The Business Platinum Card® from American Express currently features the highest welcome bonus it’s ever offered publicly: Earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.

Those points are worth $4,000, per TPG’s October 2025 valuations, which offer a compelling reason to consider applying.

But before you start filling out your application, you might wonder if you’re even eligible to take advantage of this offer. This is a small-business card, so there are different requirements than when you apply for a personal card.

However, you might qualify for the Amex Business Platinum Card and that fantastic welcome offer without even realizing it.

Here are some of the ways to determine if you’re eligible to apply for the Amex Business Platinum card and whether it makes sense to do so.

Amex Business Platinum Card details

As a quick reminder, here are the current offer details and a roundup of the card’s key perks:

Current welcome offer

New Amex Business Platinum cardmembers can earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.

This is the highest welcome bonus we’ve ever seen publicly offered on this card.

Annual fee

The Amex Business Platinum card comes with a $895 annual fee (see rates and fees). While this fee is large, it is possible to offset this cost by maximizing the statement credits and benefits that come with the card.

Earning

The Amex Business Platinum earns points at the following rates:

• 5 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
• 2 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, U.S. electronic goods retailers, U.S. software and cloud system providers and U.S. shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
• 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases

Key benefits

The Amex Business Platinum includes numerous statement credits, including:

• Dell statement credit: Up to $150 in statement credits on U.S. purchases made directly at Dell and an additional up to $1,000 statement credit after spending $5,000 or more with Dell each calendar year*
• Hotel statement credit: Up to $600 hotel statement credit per calendar year (up to $300 in semi-annual credits), on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel when you pay with your Amex Business Platinum (Hotel Collection stays require a two-night minimum)
• Indeed statement credit: Up to $360 in annual statement credits on Indeed (up to $90 per quarter)*
• Adobe statement credit: Up to $250 statement credit after spending $600 or more on U.S. purchases made directly at Adobe each calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)*
• Clear Plus statement credit: Up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year toward an annual Clear Plus membership for expedited airport security (subject to auto-renewal)*
• Airline fee credits: Up to $200 each year in statement credits per calendar year for charges by the qualified airline you select
• Hilton statement credit: Up to $200 statement credit per calendar year (up to $50 quarterly) on eligible purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio (Hilton for Business program membership is required)
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Up to $120 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck applications ($120 for Global Entry every four years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years)
• Wireless telephone service statement credits: Up to $120 in annual statement credits for purchases made directly from any U.S. wireless telephone provider (up to $10 per month)*
• Amex Travel flights and One AP: Up to $1,200 in Amex Travel flight statement credits and up to $2,400 in One AP statement credits (valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of the calendar year after meeting the requirement), both after spending $250,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year

Other benefits include a 35% airline bonus when you use Pay with Points for airfare booked through Amex Travel (up to 1,000,000 points back each calendar year) on the airline that you select for your annual up to $200 airline fee statement credit, regardless of fare class, and complimentary Gold elite status in Hilton Honors*, Gold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy* and Leaders Club Sterling status from Leading Hotels of the World.*

Plus, eligible cardmembers receive access to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta)**, Priority Pass lounges* (for you and two guests) and Airspace lounges.

Thanks to all these perks, the Amex Business Platinum regularly ranks among the best business rewards cards.

*Enrollment is required.

**Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight.

Related: Lesser-known benefits of the Amex Business Platinum card

Are you eligible to apply for the Amex Business Platinum?

You can be eligible for the Amex Business Platinum, including its welcome offer, if you’re a first-time applicant.

Even if you’re a freelancer, independent contractor or have a side hustle, you can still get approved for the Business Platinum. You don’t need to make seven figures (or even five figures) from your small business each year to have a small-business card.

Let’s look at the terms and conditions of the card itself, and then we’ll delve into some of the more specific application rules Amex has in place.

Amex Business Platinum application terms

Like many other American Express cards, the Amex Business Platinum has strict eligibility rules when it comes to earning its welcome offer — especially for current or former cardmembers.

According to the application terms:

You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card or previous versions of this Card. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.

In other words, you may be disqualified not only for having had the card before, but also if you’ve opened and close multiple Amex cards or carried out a lot of balance transfers.

Not sure if you’ve had the card in the past? Amex has a handy tool during the application process that will let you know if you’re eligible for the welcome offer before your application is processed.

That said, welcome offer eligibility with Amex isn’t always so cut and dry — it’s based on a range of internal factors, so your mileage may vary.

Amex application restrictions

American Express typically limits most people to holding a maximum of five Amex credit cards at once — including both personal and business cards.

However, certain products, like the American Express Platinum Card® and the Amex Business Platinum, are a little different from traditional credit cards in that they have no preset spending limit — which means that your spending limit is flexible, unlike a traditional card with a set limit. The amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.

Because these cards fall into a separate category, they are likely not subject to Amex’s five-credit-card limit. That doesn’t guarantee approval, however.

Amex also considers your overall profile, including creditworthiness and recent application history, when deciding whether to approve you.

Amex also typically limits approvals to two cards within a 90-day period, so if you’ve recently applied for another Amex card, you may need to wait before applying again.

If you already have several Amex cards with high credit limits, the issuer may not be willing to extend any further debt to you.

Speaking of issuer application restrictions, if you’re eyeing a Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), you might be worried about Chase’s 5/24 rule.

But there’s good news: Amex business cards don’t count toward that limit. So you can apply for the Amex Business Platinum without affecting your chances of getting a Chase card down the line.

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

Does it matter if you already have a personal Amex Platinum card?

Not at all. The personal and business versions of the Amex Platinum are considered separate products, so already holding the personal card won’t disqualify you from applying for the Business Platinum — or from earning its welcome offer.

Do you need a business to apply?

Not necessarily. While the Amex Business Platinum is technically a small-business card, you don’t need a formal business to qualify. Amex — and other issuers — recognize that freelancers, independent contractors and side hustlers often need business credit cards to separate personal and work expenses.

That said, the Business Platinum is a premium product, so approval isn’t guaranteed for just any side gig. You may need to provide proof of business income or supporting details like a “doing business as” (DBA) name, depending on your application.

