CardRewardsEditorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Our analysis is based on publicly available card data and is reviewed regularly by our editorial team. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content. Last updated: June 2026.
Ranked by effective value per dollar at Car Rental Express — including welcome offer math, redemption value, and annual fee.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
Rakuten American Express Card earns the top spot for Car Rental Express purchases at 6.3¢ per dollar — no annual fee, factoring in welcome offers and ongoing rewards. We ranked every card in our database against Car Rental Express purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. The list below orders cards by net value to you, not by what pays the biggest affiliate commission. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some of the headline value for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
First Electronic Bank
Ranked by effective value per dollar at Car Rental Express — including welcome offer math, redemption value, and annual fee.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
Rakuten American Express Card earns the top spot for Car Rental Express purchases at 6.3¢ per dollar — no annual fee, factoring in welcome offers and ongoing rewards. We ranked every card in our database against Car Rental Express purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. The list below orders cards by net value to you, not by what pays the biggest affiliate commission. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some of the headline value for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
First Electronic Bank
Ranked by effective value per dollar at Car Rental Express — including welcome offer math, redemption value, and annual fee.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
Rakuten American Express Card earns the top spot for Car Rental Express purchases at 6.3¢ per dollar — no annual fee, factoring in welcome offers and ongoing rewards. We ranked every card in our database against Car Rental Express purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. The list below orders cards by net value to you, not by what pays the biggest affiliate commission. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some of the headline value for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
First Electronic Bank
Amex
Capital One
Rakuten American Express Card earns 6.3¢ per dollar at Car Rental Express, the highest in our database. Without an annual fee, the math is simple — every dollar you spend earns immediately. It's the right pick if you want maximum value on this category and don't mind a focused rewards structure.
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Rakuten Purchases Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten American Express CardFirst Electronic Bank | 4% cash back | 6.3¢/$ | $0 | — | amex |
| American Express Gold CardAmex | 1x Membership Rewards | 1.8¢/$ | $325 | $212 | amex |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 2x Venture Miles | 3.7¢/$ | $395 | $315 | visa |
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for StudentsBank Of America | 3x points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 1.5x ThankYou Points | 2.3¢/$ | $595 | $762.50 | mastercard |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 1.25x Venture Miles | 2.3¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| Navy Federal Flagship Rewards® CardNavy Federal | 2x Navy Federal Nrewards | 2.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardBank Of America | 3x Bank Of America Points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardAmex | 4x Hilton Honors | 2.0¢/$ | $150 | $100 | amex |
| Bilt Obsidian CardCardless | 1x Bilt Rewards | 2.0¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
Other brands in Car Rentals where the top picks above also earn well.
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →Amex
Capital One
Rakuten American Express Card earns 6.3¢ per dollar at Car Rental Express, the highest in our database. Without an annual fee, the math is simple — every dollar you spend earns immediately. It's the right pick if you want maximum value on this category and don't mind a focused rewards structure.
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Rakuten Purchases Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten American Express CardFirst Electronic Bank | 4% cash back | 6.3¢/$ | $0 | — | amex |
| American Express Gold CardAmex | 1x Membership Rewards | 1.8¢/$ | $325 | $212 | amex |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 2x Venture Miles | 3.7¢/$ | $395 | $315 | visa |
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for StudentsBank Of America | 3x points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 1.5x ThankYou Points | 2.3¢/$ | $595 | $762.50 | mastercard |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 1.25x Venture Miles | 2.3¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| Navy Federal Flagship Rewards® CardNavy Federal | 2x Navy Federal Nrewards | 2.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardBank Of America | 3x Bank Of America Points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardAmex | 4x Hilton Honors | 2.0¢/$ | $150 | $100 | amex |
| Bilt Obsidian CardCardless | 1x Bilt Rewards | 2.0¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
Other brands in Car Rentals where the top picks above also earn well.
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →Amex
Capital One
Rakuten American Express Card earns 6.3¢ per dollar at Car Rental Express, the highest in our database. Without an annual fee, the math is simple — every dollar you spend earns immediately. It's the right pick if you want maximum value on this category and don't mind a focused rewards structure.
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Rakuten Purchases Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten American Express CardFirst Electronic Bank | 4% cash back | 6.3¢/$ | $0 | — | amex |
| American Express Gold CardAmex | 1x Membership Rewards | 1.8¢/$ | $325 | $212 | amex |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 2x Venture Miles | 3.7¢/$ | $395 | $315 | visa |
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for StudentsBank Of America | 3x points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 1.5x ThankYou Points | 2.3¢/$ | $595 | $762.50 | mastercard |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 1.25x Venture Miles | 2.3¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| Navy Federal Flagship Rewards® CardNavy Federal | 2x Navy Federal Nrewards | 2.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardBank Of America | 3x Bank Of America Points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardAmex | 4x Hilton Honors | 2.0¢/$ | $150 | $100 | amex |
| Bilt Obsidian CardCardless | 1x Bilt Rewards | 2.0¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
Other brands in Car Rentals where the top picks above also earn well.
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →
