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The right credit card for moving can help you foot the bill and earn a fair amount of rewards at the same time. But if rewards aren’t a priority, you can still make the most of a credit card during your move by leaning on convenient features and benefits.
If you’re hoping to make the most of a credit card for your move, you’ll want to look for cards with welcome offers, rewards on common moving expenses, introductory APRs on purchases (or even balance transfers) and other benefits. To help you make the right choice, here are our top credit card picks for anyone planning a move.
Comparing the best credit cards for moving
Top credit cards for moving
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a solid rewards credit card that offers a great rewards rate and generous welcome bonus. You can use it to pay for all your moving expenses which could put you on track to earn an industry-high welcome offer. Then, you can apply that bonus and all of the points you earn from its rewards categories to your expenses or redeem them for future travel.
Pros
Its high welcome offer can provide a ton of value for offsetting a chunk of your moving expenses or for future travel.
Its annual credits and anniversary points bonus go a long way toward offsetting its annual fee.
Cons
The $95 annual fee could cut into your rewards earnings if you don’t take advantage of the card’s perks and benefits.
This card lacks a 0 percent intro APR offer on purchases or balance transfers, which might not be ideal if you want to finance your moving expenses.
The Citi Diamond Preferred Card has one of the longest balance transfer offers around, making it one of the best balance transfer credit cards. When you’re moving, a balance transfer can help you shift your current debt or new moving expenses from one card to another to avoid excessive interest charges.
Pros
There is no annual fee, so you can keep costs low while consolidating your debt and curbing interest charges.
Standard cardholder perks lend convenience and savings, like access to Citi Flex Loans, Citi Easy Deals and Citi Entertainment.
Cons
This card does not offer rewards so you can’t earn money back on purchases.
You must transfer your balances within the first four months to qualify for this card’s intro offer.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers the best of both worlds — the ability to earn ongoing cash rewards along with a respectable introductory APR on both purchases and qualifying balance transfers from account opening. If you’ve got some major purchases coming up due to a pending move, these features can definitely come in handy. It also has a decent sign-up bonus, which is relatively easy to earn for anyone swiping their card for moving expenses.
Pros
Earn rewards on all new purchases while temporarily managing debt interest-free with its intro APR offer.
You won’t need to worry about offsetting an annual fee with rewards earnings, helping you keep costs low during a pricey process like moving.
Cons
You can’t redeem rewards with travel partners for boosted value, a feature available on several other cards.
If you spend frequently in specific categories, like groceries and dining, then you might lose out on bonus rewards with a tiered card.
The Chase Freedom Flex can be rewarding for people with varied expenses and who might be making their move via car. The Chase Freedom Flex 2024 bonus categories for July through September 2024 include gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations, making it an ideal choice for fueling up between your old and new home. You’ll also have a chance to earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 within your first three months — a 40 percent return for your spending.
Pros
This card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points which you can redeem in a variety of ways.
There’s no annual fee so you can keep costs low while earning a generous welcome offer and best-in-class rewards rate in several rotating categories.
Cons
Its boosted earning rate in rotating bonus categories requires activation, and if you forget, you’ll only earn 1 percent on that quarter’s categories.
Rotating bonus categories may not match your spending for a particular quarter so it will dampen your rewards potential.
The Bilt Mastercard won’t be of much use as you move, but if you’re moving into an apartment, condo, townhome or other rental unit then it’s a must-have. It’s the only card to reward you generously for rent payments while also skipping the processing fee. It includes several other boosted categories too, like dining and travel, but this card stands out for its rewards for rent payments.
Pros
Earn points on rent without processing fees eating into your earnings (up to 100,000 points per calendar year).
You can transfer your points to one of 16 hotel or airline partners, potentially increasing the value of your rewards.
Cons
Competing travel and cash back cards offer better, more consistent, bonus rewards rates without any caveats.
It lacks a welcome offer, and moving is a prime opportunity to spend money to secure a generous sign-up bonus.
How to choose a credit card for moving
When choosing the best credit card for moving, you’ll want the best features that work for your move — whether it’s earning rewards from your moving expenses or being able to finance your moving costs over time with intro offers. Here’s what you should pay close attention to when choosing:
Welcome bonus: Of course, getting the highest welcome bonus possible is ideal, but make sure that you can time your expenses to ensure you’ll meet the spending requirements within the given timeframe for the bonus.
Intro APR offers: If you prefer to finance your moving expenses, a lengthy intro APR offer on new purchases could be beneficial.
Rewards rate: Look for categories that match your moving expenses. The more you can earn back on your moving costs, the better.
Travel redemptions: Some of the best travel credit cards offer boosted redemptions for travel accommodations and a long list of transfer partners, which can help you maximize the rewards you’ll earn on your moving expenses.
Benefits: Perks and features like ongoing rewards, annual credits, cellphone insurance, travel protections and extended purchase warranties can provide value even when your move is over.
Frequently asked questions
Having a good credit score, a FICO score between 670 and 850, can help lower your moving costs by improving your chances of securing housing and getting lower interest rates on credit cards that can help you with moving expenses.
The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card is optimal for rent payments because it rewards points without transaction fees and has no annual fee.
Applying for a new credit card before you move can help you maximize rewards and welcome offers. Aim for a two-month buffer before your move so you can make all of your purchases within the typical window for a welcome offer (about three months).
The bottom line
There are plenty of ways your moving budget can expand well beyond your initial projections. Having a credit card with the right features can provide some relief in the form of rewards, bonuses, perks and extra funding. For instance, Cards like the Citi Diamond Preferred offer unique features like flex loans and entertainment access, while the Chase Freedem Flex earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
If you’re ready to apply for a credit card that will help you move, find out which cards match your credit profile with Bankrate’s CardMatch tool. Once you’ve narrowed in on the right pick, start packing for the next exciting phase of your life. Hopefully, you’ll have everything you need to make your move smooth, successful and cost-effective.
