help offset its high annual fee. Every year, you can receive up to $300 in credits for airline incidentals like seat upgrades, baggage fees, lounge fees and in-flight services.

You’ll also get up to $150 in annual lifestyle convenience credits for things like streaming services, food delivery, fitness subscriptions and rideshare services. You can also get up to $100 in statement credits every four years to help cover application fees for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

There are some travel benefits and perks

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card offers several benefits that can pay off for frequent travelers. With this card, you’ll receive a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership that you can use at participating airport lounges around the globe.

The card also gives you access to a concierge service that can help you find tickets, book travel or make dinner reservations.

The card’s travel protection benefits include …

• Trip delay reimbursement
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Reimbursement for delayed bags
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Emergency evacuation coverage
• Common carrier travel accident insurance
• Primary auto rental collision damage waiver coverage

Other items to note with the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card

Here are a few more things you may want to consider if you’re thinking about applying for this card.

• No points-transfer partners — Points earned can’t be transferred to airline or hotel partner programs.
• No foreign transaction fees — If you plan to use the card to make purchases abroad, it won’t cost you anything extra.
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection benefits — Get access to late checkouts, free breakfast daily for two, automatic upgrades and other benefits based on availability.
• Visa Infinite car rental benefits — Enjoy VIP amenities, complimentary status upgrades and discounts with participating car rental companies.

Understanding your points and redemption

You can redeem your points a variety of ways, including statement credits, cash back, travel, experiences or gift cards.

If you redeem your points for airfare booked through the Bank of America Travel Center, they have a value of 1.2 cents.

Who this card is good for

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card may be a good fit people who are Bank of America enthusiasts and are already members of the Premium Rewards program. It might also be a solid choice for frequent travelers who plan to take advantage of some of the card’s travel perks or those who don’t mind booking airfare through the Bank of America Travel Center.

Depending on the perks and rewards you use, other premium travel credit cards could offer more value — especially for such a high annual fee.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: This may be the right card for people who want a premium rewards card that offers flexibility to use points with several travel partner programs.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: This card may better fit the needs of frequent travelers who prefer to use a travel credit on items other than airline incidentals.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: People looking for similar rewards rates without the hefty annual fee may prefer this card.

Pros

• Solid sign-up bonus
• Decent rewards-earning rates
• Useful travel perks
• Automatic elite status

Cons

• Annual fee
• Partner booking fees

Key features of the Aeroplan® Card

If you’re a frequent Air Canada flyer, you might be considering adding the Aeroplan® Card to your wallet. The card has an annual fee of $95 but offers ongoing value with its rewards and perks.

Here are a few key things to think about before applying.

Solid sign-up bonus

As a new cardholder, you can earn a sign-up bonus worth 70,000 points by spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months after account opening.

Useful bonus rewards categories and monthly bonus potential

With this card, there are a few different ways to earn points — including some useful everyday bonus categories. Here’s what you get.

• 3 points per $1 spent on Air Canada purchases
• 3 points per $1 on groceries
• 3 points per $1 on dining, which includes takeout and eligible delivery services
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

And you may be able to earn even more points. You can earn 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend each month on up to $6,000 in purchases. That’s a possible total of 1,500 bonus points each month.

Automatic elite status

If you have the Aeroplan® Card, you’ll automatically be granted Aeroplan 25K Status, an elite rewards status level, when you get your card. Your status is valid the rest of the calendar year that you first have the card as well as the next calendar year. Aeroplan 25K Status members get benefits that include priority check-in, priority boarding and two free checked bags.

When you spend $15,000 on your account each calendar year, your status gets automatically renewed. If you spend $50,000 on your card in a calendar year, you get upgraded to Aeroplan 35K Status.

What else you need to know about the Aeroplan® Card

If you’re considering applying for this card, here are a few other things you may want to know.

• First checked bag is free — You and up to eight of your traveling companions traveling on the same reservation can get a free first checked bag on Air Canada flights.
• No seat restrictions — You can use your points to purchase any seat without having to worry about restrictions.
• TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit — You’ll get a statement credit of up to $100 once every four years if you charge the application fee to your Aeroplan Card.
• Travel perks — Some of the card’s travel benefits include trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement and auto rental collision damage waiver.
• Partner booking fee — If you fly with one of Air Canada’s travel partners, you’ll be required to pay a partner booking fee.
• No fees for purchases abroad — If you plan to use the card internationally, you won’t have to worry about paying any foreign transaction fees.