Can you get the card twice?

In some cases, yes — especially if you operate multiple businesses. There are reports of cardmembers being targeted with offers to apply for a second Amex Business Platinum with another welcome offer.

Amex understands that separate businesses may require separate cards for accounting and expense tracking. So if you run more than one venture — or work for multiple companies —you could be prequalified for an additional Business Platinum.

These instances are relatively rare, though. If you do receive one, it’s a good idea to contact Amex directly to confirm your eligibility for the welcome offer before applying.

Call the reconsideration line

If your application for the Amex Business Platinum is declined, don’t give up just yet — calling the Amex reconsideration line can give you a second shot at approval. By calling them, you can ask if there were specific issues with your application that you can address over the phone or by providing further information.

During the call, you can ask if there were specific concerns with your application and offer to provide additional information. Be prepared to explain why you’re interested in the card — beyond just the welcome offer — such as specific features or benefits that align with your business needs.

You may also need to supply details about your business, including income verification and business address.

If you’re still denied, don’t be discouraged. You may be eligible to apply again in the future, especially if Amex rolls out an elevated welcome offer. Consider it a platinum lining.

Bottom line

The Amex Business Platinum remains one of the top small-business rewards cards on the market — especially with its current elevated welcome offer. If you’re thinking about applying, take a moment to read the eligibility requirements to give yourself the best chance of approval.

---

Apply here: The Business Platinum Card from American Express

---

For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here.

If you’re ever in need of a new stock pick, you can always borrow an idea or two from Berkshire Hathaway‘s (BRK.A 0.55%) (BRK.B 1.06%) portfolio of holdings hand-picked by Warren Buffett himself. And you should. Given enough time, Berkshire shares consistently outperform the broad market largely due to the conglomerate’s investments in publicly traded companies.

Not every Berkshire Hathaway holding is always a great buy, however. Sometimes they’re trading at too steep of a valuation for newcomers, and other times, they’ve just turned into clunkers.

With that as the backdrop, here’s a closer look at two Warren Buffett stocks you can feel good about buying today, but one name you might want to avoid until something big changes for the better.

Buy: American Express

Many investors don’t realize that — through the attrition of other holdings as well as its own growth — credit card outfit American Express (AXP 0.55%) is now Berkshire Hathaway’s second-biggest stock holding, accounting for 17% of the outfit’s portfolio of publicly traded equities. Underscoring this bullishness is the fact that Berkshire also holds stakes in Visa and Mastercard, but has chosen to only hold much smaller positions in both.

Then again, it’s not difficult to see what the Oracle of Omaha has seen in AmEx since first establishing the position back in the 1990s. It’s not just a payment middleman like the aforementioned Mastercard and Visa. It operates an entire consumerism ecosystem, serving as the card issuer as well as the payment processor, while also managing a perks and rewards program that’s attractive enough for some members to pay up to $900 per year to hold the plastic. These perks include credit toward hotel stays and ride-hailing, cash back on grocery purchases, and discounted entertainment, just to name a few. Although some have tried, no rival has been able to successfully replicate this offering.

Of course, it’s worth pointing out that American Express’s cardholders tend to be a bit more affluent than average, and are therefore mostly unfazed by economic soft patches. As CEO Stephen Squeri pointed out of its Q2 numbers despite the turbulent economic backdrop at the time, “Our second-quarter results continued the strong momentum we have seen in our business over the last several quarters, with revenues growing 9 percent year-over-year to reach a record $17.9 billion, and adjusted EPS rising 17 percent.”

Buy: Kroger

It’s not a major Berkshire holding, and certainly not one that’s talked about much by Buffett (or anyone else, for that matter). But Kroger (KR -0.08%) is quietly one of Berkshire Hathaway’s best-performing stocks.

You know the company. With 2,731 stores producing annual sales on the order of $150 billion, Kroger is one of the country’s biggest grocery chains. Oh, it doesn’t grow very quickly, or produce a ton of profit; this year’s expected top-line growth of around 3% is only likely to lead to operating income of a little less than $5 billion. That’s just the nature of the well-saturated, low-margin food business.

What Kroger lacks in growth firepower, however, it makes up for in surprising consistency.

Although the volatile food business doesn’t exactly lend itself to it, not only has this company not failed to produce a meaningful full-year profit every year for over a decade now, but has roughly doubled its bottom line during this stretch. Making a point of remaining relevant by doing things like entering the e-commerce realm has helped a lot.

More important to would-be investors, although the grocer’s reported growth doesn’t seem all that impressive, the company’s found other ways to create considerable shareholder value. Its quarterly dividend payment has grown by a hefty 250% over the course of the past decade, for example, boosted by stock buybacks that have roughly halved the number of outstanding Kroger shares. In fact, reinvesting Kroger’s dividends in more shares of the increasingly scarce stock over the course of the past 30 years would have consistently outperformed an investment in the S&P 500 during this stretch.

Avoid: UnitedHealth Group

Finally, while Buffett was willing to dive into a small position in beleaguered health insurer UnitedHealth Group (UNH -0.37%) a few weeks back, you might not want to do the same just yet…if ever.

But first things first.

Yes, there’s some drama here. UnitedHealth shares have been beaten down since April, starting with a surprise shortfall of its first-quarter earnings estimates, followed by then-CEO Andrew Witty’s abrupt resignation for “personal reasons” in May. Then in July, the company confirmed that the U.S. Department of Justice was investing its Medicare billing practices. Its second-quarter earnings posted later that same month also missed analysts’ estimates due to the same high reimbursement costs that plagued its first-quarter results. All told, from peak to trough, UNH stock fell 60% in the middle of this year.

As Buffett himself has said, of course, you should be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Taking his own advice, he recently plowed into a stake in a long-established company that’s likely to be capable of overcoming all of its current woes. Berkshire now owns 5 million shares of UNH that are currently worth a little less than $2 billion.

