6 Best Credit Cards to Use for Your Next Lyft Ride

Using the right credit card for your next Lyft can help you take your money farther.
Last updated March 24, 2023 | By Jennifer Calonia
Woman hailing a Lyft driver

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Whether you need a designated driver after a dinner out with friends or you frequently travel for business and need to get from point A to point B, a Lyft is just a few taps away. But the benefits of ridesharing don’t stop at convenience — you can also maximize your savings on each ride.

Armed with the best credit card for Lyft, you can earn more rewards or get bonus points and credits to curb your spending while using the rideshare app.

How to choose the best credit card for Lyft rides

There are many options available when using a rewards credit card to earn perks with your Lyft rides. But to find the best credit card for Lyft, consider what else the card can offer outside of bonuses for rideshare trips. Review each card’s benefits, including bonus rewards in other travel-based categories, whether it offers on-the-go travel protections, or even purchase protection.

Although there may be opportunities to maximize the benefits of a particular credit card, also be aware of any limitations that might keep you from taking advantage of these program perks. For example, a card may impose a maximum amount of bonus rewards you can earn on Lyft purchases. Read through the fine print that might make some card benefits not as worthwhile.

It’s also important to weigh the advantages of a credit card, including Lyft credits or discounts, against the upfront costs of carrying the card. Assess the fees and APR against your potential Lyft savings to see what might be a more affordable option in the long run.

4 best personal cards for Lyft

Card Annual fee Why it’s great for Lyft
Chase Sapphire Reserve® $550 Earn 10X points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card $95 Earn 5X points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Citi Premier® Card $95 Earn 3X per dollar spent on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels; take five Lyft rides each month and get a $10 in-app credit.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card $0 Earn 5% cash back on two categories you choose (up to $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter), which can include ground transportation, such as Lyft and Uber

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

When the partnership between Chase and Lyft was announced in Jan. 2020, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® jumped to the top of our list. With this card, you'll earn a whopping 10X points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually). 

In addition, cardholders are eligible for two free years of Lyft Pink All Access (valued at $199/year) when a membership is activated by Dec. 31, 2024. With a Lyft Pink All Access membership comes 10% off Lux rides, free Grubhub+ for one year, free SIXT car rental upgrades, free unlimited ebike and scooter unlocks, and more.

And the travel perks don’t stop there. Cardholders receive an annual $300 travel credit and up to a $100 credit every four years for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, getting you through airport security lines and into a Lyft faster. You'll also earn 3X on other travel and dining, and 5X on flights purchased through Ultimate Rewards (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually).

Currently, Chase is offering the chance to earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 

Get more info in our Chase Sapphire Reserve review.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is like the Sapphire Reserve’s younger sibling. travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards are eligible for 5X points per dollar spent.

Chase Sapphire Preferred users can also earn 2X per dollar spent on other travel purchases; 1X on all other eligible purchases; and 3X on eligible dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases.

New cardholders can also earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

For more info, go to our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.

Citi Premier® Card

Lyft charges on the Citi Premier® Card are eligible for the card’s travel bonus category. For the same annual fee as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can earn 3X per dollar spent on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels.

You can also earn 1X per dollar spent on all other purchases, and for every dollar spent on .

The card is currently offering 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points when you spend a minimum of $4,000 in the first 3 months of opening your new account.

As an added bonus, the Citi Premier is included in Lyft’s World Elite Mastercard program which currently offers a monthly $10 credit straight to your Lyft app after your fifth ride each month.

For more details, check out our Citi Premier Card review.

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

The biggest draw in using the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is that it offers flexibility with your earning potential. Each quarter, you get the opportunity to earn 5% cash back on two categories you choose (up to $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter). One of the available categories is "ground transportation," which includes rideshare services like Lyft and Uber.

You can also earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening. The card also has a $0 annual fee, which is a benefit in an of itself.

For all the details, check out our U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card review.

2 top business card for Lyft

Card Annual fee Why it’s great for Lyft
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card $95 Earn 5X points per dollar spent on Lyft rides 
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express $0 (Terms apply) Earn 2X Membership Rewards points on everyday eligible business purchases up to $50,000 each year, and 1X points on eligible purchases after that

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

As a Chase Ink Business Preferred user, you can earn 5X points per dollar spent on Lyft rides. Other travel; shipping purchases; internet, cable and phone services; and advertising purchases earn your business 3X per dollar spent, up to $150,000 per anniversary year.

The issuer is also offering the chance to earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

For more, go to our Chase Ink Business Preferred review.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

If you prefer to earn points without paying an annual fee, the American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card may be a good choice for Lyft purchases. It has a $0 annual fee, but you also earn 2X Membership Rewards points on everyday eligible business purchases up to $50,000 each year, and 1X points on eligible purchases after that

The card currently also offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months (then 17.99% - 25.99% (variable)).

Check out our American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card Review.

Methodology

To identify the best credit cards for Lyft users, we compared cards from multiple issuers that have rewards programs. We assessed features like Lyft-specific perks and annual fees to recommend the best options for people who use the ridesharing app regularly. We did not include all cards available.

No matter which of these credit cards you use as your default method of payment, finding the best credit card for Lyft pays you back in many ways.

#1 Premium Travel Credit Card

Current Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$550

Rewards Rate

5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
  • Priority Pass airport lounge access
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs

Drawbacks

  • High annual fee
  • Excellent credit required
Card Details
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more

Author Details

Jennifer Calonia Jennifer Calonia is a native Los Angeles-based writer and editor with eight years of experience in personal finance. She's passionate about helping others pay off debt, navigate family finance, and use rewards credit cards, responsibly. She's been featured on Forbes, The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Credit Karma, Nerdwallet, and more. To find more information about her work, visit JenniferCalonia.com.