Understanding your points and redemption

Air Canada points are worth an estimated 1.08 cents each, based on Credit Karma’s point valuations. And since flight rewards are the primary redemption option, you’ll likely get the most value from booking Air Canada flights.

If you don’t have enough points for the flight you want, you can opt to use both points and cash. Points can also be used to make an upgrade offer to a higher cabin class or to purchase in-flight Wi-Fi.

Other redemption options include the following:

• Hotel stays
• Rental cars
• Vacation packages
• Experiences and activities
• Merchandise
• Gift cards

Who the Aeroplan® Card is good for

The Aeroplan® Card may be a good fit if you travel on Air Canada often. The sign-up bonus can help you start building a points balance. Plus, the bonus categories can help you boost that balance — especially if you like to cook and eat out often. And the automatic elite status could be a useful perk, too.

But if you don’t plan to fly Air Canada regularly, a more general travel rewards credit card may be something you want to consider.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

The Aeroplan® Card may not be the best fit for your needs. If that’s the case, consider these other options.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: People who want to transfer points to several travel partners or have the option to redeem points for cash back may prefer this card.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: People who want flexible travel rewards redemption options and a big sign-up bonus may prefer this card.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card may be a good fit for people looking for a straightforward rewards card with a big sign-up bonus.

Pros

• Strong sign-up bonus
• Lots of travel perks
• Intro balance transfer offer

Cons

• Annual fee
• Limited reward redemption options

The major benefits and drawbacks of the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®

This airline rewards card is a good fit for people who fly American Airlines frequently. It’ll cost you an annual fee of $99, but the sign-up bonus and travel perks can help offset that cost.

Here are some other things to know if you’re considering this card.

Solid sign-up bonus

You can quickly earn 60,000 AAdvantage bonus miles by making a single purchase and paying your $99 annual fee in full within 90 days of opening your account. Bonuses of this size often require spending thousands of dollars, so this one purchase requirement makes this card unique.

Intro APR on balance transfers

This card has a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 15 billing cycles from account opening. After the intro period is over, the variable balance transfer APR goes up to 18.24%, 22.24% or 27.24%. Note that you’ll need to complete any balance transfers within the first 45 days of account opening to take advantage of the offer, and there’s a balance transfer fee of 5% (minimum $5).

You don’t often find 0% balance transfer offers on travel credit cards — another differentiator for this card. But if paying off debt is your goal, it might make more sense to look for another balance transfer card that has an equal or even better intro offer without a costly annual fee.

Lots of travel perks

With this card, you’ll get quite a few useful and cost-saving travel perks, including the following:

• Free checked bag — You can check one free bag on both American Airlines and American Eagle flights. And if you have traveling companions on your reservation, they’ll get one free checked bag, too — this applies for up to four people on your reservation.
• Preferred boarding — With this card, you’ll get to board ahead of economy boarding right after priority boarding passengers, and so will your traveling companions.
• Annual in-flight Wi-Fi credit — When you fly on American Airlines operated flights, you can get statement credits on up to $25 of in-flight Wi-Fi purchases per cardholder anniversary year.
• Other travel benefits — As a cardholder you can also get travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage delay insurance and auto rental collision damage waivers when you follow the terms of each benefit. Plus, you’ll get access to upgrades and other premium travel services.

Earn an anniversary companion certificate

Another great perk of the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® is that you can earn a companion certificate on your anniversary date.

As long as you spend $20,000 or more on the card during the year and keep your account open at least 45 days after your anniversary date, you’ll qualify. The companion certificate will cost you $99 plus taxes and fees, and you can use it for domestic economy fare flight.

Ability to earn rewards on flights and purchases

With this card, earning rewards is straightforward — but there’s only one bonus category, and the rewards rates aren’t that high.

You’ll get two miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. And all other purchases will only earn you one mile per $1 spent.