Except, maybe this is one of those times you don’t follow Buffett’s lead, recognizing that UnitedHealth Group — along with the entire healthcare industry — seems to be running into these regulatory and pricing headwinds more and more regularly. UnitedHealth’s Medicare business ran into similar legal trouble back in 2017, for instance, while its pharmacy benefits management arm OptumRX was sued by the Federal Trade Commission just last year for artificially inflating insulin prices. It would also be naïve to not notice the federal government is increasingly scrutinizing every aspect of the nation’s healthcare industry, now that care costs have raced beyond reasonable affordability.

And for what it’s worth, although UnitedHealth has managed to continue growing its top line every year for over a decade now, actual operating profits and EBITDA stopped growing early last year, not counting the recent unexpected surges in its medical care costs.

UNH Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts

What gives? The entire healthcare industry may be at a tipping point, so to speak, and not in a good way. Although this wouldn’t necessarily be catastrophic for UnitedHealth, it certainly would undermine its value to investors. If nothing else, you might want to wait on the sidelines for the proverbial dust to settle before following Buffett into this uncertain trade.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is not only one of the best small-business cards but also one of the best cards for travel rewards in general. Cardmembers definitely pay for all those perks, though, since it charges a $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).

However, despite many valuable benefits and opportunities to earn bonus points, the Amex Business Platinum is often overshadowed by its personal counterpart, The Platinum Card® from American Express, which also charges a $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Both cards have been refreshed, including adding and improving some statement credits and benefits and introducing a new card design. However, with this refresh, both cards saw a 29% annual fee increase.

If you’re only going to have one of the Amex Platinum products, there are compelling reasons why you should opt for the business version over the personal one. Let’s dive into them.

Comparing the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum

Let’s start with a quick comparison of both cards.

	The Platinum Card from American Express	The Business Platinum Card from American Express
Welcome offer	Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.)	Earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
Annual fee	$895	$895
Earning rates	5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases	5 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel 2 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases of at least $5,000 each, as well as on U.S. purchases with construction material and hardware suppliers, shipping providers, electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers (up to $2 million per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent) 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Unique benefits	Up to $300 per calendar year (up to $25 each month) in statement credits for eligible digital entertainment subscriptions, including new partners Paramount+, YouTube Premium and YouTube TV Up to $300 annual Lululemon statement credit per calendar year at U.S. stores and online (allocated as up to $75 per quarter; outlets excluded) Up to $300 per calendar year for an eligible U.S. Equinox Club Membership or eligible Equinox+ subscription (subject to auto-renewal) Up to $300 per calendar year in statement credits when purchasing a SoulCycle at-home bike Up to $200 per calendar year in Uber Cash for U.S. rides or Uber Eats orders each calendar year (up to $15 each month to use on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S., with an additional up to $20 in December). Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Platinum to the Uber account. You must pay with an Amex card Up to $200 Oura statement credit per calendar year (can only be used on hardware purchases) Up to $155 per calendar year (up to $12.95 each month) in statement credits to cover the cost of a monthly Walmart+ membership (Plus Ups Excluded, subject to auto-renewal) Up to a $120 statement credit that fully covers an auto-renewing $96 annual or $9.99 monthly membership Up to $100 per calendar year in Saks Fifth Avenue statement credits (broken up as up to $50 semi-annually) Enrollment is required for select benefits.	A 35% bonus (up to 1 million points per year) when you Pay with Points on Amex Travel on flights in any cabin class booked on your designated airline Up to $150 in statement credits on U.S. purchases made directly at Dell and an additional up to $1,000 statement credit after spending $5,000 or more per calendar year. Up to $360 per calendar year (up to $90 per quarter) in statement credits with Indeed Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $50 per quarter) for eligible Hilton purchases (Hilton for Business program membership is required) Up to $250 Adobe statement credit after spending $600 or more on U.S. purchases made directly with Adobe per calendar year (subject to auto-renewal) Up to $120 per calendar year (up to $10 monthly) in wireless provider statement credits Earn up to $1,200 in Amex Travel flight statement credits and up to $2,400 in One AP statement credits (valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of the calendar year after meeting the requirement), both after spending $250,000 or more on eligible purchases (spending on your card this year counts toward the requirement) Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Related: 9 things to do when you get the Amex Business Platinum Card

Perks offered by both cards

These are the main benefits that both cards offer their members (enrollment is required for select benefits, and terms apply):

• Up to $600 statement credit each calendar year (up to $300 semi-annually) on prepaid bookings at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection properties made through Amex Travel (minimum two-night stay requirement for The Hotel Collection)
• Enjoy an airline fee statement credit of up to $200 per calendar year on charges with the airline you select
• Get $120 as a statement credit for your Global Entry application fee (every four years) or a statement credit of up to $85 for TSA PreCheck (every 4½ years)
• Receive a statement credit per calendar year to reimburse your annual Clear Plus membership fee (up to $209 per calendar year; subject to auto-renewal). Use your card to pay for a Clear Plus membership (it doesn’t have to be for you) and be reimbursed automatically
• Eligible cardmembers can access the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (limited to 10 annual visits; when flying on a same-day Delta flight; except basic economy flights; spend $75,000 in a calendar year to unlock unlimited flights), Aspire lounges, Escape lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Lufthansa lounges
• Complimentary car elite rental status with Hertz President’s Circle, Avis Preferred Plus and National Emerald Club Executive
• Complimentary Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, plus Leaders Club Sterling status from Leading Hotels of the World
• Enjoy no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees for the Amex Platinum and rates and fees for the Amex Business Platinum)
• Access to Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts program and the Hotel Collection (minimum two-night stay requirement for the Hotel Collection)
• Benefit from various travel protections and purchase protections
• Up to $400 Resy statement credit each calendar year, (up to $100 each quarter) for U.S. Resy restaurants
• Access to Platinum nights by Resy in Los Angeles, Miami and New York
• Enrollment is required for select benefits

Reasons to choose the Amex Business Platinum over the Amex Platinum

Now that their similarities are out of the way, let’s focus on their differences and how those might sway you to choose the Amex Business Platinum instead of the Amex Platinum.

You have or already had the personal Amex Platinum

Like many other issuers, American Express has increasingly restricted who is eligible for the welcome bonuses on its cards. The offer terms for the Platinum, for instance, say the following:

“You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley or previous versions of these Cards. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.”

