Do You Earn Rewards on Tool and Equipment Rental?
How equipment rental codes
A dedicated tool or equipment rental company rings up under an equipment-rental services category code, outside the usual bonus buckets, so most cards earn their base rate. This covers everything from a floor sander to a mini-excavator. A deposit or hold is common on rentals, which temporarily reduces your available credit but is not a charge you earn on until it settles.
Home-improvement stores are the exception
If you rent tools from a home-improvement store like Home Depot or Lowe’s, the charge often codes as home improvement, so a card with that bonus earns its higher rate, as covered in home improvement store bonuses. The same rental from an independent equipment yard would earn only the base rate.
The best card for rentals
For a standalone rental yard, a strong flat-rate card earns the most; for a home-improvement store, a home-improvement card wins. Run your spending through the rewards calculator to compare, and see options in best cash back cards.
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