What else you need to know about the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®

Here’s a few other things you may want to know if you’re considering applying for the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®.

• Earn points toward status — With every purchase on the card, you’ll earn points toward American Airline’s status program. Learn more about the benefits of AAdvantage®.
• No foreign transaction fees — This card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
• In-flight savings — Get 25% back in statement credits on in-flight food and beverage purchases when using your card.

Understanding your points and redemption

How much are AAdvantage miles worth in dollars? According to Credit Karma’s point valuations, which includes estimated valuations of the best airline rewards programs’ points or miles, each AAdvantage mile you earn is worth 2.03 cents.

While you’ll generally get the best value by redeeming miles for flights on American Airlines or

on oneworld® airlines and partner airlines, you can also redeem your miles for other things like …

• Upgrades on American Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia flights
• Rental cars
• Hotels
• Vacation activities
• Admirals Club membership
• Luxury experiences
• Newspapers
• Donations

Who this card is good for

This card may be a good fit for people who fly American Airlines regularly and will be pretty satisfied by benefits like a free first checked bag, annual Wi-Fi credits and miles earned on spending.

The sign-up bonus alone may make this an attractive card in the first year, but frequent fliers may get more out of longer-term perks like preferred boarding and travel coverage.

If you don’t regularly fly American, a more general purpose travel rewards credit card might be a better fit.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

If the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® doesn’t seem like the best fit for you, consider our picks for the best American Airlines credit cards — or these other cards.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: If you don’t want to be tied down to one airline, this travel card with flexible redemption options may work for you.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: Travel perks, a sign-up bonus and above-average rewards for everyday spending make this a card worth looking into.

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been rising in popularity as people look for an alternative to gas-fueled cars.

If you’re considering buying your first electric car, you may be wondering if car insurance works the same for EV cars and gas-fueled cars. While coverage typically works the same way, insurance tends to cost more and isn’t as widely available for EV cars.

In general, insuring an electric car costs more than a traditionally fueled vehicle. Not all car insurance companies offer coverage for electric cars. Here’s more of what you should know about car insurance for EVs before you buy your first electric car.

• Electric car insurance vs. conventional car insurance
• Which companies provide electric vehicle insurance?
• How to save on electric car insurance and other costs
• Benefits of driving EVs
• Next steps

Electric car insurance vs. conventional car insurance

You’d think insuring an electric car would cost about the same as insuring a conventional vehicle. You may be surprised to find out that isn’t usually the case. Typically, insuring an electric car costs more than insuring its traditional counterpart. 

Insurance companies aim to profit from the policies they write. To do so, they must evaluate the costs of insuring a vehicle to price those policies properly. When a newer type of car arrives on the market, insurance companies must account for uncertainties or potentially higher costs. 

For instance, electric cars may have more expensive replacement parts and fewer certified repair facilities. When you add in the fact that EVs usually cost more to buy than a traditional car, it makes sense that EV insurance would likely cost more than typical car insurance. Even though you might save money avoiding the gas station, the increased car insurance cost could eat into your savings.

Which companies provide electric vehicle insurance?

Many major insurers offer EV insurance, including:

• Allstate
• Geico
• Liberty Mutual
• Nationwide
• Progressive
• USAA

Tesla insurance

If you live in a state where Tesla offers Tesla insurance, you can insure your Tesla EV with the company. Tesla owners in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada, Texas and Virginia may qualify through the Tesla app. 

Tesla says its insurance is competitively priced because the company intimately understand its cars and their technology, repair costs and safety record.

Check with Tesla insurance to see if it provides the standard types of auto insurance coverage you’ll need, from liability to collision and comprehensive coverage (Tesla doesn’t list options on its site). Tesla may also offer specialty coverages related to owning an electric car, such as coverage for wall chargers.

How to save on electric car insurance and other costs

When buying a new electric car, look for federal, state and local tax incentives for purchasing an EV. Verify whether your specific car qualifies for a tax incentive, as some manufacturers may no longer qualify after producing a certain number of vehicles.