The information for the Platinum Amex for Charles Schwab and the Amex Exclusively for Morgan Stanley has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

So, if you already have the Platinum, or even if you carried it in the past but have since closed it, you might be blocked from taking advantage of its current welcome offer.

If you want to regain some of its benefits and the chance to score thousands of additional Membership Rewards points, you might have to opt for the Business Platinum instead.

Related: 10 things to do when you get the Amex Platinum

You spend enough to earn the Amex Business Platinum’s higher welcome offer

The Business Platinum welcome bonus requires some strategy to earn the offer in its entirety since the minimum spending requirement is $20,000 over three months. That’s a considerable amount, but it’s not outside the budget of some small businesses.

By contrast, the Platinum currently has a lower spending requirement to earn its welcome bonus: $8,000 spent within the first six months of card membership. Plus, you have double the time of the business version to reach it.

The personal card’s terms might work better for you, considering you have twice the time to spend less than half the amount of money for the bonus points.

If you haven’t held either card, consider whether you can meet the minimum spending requirement on the Business Platinum organically. If you think it might be a concern, opt for the Platinum.

You spend a lot on flights and hotels

The two cards have very similar earning structures with two subtle (but significant) differences.

First, the personal card earns 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked through Amex Travel, plus directly with airlines, while the Business Platinum only earns 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked through Amex Travel.

Second, the personal card’s bonus-earning on flights is capped at $500,000 in spending per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar after that), while the business version has no such cap.

Both cards earn 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotel bookings with Amex Travel.

If you tend to just book flights directly with airlines, the personal card is a better choice. However, if you use Amex Travel for a lot of your travel plans — or if you have that option — then you at least won’t be missing out by charging your reservations to the Business Platinum.

Plus, if you book a lot of flights — more than $500,000 worth per year — with your card, then you’re definitely better off with the business card since its bonus-qualifying spending isn’t capped at that amount.

Related: The best credit cards for paying taxes and fees on award tickets

You can maximize the Amex Business Platinum’s large-transaction and business category bonuses

The Business Platinum has a unique earning structure:

• 2 points per dollar spent on purchases of $5,000 or more
• 2 points per dollar spent on U.S. purchases from construction material and hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, shipping providers, and software and cloud system providers

Both have a combined $2 million spending cap per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar).

If you frequently make these types of business purchases — or regularly use your card for transactions of more than $5,000 — then the Business Platinum blows the personal version out of the water.

You might also find creative ways to leverage this purchase bonus on one-off expenditures.

Related: The top 7 credit cards to maximize large purchases

You use Pay with Points for premium travel

One major way the two cards diverge is that the Business Platinum offers cardmembers a bonus of 35% of the points they redeem through Amex’s Pay with Points feature, while the personal version does not. There are a few stipulations.

First, you only receive the 35% points bonus on flights booked through Amex Travel on your designated airline (the same one you selected for the annual up to $200 airline fee statement credit). The ticket can be in any cabin class.

Secondly, you’ll only be able to receive up to 1 million points back per year.

Even if you seldom redeem Membership Rewards points this way, this one benefit can save you tens of thousands of points on a single ticket.

That makes carrying the Business Platinum instead of the personal card well worth it since the latter won’t provide any points bonus when you use Pay with Points.

You prefer the business card’s statement credits

The personal and business versions offer many unique annual statement credits.

The personal card offers quite a few lifestyle statement credits. But if they aren’t for things you actually use (or plan to), why bother trying to track them while juggling the card’s steep annual fee?

The Business Platinum offers hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits with popular merchants. (Enrollment is required for select benefits.)

Plus, with the Business Platinum, you’ll earn up to $1,200 in Amex Travel flight statement credits and up to $2,400 in One AP statement credits (valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of the calendar year after meeting the requirement), after spending $250,000 or more on eligible purchases (spending on your card this year counts toward the requirement).

While this is a substantial spending requirement, if you can meet it organically, the Business Platinum could be a better option. That said, these benefits aren’t substantial enough to make it worth going out of your way to spend that much on the Business Platinum.

Related: How to decide if a credit card’s annual fee is worth paying

You don’t use Uber that often

The personal card includes up to $15 in Uber Cash each month for rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. (The amount increases to up to $35 in December.) That’s a total yearly benefit of up to $200 per calendar year. You must have your Amex Platinum included as a payment option and redeem with any Amex card.

Plus, you’ll get a statement credit for up to $120 each calendar year that fully covers an annual, auto-renewing Uber One membership ($96 annually or $9.99 monthly; enrollment required).

The potential savings available with this benefit are pretty substantial, but remember that these credits don’t roll over from month to month. So, if you don’t use Uber regularly, you might be unable to take full advantage of it.

Related: Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Amex Business Platinum?

Bottom line

Both the Amex Platinum and the Business Platinum are excellent rewards cards with a variety of benefits from which members can reap tremendous value.

Which card is right for you will come down to understanding which one offers the best combination of welcome bonus, ongoing rewards and benefits for your needs.

Consider which card best matches your financial habits and needs, and which card’s other perks you’re most likely to leverage year after year.

All that said, you might want to consider carrying both the personal and business Amex Platinum cards since there are plenty of ways the two cards don’t overlap.

To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum.

---

Apply here: The Business Platinum Card from American Express
Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express

---

For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card overview

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a good choice for Delta loyalists who need a boost to reach their elite status goals. This card offers valuable perks, including an annual companion certificate, priority boarding and a free checked bag on Delta flights. Card rating*: ½

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

---

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card is one of the best credit cards for Delta travelers.

It offers attractive perks for Delta loyalists in exchange for a $350 annual fee (see rates and fees), including an annual companion certificate and solid earning rates.

The Delta Platinum Amex is also a good fit if you’re chasing Delta Medallion elite status, thanks to its earning structure for Medallion Qualification Dollars.

TPG recommends a good to excellent credit score for this card.

Let’s examine the Delta Platinum Amex more closely to determine whether it’s the right card for your wallet.

