Considering USAA Cashback Rewards AMEX for 5% gas

[Rooster01]

Good morning all,

I am winding up a mini app spree and just got a AAA Daily Advantage and Venture X. I am looking at a gas card as final pick up or maybe home improvement.

I am currently using City Custom Cash for gas right now, but a dedicated as card would let me rotate that out to another category. I am ex-military and have had insurance but not banking through USAA for 7 years.

Looking at all the cards available it seems like the USAA card is my best option. Am I missing anything? Anyone know if it works for inside the station purchases?

Alternative plan is keep CCC for gas and go with a home improvement card. I have a preapproval for BOA Customized Cash rewards for 3% there.

I am at Fico 709 currently, 2/6, 2/12, 5/24

Thanks for your time and any responses. I am happy to provide more info.

[Bill77]

The Redstone credit card is 5% gas and restaraunts.

[GZG]

is a $3k cap enough for you? 

I agree above with redstone, but if you're skittish that might end up getting nerfed at some point, I wouldn't blame you, but it's better. If you are willing to sign up with them and wait it out to see if you'll get a pre-approval, it shouldn't even be a HP.

the sam's club synch MC has 5% on $6k per year if you're a sam's club member 

not sure about pump vs. at the register, hopefully somebody can chime in on that 

[okurosetta]

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@Rooster01 wrote:

Looking at all the cards available it seems like the USAA card is my best option. Am I missing anything? Anyone know if it works for inside the station purchases?

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I have used the USAA card inside at Stewart's (a convenience store/gas station chain in the eastern part of upstate NY) and it has given 5% back - in fact the main one I've used it at doesn't even have gas. With that said, Stewart's doesn't code differently for inside vs outside (and plenty of gas stations do), so I'd have to do more testing to know for sure.

I think the USAA card is a decent option if you're not going to go over $3k in gas per year, with some asterisks:

• Redstone Visa Signature also gives 5% on gas but with a much higher cap at $7k, plus it also gives 5% on restaurants (as well as 3% in several categories and 1.5% on everything else) and has a $150 sign-up bonus
• Since the USAA card does not have a sign-up bonus, it would take a long time to out-earn a card that does have a bonus - for example Wells Fargo Autograph currently has a $300 sign-up bonus and gives 3% on gas (as well as several other categories), so it would take $15,000 in gas spend on the USAA card to begin out-earning the Autograph, given its $300 sign-up bonus being factored in ($300 divided by .02, as the USAA card has 2% higher cashback) - and since the USAA card has the $3k cap, that is at least five years to get there
• And if you are not the type to factor in sign-up bonuses, the Abound Visa Platinum gives 5% on gas without a cap as well as 5% in rotating categories

[NAVYCHOP]

It's a great card for the 5 percent bonus.  I personally use the Costco card for 4 percent gas purchases as I save the 5 percent rebate for military exchange and commissary purchases.  I believe I have read on here that USAA uses FICO Mortgage 2 for credit card applications which often shows a lower score than the new FICO scores.

[Rooster01]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

3k cap per year gas only is enough for me by far. I averaged $122/m last year.

I will take a longer look at Redstone. They are probably worth doing as long as they don't nerf it in the future. The concern there is that I have just received the Venture X card . I have 1500 for a trip downpayment and 750 for tires/inspection ready to put on it, but still need to complete it's SUB. Redstone has a SUB for 1500 in spend. I don't think I can organically meet it at the same time. I am aware that manufactured spnd exists, but I am not experienced with the process. I might just need to wait  3-6 months.

[user979797]

I use this card for my personal gas purchases. Inside or outside at the stations I frequent it codes as 5% (as well as other services like certain car washes and other automotive services) and I do not exceed the 3K yearly cap so this card has been wonderful for me. I also have my car insurance through USAA so it's streamlined together which gives me one less login and app to utilize... Great for my OCD.

You do not have to have a savings account with USAA to obtain their credit products. Most of their cards also come with a 0% intro on BTs for 18 months, which I myself took advantage of. Their offers page can provide you with pre approved offers which can help with approval odds. Customer service has always been great when I have had to call them.

We have around the same general credit score and I got approved recently for this card with USAA. Every card has pros and cons and usually there is always something better somewhere else so just pick the one YOU think will work best for you and I hope you find the gas card that will benefit you and that you'll like.  

[Bockrocker]

The Redstone seems a much better deal.  Plus it's a Visa.

Either way it's probably worth waiting for a good SUB you can complete.  USAA occasionally runs an increased bonus of $200 for all their cards (most recently in March 2022).  Your spend is low enough that the difference between a maxed out 5% card and a standard 2% is like $50/year.