Saving money on EV car insurance works much the same as saving money on traditional car insurance. By avoiding accidents, claims and driving violations, you’ll help keep your insurance rates down. Keeping your credit on track also can help your credit-based insurance score, which insurers use to help predict how likely you are to file a claim. 

When getting new insurance or considering switching carriers, always get multiple car insurance quotes. Each company may rate the risk of having you as a customer differently, resulting in varying premiums. Make sure to ask for any discounts you may qualify for, including any driver education course or electric vehicle discounts.

Benefits of driving EVs

Electric vehicles may provide many benefits depending on your circumstances. Some people focus on the environmental impact of reduced emissions because these cars don’t burn gasoline to fuel their engines. The electric motors also offer a unique driving experience that could be more fun for some car owners, too.

Drivers may appreciate the cheaper cost to recharge a car’s battery versus refilling a traditional car’s gas tank. These costs vary by area and may change if gas or electricity prices change.

When looking at expense, though, it’s a good idea to get a feel for the cost of gas cars versus electric cars generally.

Next steps

Now that you have a better idea about the cost of EV insurance, if you still want to move forward with an electric vehicle purchase you might want to learn about how to possibly offset some of that expense with electric vehicle tax credits. That could help you save on the purchase cost of your EV. 

Getting your first car is a rite of passage, but it’s one that likely requires you to also get car insurance.

Most states require insurance when owning a car, so getting a policy isn’t something you can put off.  But it’s a relatively straightforward process, once you understand how it works.

Here’s what you need to know about getting your first auto insurance policy.

• Types of car insurance
• Information you’ll need to get an auto insurance quote
• How to get the best auto insurance quotes
• Buying auto insurance for the first time
• Next steps

Types of car insurance

When purchasing car insurance, insurers sometimes give you the option to buy every type of auto insurance they offer, often referred to as “full coverage” — even though there’s no such thing as a standard full coverage auto policy. 

Some of the coverage offered by insurance companies may be required by local laws, while others are optional. Here are the significant types of auto insurance most insurers offer:

• Liability insurance — Liability coverage can pay others to cover the cost of damages you cause to others. This is often broken down into bodily injury and property liability.
• Collision insurance — Collision pays to repair your vehicle if you get in an accident with another car or object.
• Comprehensive insurance — Comprehensive policies pays to repair your car due to causes outside of your control, such as hitting an animal, a hailstorm, fire or theft.
• Personal injury protection insurance — In some states, this coverage pays for your injury costs no matter who is at fault in an accident. This is usually found in no-fault insurance states.
• Uninsured motorist coverage insurance — If another driver is at fault in an accident but does not carry enough insurance to pay your costs, uninsured motorist coverage will cover your costs.

While these are the major types of coverage, you may see others. Insurers often offer roadside assistance, rental coverage, gap insurance and other additional coverages.

Information you’ll need to get an auto insurance quote

To help make getting an insurance quote as painless as possible, it helps to come prepared. Auto insurers may look at many factors that can affect car insurance rates. These may include:

• Location
• Car type
• Credit
• Marital status
• Age
• Gender
• Occupation
• Education
• Driving habits and history
• Coverage types, amounts, and deductibles
• Discounts you qualify for

Insurance companies need information to give you an accurate quote. When getting car insurance quotes, be prepared with the following details to speed up the process.

• Name
• Date of birth
• Social Security Number
• Driver’s license number
• Contact information
• Occupation
• Marital status
• Education history, including grades if still in school
• Driving history, including any information about recent accidents or driving violations
• Auto insurance history
• Make, model, year and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the car you’re insuring
• Date of purchase and registered owner of the vehicle
• Driver education courses completed
• A rough idea of the coverage limits and deductibles you want

How to get the best auto insurance quotes

Once you’ve gathered the necessary information, you’ll likely want to know how to get the best car insurance quotes. Each company may calculate premiums differently. Some specialize in insuring certain types of cars, too.

You may be able to get quotes directly from insurers through an agent in-person, over the phone or online. Or you can work with third parties, such as comparison sites or brokers, which may give you several quotes at once. 

Some insurance companies give discounts if you get quotes directly from the company’s website instead of with a local agent or by calling a phone center. This makes sense because a website quote doesn’t involve human work that companies need to pay for. 