Delta Platinum Amex pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Fast track to Medallion status by spending on the card Companion certificate in economy class First checked bag free	Doesn’t make sense if you don’t fly Delta frequently SkyMiles aren’t the most valuable airline currency

Delta Platinum Amex welcome offer

New Delta Platinum Amex cardmembers can earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. This offer ends on Oct. 29.

Based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations of Delta miles at 1.15 cents each, this bonus is worth $1,035. This is the highest bonus we tend to see on this card, and was last offered in July.

However, you likely won’t be eligible for this welcome offer if you have this card or have had it before. Amex may also consider the number of American Express cards you’ve opened and closed and other factors when deciding whether you’re eligible to earn the welcome offer.

Delta’s cards are subject to American Express’s family restrictions for earning welcome bonuses, so if you’ve had a higher-tier Delta Amex card in the past, you may not be eligible to earn the welcome bonus on the Delta Amex Platinum.

Luckily, Amex will notify you if you aren’t eligible for a welcome offer, displaying a message soon after submitting your application. So, don’t ignore any messages or warnings that appear after you hit submit.

Related: What credit score do you need to get Delta SkyMiles American Express cards?

Delta Platinum Amex benefits

The Delta Platinum Amex offers many perks for Delta flyers; let’s take a closer look at all of the card’s perks and benefits. (Enrollment is required for select benefits, and terms apply.)

Elite status perks

Delta credit cards help cardmembers earn elite status with one metric: MQDs. Delta Platinum Amex cardmembers earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent, with no limit on how many MQDs can be earned through credit card spending.

They also receive an MQD boost of 2,500 MQDs at the start of each Medallion Qualification Year.

Annual companion certificate

The other primary benefit offered by the Delta Platinum Amex is an annual companion certificate. You’ll receive this perk each year after your account renewal.

The Delta companion certificate is valid for round-trip, main cabin domestic travel (booked in fare classes L, T, U, V or X). All you’ll need to pay for the companion ticket is taxes and fees. Note that this excludes the carrier’s basic economy tickets (which are booked into E fare class) and most higher-priced economy classes.

This certificate covers travel to all 50 U.S. states (including Hawaii and Alaska), the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico.

If you use this certificate for expensive flights, you can easily cover most (or all) of the card’s annual fee.

Other travel perks

The Delta Platinum Amex also offers several other benefits you may find helpful, including:

(Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.)

*Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program is required; terms apply.

Fortunately, Delta ties benefits such as the checked baggage allowance and priority boarding to your Delta SkyMiles account. So, you don’t need to book flights with your Delta Platinum Amex to get access to these perks.

Additionally, cardmembers who are not SkyMiles Medallion Members are eligible to receive complimentary upgrades for Delta One (within the U.S.), first class and Delta Comfort+ after Medallion Members and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card cardmembers.

Related: 4 reasons why the Amex Platinum might be the ideal credit card for Delta flyers

Earning miles on the Delta Platinum Amex

You’ll earn Delta SkyMiles when you make eligible purchases with the Delta Platinum Amex. In particular, you’ll earn Delta miles with your card as follows:

• 3 miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels worldwide
• 2 miles per dollar on purchases made on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets
• 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases

Since TPG’s September 2025 valuations peg Delta SkyMiles miles at 1.15 cents each, you’ll get an effective return of 3.5% on purchases with Delta and at hotels, 2.3% on purchases on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and 1.2% on other purchases.

Though a loyal Delta traveler may enjoy earning bonus SkyMiles on these purchases, none of these returns are close to the best you can do in these categories with other cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees).

Related: Best credit cards for everyday spending

Redeeming miles on the Delta Platinum Amex

Delta’s SkyMiles program doesn’t have the best reputation among points and miles buffs. After all, Delta has devalued its miles many times over the years. And Delta doesn’t publish an official award chart, meaning award costs can be very high.

Despite that, there are still some great ways to get value from the Delta SkyMiles program.

For example, Delta has frequent flash sales. In the past, we’ve seen deals like domestic awards from 2,000 SkyMiles one-way, flights to Alaska for as little as 5,000 miles round-trip, transcontinental awards from 10,000 miles round-trip and flights to Europe from 16,000 miles round-trip.

Consider snagging some great sweet spots when using SkyMiles to fly Delta partner airlines. This includes awards on SkyTeam partners such as Air France and Korean Air, but the program also has some nonalliance partners.

Just note that some partner awards don’t show on Delta’s website, including awards on Air Tahiti Nui, Czech Airlines and Kenya Airways. As a result, you’ll want to use ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG’s parent company, Red Ventures) or another SkyTeam website like Flying Blue to find availability before calling to book awards on these partners.

TPG principal spokesperson Clint Henderson redeemed just over 73,000 SkyMiles for a flight from Mexico City to Brisbane, Australia. With this redemption, Clint secured a lie-flat Delta One seat on the leg from Los Angeles to Brisbane.

Related: How to redeem your Delta SkyMiles for maximum value

Which cards compete with the Delta Platinum Amex?

If you are interested in the Delta Platinum Amex because you fly (or plan to fly) Delta frequently, you may also be interested in these options:

For additional options, check out our full lists of the best airline credit cards and best American Express credit cards.

Related: Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex

Bottom line

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card can be a great addition to your wallet if Delta is your preferred airline. Its annual fee may seem high compared to the lower annual fee Delta Gold Amex, but you get useful benefits in return, like the annual companion certificate that can provide significant value.

However, having the card may be hard to justify if you don’t fly Delta often enough to maximize this card’s benefits.

Remember that to maximize your overall travel earning strategy, you’ll likely want to pair the Delta Platinum with another card that earns more points in bonus categories.

---

Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card

---

For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Amex, click here.

In a few days, a new leg of Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism Tour will descend upon North America, starting with two nights in Toronto at the top of September. To help make the occasion extra special, Lipa has announced today (August 27) that she is also launching a series of Radical Optimism Pop-Up Stores, presented by American Express.

