Do Moving Trucks and Storage Earn Rewards?
How moving costs code
A moving-truck rental rings up under a truck-and-trailer-rental category, not the auto-rental travel code that a car rental uses, so it does not earn a travel bonus on most cards. Self-storage units code under a storage category that is likewise outside the usual bonus buckets. Both earn the base rate on nearly every card. Contrast this with how rental cars earn a travel bonus.
The best card for a move
Since there is no moving bonus to capture, a strong flat-rate card earns the most across the truck, the storage unit, boxes, and supplies. And because a move is often a big, one-time expense, it can be a smart time to open a card with a welcome bonus you can unlock with the spending. Our best cash back cards guide covers the flat-rate earners.
Watch the deposits and holds
Truck rentals and some storage facilities place a hold or deposit on your card, which temporarily reduces available credit but is not a charge you earn on until it settles. Use a card with enough headroom, and keep utilization in mind if the hold is large. Value your points at a flat 1 cent so a move does not tempt you into overspending for rewards.
Frequently asked questions
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