Here are some tips to help you find the best quote for your situation.

Don’t settle for just one quote

Plenty of car insurance companies exist, so getting a handful of quotes shouldn’t be an issue. When you get multiple quotes, you’ll get an idea of different insurance options and the range of costs that might be available to you.

Don’t automatically assume you should stick with your parents’ auto insurer. You likely have a very different risk profile than your parents, which may mean another insurer could offer better rates. If you want help speeding up this process, using an auto insurance comparison tool could help.

Find out how much coverage is right for you

Making sure the insurance you purchase meets the minimum requirements for your state is a must. And people with a car loan may be required to purchase full coverage.

Car insurers should verify what’s required for your situation, but double-checking on your own is a good idea, too.

Most states require liability insurance to cover damage to others’ bodies or property. In some states, personal injury protection coverage may take the place of bodily injury liability coverage. These minimum requirements may allow you to legally drive in your state.

Still, a severe accident could leave you liable for much more than what a minimum policy would cover.

If you want your insurance company to pay to repair your car if you get in an accident, for example, collision coverage is essential. Similarly, you want comprehensive coverage if you want your insurer to reimburse you if your vehicle is stolen.  

Take advantage of discounts

When shopping for insurance, always ask what discounts are available and what you may qualify for. Discounts lower the price of your policy, sometimes significantly, and may include:

• Safe driver discount
• Student discount
• New car discount
• Bundling discount for combining several policies with one insurer
• Driver education discount
• Affiliated organization discounts

Maintain good credit

Insurers may use information from your credit history to develop a credit-based insurance score. 

In general, insurers interpret positive credit activity as a sign of lower risk. Your insurer may offer lower rates to people who have better credit-based insurance scores — If you’re in a state that allows this practice.

Buying auto insurance for the first time

Let’s recap some tips that can help make the first-time auto insurance purchasing process go smoothly.

• Compare quotes: Look at quotes from different companies that offer the same types of coverage, comparing coverage amounts, deductibles and other details.
• Get a legal policy: Verify that the insurance meets your state’s minimum insurance requirements.
• Fits your situation: For example, you might want an insurer that discounts student drivers with good grades.
• Identify wants and needs: To help you stick to your budget, define what insurance you must have and what you’d like on top of that before shopping.
• Look at the entire policy: An insurer may excel in one area and not another. Make sure you’re not sacrificing anything important. 

Next steps

If you’re moving forward with getting car insurance for the first time, you can start by getting quotes from multiple insurers, a broker or a comparison website based on the car you plan to purchase. 
Comparing policies will help you choose the policy that makes the most sense for your situation. Check out these cheap car insurance tips if you need help finding an affordable option.

What you need to know about the unconventional Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa®

The Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa® card isn’t a traditional credit card. Instead, it functions like a revolving line of credit. You’ll be billed in equal installments with a fixed APR. Plus, you can earn cash back every time you make a payment.

Take note: While Upgrade offers other cards on its website, you may not be to apply for this particular card outside of sites like Credit Karma.

Who this card is good for

The Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa® card may be a good fit for people who want a potentially high credit line with the ability to earn a strong cash back rate and a predictable payment schedule.

But remember that this is not a traditional credit card. So if you’re looking to earn on purchases, not payments, or you want to earn other rewards like points and miles, you may want to consider a more traditional credit card.

This offer is no longer available on our site: Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa®

The Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa® is no longer available. For an alternative, check out our review of the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa®.

Pros

• Earns bitcoin rewards
• Fixed monthly payments

Cons

• Not a traditional credit card
• Bitcoin rewards are restricted
• Rewards not earned at time of purchase

What you need to know about the Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa®

The Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa® is actually a revolving line of credit. Similar to a personal loan, with this card you’ll have a fixed interest rate and pay off your purchases with a predictable, fixed monthly payment over time.

Let’s take a closer look at some of this card’s important features.

Earns bitcoin rewards

With this card, you can earn unlimited 1.5% bitcoin rewards on purchases. Some rewards credit cards allow you to earn rewards at the time of purchase, but with the Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa® you’ll only earn your cryptocurrency rewards when you make a payment on your balance. If you apply for the card through Credit Karma, you might see different rewards offers.