All stores will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. These are the cities, dates, and locations:

Chicago, IL – September 6 to 7 at Anthony Gallery (1360 W Lake St.)
Atlanta, GA – September 12 to 13 at Cam Kirk Studios (112 Krog St. NE)
New York, NY – September 17 to 21 at The Hole NYC (312 Bowery)
Dallas, TX – September 27 to 28 at Kettle Art Gallery (2650 Main St.)
Los Angeles, CA – October 3 to 6 at The Hole LA (844 N La Brea Ave.)
Seattle, WA – October 11 to 12 at River (1927 3rd Ave.)

A press release notes the stores will “offer visitors an immersive retail experience with exclusive merch, unique photo opportunities, and a refreshment station serving one of Dua’s favorite drinks available for sale.” If the pop-up Dua hosted in London a couple months ago is any indication, that drink will be her viral jalapeño pickle cola. At specifically the Los Angeles and New York pop-ups, fans will be able to experience “being inside the music of Radical Optimism, presented in L-ISA Immersive Sound, the ultra-high resolution spatial audio technology from L-Acoustics.”

American Express Platinum Card Members get access to an exclusive perk: early access to the stores for themselves and a guest from 10 to 11 a.m. local time. All eligible Card Members get a dedicated checkout lane, access to buy an exclusive merch item, and a complimentary gift with any purchase made using an eligible Amex card. More information on the perks can be found here.

To get an idea of what the stores might look like and what they may offer, find some photos of the previous London pop-up here. Also check out Dua’s upcoming tour dates below.

Dua Lipa’s 2025 Tour Dates: Radical Optimism

09/01 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
09/02 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
09/05 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
09/06 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
09/09 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
09/10 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
09/13 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
09/14 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
09/17 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
09/18 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
09/20 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
09/21 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
09/26 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
09/27 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
09/30 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
10/01 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
10/04 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum
10/05 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum
10/07 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum
10/08 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum
10/11 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
10/12 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
10/15 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
10/16 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
11/07 — Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Estadio River Plate
11/08 — Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Estadio River Plate
11/11 — Santiago, Chile @ Estadio Nacional
11/12 — Santiago, Chile @ Estadio Nacional
11/15 — São Paulo, Brazil @ MorumBIS
11/22 — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil @ Estadio Nilton Santos
11/25 — Lima, Peru @ Estadio Nacional or Estadio San Marcos
11/28 — Bogotá, Colombia @ Estadio El Campín
12/01 — Mexico City, Mexico @ Estadio GNP Seguros
12/02 — Mexico City, Mexico @ Estadio GNP Seguros
12/05 — Mexico City, Mexico @ Estadio GNP Seguros

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

For Delta loyalists who want a VIP experience, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is your best option. I’m a huge fan of Delta and I fly them almost exclusively when I’m traveling around the United States. I find them to have the best in-flight experience, food, entertainment, and seats.

If you’re a Delta fan and fly them a lot, then I really think the Reserve card is must to have. While it has the highest annual fee, it also has most comprehensive set of benefits, including Sky Club access, upgrade priority, and faster elite status earning. It’s very much worth the cost and I have gotten way more value out of it than the fee.

Here’s my review of the card!

Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card Overview

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is Delta’s premium card that offers frequent travelers a host of benefits and perks and is meant for people who fly a lot on the airline and want more perks as well as faster elite status earning. The annual fee is $650 (See Rates and Fees.) but I think the perks of the card outweigh the cost.

This card offers:

• 70,000 Bonus Miles after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
• 3x miles on Delta purchases
• 1x miles on all other spending
• 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and unlimited visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
• Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
• Free checked bag on Delta flights
• Earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent on the card
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year
• A domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Up to $240 Resy credit (up to $20 monthly in statement credits)
• Up to $120 Rideshare credit(up to $10 monthly in statement credits)
• Up to $200 Delta Stays credit
• 15% off Award Flight redemption through delta.com and the Fly Delta app
• 20% back on eligible in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit

In short, there’s a lot of perks with this card and I find that, unlike a lot of other premium cards, they are useful perks! I love the the MQD boost, the hotel credit, the the 15% back on award redemptions, and especially the lounge access. I tend to use the majority of the perks on this card, making the value of it well worth the fee.

Using Your Delta Points

Delta uses dynamic pricing for their rewards. That means that the number of points it takes to book a flight isn’t a set number. Instead, the rate varies based on the cash price of a flight. You can also redeem your points as cash at checkout at the rate of 1 cent per mile but I never find that a good redemption and only rarely ever do that. I only ever do this if I am low on points and don’t have enough to redeem a flight but want to save money off the cash price.

The 15% off on award redemptions makes flights a lot more affordable so be sure to have your card connected to your SkyMiles account. If you are flexible with your dates, you can use their award calendar to see the best points fare as mixing and matching your dates can lead to better deals.

Additionally, Delta offers a lot of award sales so keep an eye out for them. Thrifty Traveler and Point.me are two good websites that can send you alerts. I find Delta miles to be the best for U.S. domestic economy and comfort plus redemptions. Unless there’s a sale, I never book for business or international flights. The redemption value is terrible.

Is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Worth It?

If you’re a frequent Delta flyer who values lounge access, wants to earn elite status quickly, and appreciates upgrade priority, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card can be worth every penny. For casual travelers, however, the $650 fee will be hard to justify, especially with limited category bonuses.

Pros:

• Sky Club access and Centurion Lounge access with Delta flights
• Companion certificate
• MQDs at double the Platinum earning rate
• Upgrade priority
• Free checked bag and priority boarding
• 15% off award flights

Cons:

• High annual fee
• Few bonus categories for everyday spending
• Lounge access has visit limits

***

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is for the most dedicated Delta travelers who want the best experience possible. Between lounge access, upgrade priority, and rapid MQD earning, it offers elite-level travel without having to fly your way there entirely. If you’re in airports and on Delta planes regularly, the Reserve delivers unmatched perks.

Click here to learn more and sign up!

