Last Updated on January 16, 2021 by Michael

Uber-Visa-Barclays-credit-card

Choosing which credit card to pay for travel is about more than just how to finance your purchase. Many travel companies now offer credit cards that earn travel rewards toward future trips. If you like Uber and you like to eat out, the Uber Visa Card might be your perfect match.

Launched in 2017, this co-branded credit card is a partnership between Barclays and Uber. So how does it stack up for travelers?

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First and foremost, the Uber Visa Card was designed with riders in mind. Cardholders earn a 2 percent bonus on Uber purchases, and they can also earn bonuses on other travel-related purchases, including restaurant, and online purchases. It’s also very mobile-friendly. You can apply for the card through your Uber app and have it activated and earning rewards with just a few clicks and swipes.

Uber users tend to be a younger, on-the-go demographic, and the Uber Visa card’s reward program seems designed for an out-and-about lifestyle. You get:

  • 4 points per dollar on restaurant, takeout and bar purchases
  • 3 points per dollar on travel purchases, including airlines, hotels and vacation rentals
  • 2 points per dollar on online purchases, including Uber, online shopping and music streaming
  • 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

Uber Visa Card Benefits We Really Like

There’s no annual fee. Nothing to complain about there.

It’s easy to start earning. Once you apply through the Uber app and get approved, you can start using it to pay for rides and earn rewards. (Barclays will also send you a physical card in the mail.) Earned points show up in your account right away, and you can immediately redeem them for Uber rides, UberEATS orders, cash back and gift cards.

The card comes with strong travel benefits. Do you have a high credit score? You might qualify for the Uber Visa Signature version of the card, which comes with a robust collection of travel perks, including extended warranty, price protection, purchase assurance, baggage delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption protection, car rental insurance and more. These benefits make the Uber Visa Card a good bet for both purchasing travel and traveling abroad.

You can earn a $50 credit for online services. Spend $5,000 in a year and the Uber Visa Card awards you a $50 credit you can apply to a favorite online service, with choices that include Pandora, Spotify, Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime.

There’s no foreign transaction fee. Going overseas? You can use the card while traveling abroad without racking up extra charges. Usually reserved for premium cards with annual membership fees, this is a great perk.

You get cell phone protection. If you pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card, you can get up to $600 worth of cell phone coverage. All of the lines listed on your account are covered for theft and damage—for up to two claims per year to a maximum of $600 per claim.

Uber Visa Card Benefits We Think Are Just Okay

We’ve seen better sign-up bonuses. With the Uber Visa Card, you get 10,000 bonus points (worth $100) if you spend $500 on the card within the first 90 days. There are cards out there with cash back bonuses of $150 and greater, so this is nothing to write home about.

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Each point is worth one cent. That’s great if you like to keep things simple but it doesn’t do much for you if you want to maximize your rewards.

Uber Visa Card Benefits We Don’t Love

You can’t redeem points for travel. All your points stay in the Uber ecosphere. There’s no way to redeem your points for flights, hotel stays or other trip elements.

A low credit score means fewer benefits. If your credit card isn’t high, you might only qualify for the basic Uber Visa card, which has more paltry benefits. For example, the basic card lacks the extended warranty and free car rental insurance perks.

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