While earning bitcoin rewards may be appealing to some people who are interested in investing in cryptocurrency, there are some restrictions around the bitcoin rewards you can earn:

• Bitcoin rewards are held by a third party, NYDIG, meaning you won’t be able to transfer your bitcoin into a separate wallet.
• You can sell the bitcoin and get a statement credit, but all sales are subject to a 1.5% transaction fee.

Potential for lower APR

Purchase APRs for the Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa® range from 14.99% - 29.99%, with the lowest rates requiring cardholders to sign up for autopay. The APR you’ll receive depends on several factors, including your credit history. Lines of credit range from $500 to $50,000, but most people have limits under $25,000.

And if you want to see what rate and limit you may qualify for before submitting a formal application, you can apply for prequalification without affecting your credit score.

Other things to consider about the Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa® card

• Potential sign-up bonus — You can earn a $200 bitcoin bonus if you open and fund an Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus account and make three debit card transactions within 60 days of account opening. You may see different offers on Credit Karma.
• Not available in all states — The Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa® card isn’t available for application in every state, so check your eligibility before you submit an application.

Who this card is good for

If you’re into cryptocurrency and looking for a way to earn bitcoin rewards with everyday credit card purchases, this card could be an interesting choice. And if the bitcoin you earn appreciates, you could benefit even more over time.

But in reality, the potential amount of bitcoin you can earn, though unlimited, may not amount to much thanks to a low rewards rate, plus the transaction fees you’ll get hit with. If you’re looking for a more reliable way to earn cash back — that you can even opt to invest in bitcoin on your own terms — you may want to consider a more traditional cash back rewards card.

Editors’ take: Wawanesa auto insurance could be a suitable choice for California residents looking for a top-rated insurance company with standard coverage options. Wawanesa has been ranked atop J.D. Power’s auto insurance customer satisfaction rankings for two consecutive years in California.

Wawanesa auto insurance at a glance

Pros

• Highest-rated auto insurer for customer satisfaction in California by J.D. Power
• Offers discounts on insurance premiums

Cons

• Only available in California
• Higher-than-average complaint ratio
• No mobile app

What you need to know about Wawanesa auto insurance

Wawanesa Insurance offers new auto insurance coverage plans in California. The insurer is not offering coverage in Oregon but can help those with an existing auto policy. This can be frustrating for new potential customers. If you’re considering Wawanesa for your auto insurance needs, here are a few key factors you should be aware of.

Top-rated auto insurer for customer satisfaction in California

J.D. Power named Wawanesa as the top-rated auto insurer for customer satisfaction in California — with a score of 853 out of 1,000 in its 2021 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. This was the second consecutive year Wawanesa topped this list in California.

Above-average ratio of consumer complaints

Despite ranking as the highest auto insurance provider in California in J.D. Power’s study for customer satisfaction, the insurer has an above-average complaint ratio based on National Association of Insurance Commissioners data for auto insurance.

Limited availability

Despite being licensed to write business in California and Oregon, website disclaimers state Wawanesa is not currently offering policies to new drivers in Oregon.

Quote process

Photos of the vehicle’s odometer, registration, vehicle identification number and exterior are required for all vehicles on the policy.

Auto coverage offered by Wawanesa

Wawanesa offers relatively standard auto insurance options and some optional add-ins for customers in California.

Coverage includes …

• Bodily injury liability
• Property damage liability

Coverage options include …

• Comprehensive
• Collision
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage
• Personal injury protection
• Auto medical payments

California state law requires drivers to carry insurance. Keep in mind, the minimum liability insurance requirement in the state is …

• $15,000 for the death or injury of any one person in an accident
• $30,000 for the death or injury of more than one person in an accident
• $5,000 for property damage per accident

Auto insurance discounts offered by Wawanesa

Wawanesa offers discounts that may help you save on insurance coverage. Customers in California may be eligible to receive the following discounts:

• Good driver discount — A discount for having a driver’s license for at least three years, no DUIs in the last 10 years, and a maximum of one violation point or at-fault accident in the last three years.
• Multi-car discount — A discount for insuring more than one vehicle
• Loyalty discount — Get a discount after being insured for one full year with the company.
• Multipolicy discount — This discount is available if you have multiple Wawanesa insurance policies.
• Affinity discount — A discount for being a member of a group that Wawanesa partners with.