If the fee is too high or you don’t fly Delta enough, check out the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card which may better suit your needs at a lower cost.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

If you fly a few times a year, you know the pain points: baggage fees that add up quickly, boarding last and finding no overhead bin space left, and earning miles at a snail’s pace. That’s where the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card can really change your travel experience. I’m a believer that if you fly one airline at least a few times per year (or have a favorite airline), you should at least get the airline’s lowest tier credit card as it comes with enough perks to justify the cost and will make your travel experience better.

If you’re a Delta casual flier who wants solid perks with a $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $150, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the card for you. (See rates and fees.)

In this review, we’ll break down the benefits, costs, and potential drawbacks so you can decide if this card is worth adding to your wallet.

[TOC]

What is the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card ?

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is Delta’s most basic credit card offering and is for people who want to make their airport and flying experience easier but don’t want to pay a high annual fee. The annual fee for this card is $150 per year but is a $0 intro annual fee the first year.

This card offers:

• Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
• 2x miles on Delta purchases
• 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide
• 1x miles on all other purchases
• Free checked bag on Delta flights
• $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year
• 15% off Award Travel redemptions on Delta flights
• Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
• Up to $100 Delta Stays credit
• 20% back on eligible in-flight purchases savings in the form of statement credits.

Using Your Delta Points

Delta uses dynamic pricing for their rewards. That means that the number of points it takes to book a flight isn’t a set number. Instead, the rate varies based on the cash price of a flight. You can also redeem your points as cash at checkout at the rate of 1 cent per mile but I never find that a good redemption and only rarely ever do that. I only ever do this if I am low on points and don’t have enough to redeem a flight but want to save money off the cash price.

The 15% off on award redemptions makes flights a lot more affordable so be sure to have your card connected to your SkyMiles account. If you are flexible with your dates, you can use their award calendar to see the best points fare as mixing and matching your dates can lead to better deals.

Additionally, Delta offers a lot of award sales so keep an eye out for them. Thrifty Traveler and Point.me are two good websites that can send you alerts. I find Delta miles to be the best for U.S. domestic economy and comfort plus redemptions. Unless there’s a sale, I never book for business or international flights. The redemption value is terrible.

Is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Worth It?

If you fly Delta two or three times a year and don’t have elite status, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card can pay for itself just through the free checked bag benefit as that can save up to $70 on a round-trip per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight. Add in priority boarding, the 15% award discount, and occasional statement credits, and you’re getting solid value for a relatively modest annual fee.

***

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card hits a sweet spot for casual-to-regular Delta fliers. The free checked bag alone can offset the annual fee, and the priority boarding and award discount make travel more pleasant and affordable. While it doesn’t offer premium perks like lounge access, it delivers enough value for its price point. If you fly Delta but aren’t ready to commit to a high-fee premium card, this is an easy choice to consider.

 

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

If you fly Delta frequently and want to earn toward elite status while enjoying more travel perks than their Gold card offers but don’t want to pay the high fee of the Reserve, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is likely the best fit for you. It’s a step up in both annual fee and benefits, giving you tools to reach Medallion status faster, plus credits that can offset travel costs.

Here’s my review of the card!

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Overview

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has an annual fee of $350. That is a pretty high annual fee for a lot of people but I would say that if you fly the airline enough to hit their gold status then you are definitely going to want this card over their other ones as it will give you a lot of perks and make your Delta flying experience better.

This card offers:

• Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels
• 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
• 1x points on all other purchases
• Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card.
• $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year
• 1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
• $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee
• 15% off award travel redemptions on Delta flights
• $120 Resy credit
• $120 Rideshare credit
• Free checked bags

How to Redeem Delta SkyMiles

Delta uses dynamic pricing for their rewards. That means that the number of points it takes to book a flight isn’t a set number. Instead, the rate varies based on the cash price of a flight. You can also redeem your points as cash at checkout at the rate of 1 cent per mile but I never find that a good redemption and only rarely ever do that. I only ever do this if I am low on points and don’t have enough to redeem a flight but want to save money off the cash price.

The 15% off on award redemptions makes flights a lot more affordable so be sure to have your card connected to your SkyMiles account. If you are flexible with your dates, you can use their award calendar to see the best points fare as mixing and matching your dates can lead to better deals.

Additionally, Delta offers a lot of award sales so keep an eye out for them. Thrifty Traveler and Point.me are two good websites that can send you alerts. I find Delta miles to be the best for U.S. domestic economy and comfort plus redemptions. Unless there’s a sale, I never book for business or international flights. The redemption value is terrible.

Is the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Worth It?

For regular Delta flyers aiming for Medallion status, the The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a clear upgrade from the Gold card. The companion certificate alone can offset the annual fee. Add in the TSA PreCheck credit, higher earning rates, and MQD boosts, statement credits, and the 15% off rewards and the card pays for itself. I’m a huge fan of this one. I have the business version of it as I have the Reserve for personal use since I am heavy Delta flier but if you’re not, then get this Platinum card.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Companion certificate each year
• MQD earning through card spend
• Higher earn rates on Delta and hotel purchases
• TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
• Free checked bag for you and companions
• 15% off award flights

Cons:

• Higher annual fee at $350
• No Sky Club lounge access
• Companion certificate is domestic main cabin only

***

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is best for travelers who fly Delta often and are either chasing or maintaining Medallion status. Between the companion certificate, free checked bags, and the ability to earn MQDs on spending, it offers more than enough perks to justify the higher fee for frequent flyers. If you want lounge access or premium upgrades, however, you might want to look at the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card card instead.

Click here to learn more and sign up!

 

Purchasing a car is a huge expense. And unfortunately, it’s usually a diminishing investment that loses value over time, starting with the moment you drive it off the lot.

The silver lining here is that a car purchase can earn you some serious rewards if you put some or — in rare cases — all of the cost on a credit card to earn valuable points and miles. A large purchase, such as a car down payment, is also a great way to meet the minimum spending requirements for a credit card welcome offer.

If you’re considering purchasing a car with a credit card, here are some cards to consider and key things to be aware of.

Best cards for buying a car

Choosing the right card can earn you more rewards on your car purchase, making the process more rewarding. Here are some of the best cards to use when buying a car or making a down payment.