Common question: How long has Wawanesa Insurance been in business?

Wawanesa Insurance was created in 1896 in Wawanesa, Manitoba, Canada, as a farmer’s mutual insurance carrier. Wawanesa started offering insurance in the United States in California in 1974.

Common question: How do I get in contact with Wawanesa Insurance?

You can reach Wawanesa’s customer service department by calling 1-800-640-2920. New customers can email insure.us@wawanesa.com. Existing customers can email service.us@wawanesa.com. If you need to make a claim, call 1-888-929-2252.

Not sure if Wawanesa auto insurance is right for you? Consider these alternatives.

• Allstate auto insurance: This company offers rewards and discounts for safe drivers.
• Geico auto insurance: This company may provide an affordable rate if your driving record is less than perfect.

Editors’ take: AIS could work for those interested in comparing rates and coverages from top auto insurers. But if you’re looking to pursue an insurance company directly or want to take advantage of specific bundling opportunities, AIS might not be the best choice for you.

AIS auto insurance at a glance

Auto Insurance Specialists (or AIS) isn’t an auto insurance company. Instead, they help you get quotes from insurance companies to help you find the best option for your situation.

Pros

• Provides side-by-side quotes from a range of companies
• Offers quotes in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
• Potentially able to get quotes for rideshare drivers

Cons

• Doesn’t directly offer auto insurance
• May find better quotes elsewhere

What you need to know about AIS auto insurance

AIS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercury Casualty Company and was founded in 1968 in California. While AIS offers quotes in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., coverage availability may vary and may be unavailable for some people in certain situations. If you’re considering getting quotes from AIS, here’s what you should know.

Provides quotes from a range of companies

AIS provides quotes from companies that may fit your auto insurance needs. The quotes are displayed together on one page so you can compare insurance premiums side by side.

Doesn’t provide quotes from all insurance companies

AIS doesn’t work with all auto insurers. You may find a better deal from an insurer that AIS doesn’t partner with. AIS doesn’t work with some larger insurers, such as Geico and Allstate.

Auto coverage offered by AIS

AIS doesn’t offer auto insurance policies directly but instead connects you with insurers that may provide coverage, including auto, motorcycle and classic car insurance coverage. AIS currently partners with many insurance companies. Here are a few.

• Mercury
• Travelers
• Kemper
• Dairyland
• MetLife
• Safeco

Each insurer offers its own insurance products but should meet the minimum requirements in the states they serve. Types of available coverage vary by state. Examples of types of auto insurance coverage you may be able to get could include …

• Bodily injury liability
• Property damage liability
• Uninsured motorist
• Underinsured motorist
• Comprehensive coverage
• Collision coverage
• Medical payments
• Personal injury protection
• Rental reimbursement
• Gap insurance
• Towing and labor
• Ridesharing

Auto insurance discounts offered by AIS

AIS doesn’t directly offer any discounts, but its partners do. Auto insurers tend to have similar sets of discounts that may include …

• Multipolicy
• Multicar
• Continuous coverage
• Good student
• Driving tracking
• Homeowner
• Pay in full
• Automatic payment

Is AIS the same as Mercury?

AIS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercury Casualty Company. This means that AIS is a part of Mercury Casualty, though it (AIS) operates independently from its parent company.

How do I contact AIS?

You can contact AIS’s sales department by calling 888-772-4247 or their customer service department at 800-493-7879.

You can also speak to a live agent using the chat feature on their website or send a letter to their post office box at the following address:

Auto Insurance Specialists

P.O. Box 10160

Santa Ana, CA 92711-0730

Not sure if AIS auto insurance is right for you? Consider these alternatives.

• Geico auto insurance: This auto insurer isn’t on AIS’s list and may be worth checking into if you’re looking for an insurer that offers a variety of discounts and bundling options.
• Allstate auto insurance: This is another auto insurer that AIS doesn’t work with and that also offers various discounts, including for safe driving.