American Express Platinum: Best for large purchases

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)

Welcome offer: New cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they’re eligible to earn as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on the new card in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Earning rate on car purchases: 1 point per dollar spent

Why it’s a good choice: The Platinum Card® from American Express is an excellent choice because it has no preset spending limit, making it ideal for a large purchase like a new car. No preset spending limit doesn’t mean unlimited funds, but if you’re looking to make a large down payment or even purchase an entire car, this card is a better option than one with a fixed credit limit. The amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.

The Amex Platinum requires the balance to be paid in full each month, but with Pay Over Time, cardmembers can carry a balance (though it accrues interest). If purchasing a car, it’s recommended you pay off the card as soon as possible and avoid losing value you gained from earning a nice sum of points.

To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Platinum.

---

Apply here: American Express Platinum

---

American Express Business Platinum: Best for big spenders

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)

Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.

Earning rate on car purchases: 1.5 points per dollar spent on eligible U.S. purchases over $5,000 (on up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year)

Why it’s a good choice: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is similar to the personal Amex Platinum and has no preset spending limit. This card is another ideal choice as it earns 1.5 points per dollar spent on purchases of $5,000 or more. A $10,000 down payment on a new car would earn you 15,000 Amex points, worth $300 according to TPG’s July 2025 valuations. The amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.

To make the most of this card, make sure the car purchase or down payment is at least $5,000; otherwise, you’re better off using a no-annual-fee card that provides rewards on nonbonus categories, such as The American Express Blue Business Cash Card (see rates and fees), which earns 2% cash back (on the first $50,000 spent each calendar year, then 1%).

To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Business Platinum.

---

Apply here: American Express Business Platinum

---

American Express Blue Business Plus: Best for maximum points

Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)

Welcome offer: Earn 15,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. Plus, receive a 0% introductory annual percentage rate for 12 months from the date of account opening. (After that, the APR will be a variable rate from 17.49%-27.49%.)(see rates and fees)

Earning rate on car purchases: 2 points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent each calendar year (then 1 point per dollar)

Why it’s a good choice: For a card with no annual fee, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express earns an impressive 2 points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year (and 1 point per dollar thereafter).

Since the card comes with a 0% introductory APR, it can be easy to make a purchase with it and pay it off within 12 months to avoid interest charges.

Unlike the two Platinum cards, this one comes with a preset limit, so be sure you can cover the cost of the car or down payment before purchasing.

To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Blue Business Plus.

---

Apply here: American Express Blue Business Plus

---

Chase Freedom Unlimited: Best for earning cash back

Annual fee: $0

Welcome offer: New cardholders can earn $200 cash back after spending $500 in the first three months from account opening.

Earning rate on car purchases: 1.5% cash back

Why it’s a good choice: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) can be a great way to earn cash back — and turn it into valuable points.

A $15,000 car purchase would earn you $225 cash back. However, if you have an Ultimate Rewards points-earning credit card, you can maximize your cash back by turning it into 22,500 points, which are worth $461, according to TPG’s July 2025 valuations.

Cardholders also receive a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from account opening. After the introductory period, a variable APR of 18.99%-28.49% applies. This can give you time to pay off your car purchase without interest.

To learn more, read our full review of the Freedom Unlimited.

---

Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited

---

Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select: Best for American Airlines loyalists

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee the first year, then $99

Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases in the first four months from account opening.

Earning rate on car purchases: 1 mile and 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent

Why it’s a good choice: Although the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® only earns 1 mile per dollar spent, the real benefit for American Airlines frequent flyers is that the card earns 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent. If a dealership allows you to put a large down payment or the entire purchase on the card, you could earn a nice chunk of Loyalty Points toward elite status.

I put the down payment for my last car purchase on my wife’s Citi / AAdvantage Platinum because she was a few thousand Loyalty Points short of Executive Platinum status, and this purchase helped her secure it.

To learn more, read our full review of the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum card.

The information for the Citi Platinum Select has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

---

Purchasing a car with a credit card FAQ

Although buying a car with a credit card may seem easy, here are some things to keep in mind.

What is the maximum amount I can put on a credit card?

The maximum amount you can put on a credit card depends on the car dealership. You may be able to negotiate how much it can charge, as this was the case for me. I was able to negotiate with my local dealership to increase the maximum allowed charge on a credit card from $5,000 to $8,000.

Do all dealerships accept credit cards?

If you’re looking to purchase a car entirely on a credit card, it’s recommended to call ahead and speak to a finance manager at the dealership. Some may not accept credit cards for the entire vehicle purchase, while others will be happy to accept them. In my experience, a down payment when financing or leasing a car is usually payable with a credit card, provided it’s within the allowed limit of charges.

What dealerships charge fees for using credit cards?

This varies by dealership, and while some can charge a fee for a credit card transaction, other dealerships may choose not to charge any fee. When I put a down payment on my car last year, the dealership did not charge me a transaction fee, even after I negotiated charging a higher amount of the payment to my credit card. The easiest way to find out is by calling dealerships in your area, but that may require more effort on your part.

Can I pay a portion of the price with my credit card?

Again, this depends on the dealership, as some may only allow you to use a credit card for a down payment toward a lease or financed vehicle. Others may allow you to put the entire purchase price of the car on a credit card.

Do I need to pay my full balance?

If you make the car purchase on a card that is offering a 0% interest rate, then you can pay the minimum balance per month (usually 1% of the entire balance) or make enough of a payment to pay off the entire card within the promotional period. If you put the charge on a card that charges interest, your best course of action is to pay the balance in full to avoid interest.

Does buying a car with a credit card affect my credit score?

When purchasing a car on your credit card, your credit utilization will surely increase, and this can negatively affect your credit score. To keep your utilization down, pay off the balance as soon as possible, and you’ll minimize the long-term impact.

Bottom line

Purchasing a car with a credit card can be a great way to earn a large sum of points, miles or cash back. It’s also an easy way to meet the minimum spending requirement on a new card.

Just keep in mind that not all dealerships will allow you to charge the full purchase price — many only accept credit cards for down payments — so be sure to check ahead of time.

Related: Best credit cards

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Business Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Business Plus, click here.

For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Business Cash, click here