Can You Pay Insurance With a Credit Card?

The short answer: Most major auto and home insurers let you pay premiums by credit card with no extra fee, unlike tuition or taxes. That makes insurance excellent rewards spend and an easy way to hit a welcome-bonus minimum, especially if you pay the policy in full or annually. Confirm there is no fee and that it codes as a purchase.

Insurance is usually fee-free

Insurance is one of the friendliest big bills for card rewards: many major auto and home insurers accept credit cards at no extra charge, so unlike tuition or taxes, you keep all the rewards. A full annual auto or home premium can run hundreds to a few thousand dollars, which makes it a clean, fee-free chunk of spend toward points or a welcome bonus.

A welcome-bonus shortcut

Because premiums are large and recurring, they are a quiet way to clear a minimum spend. Paying a six-month or annual policy in one card charge can cover a big chunk of a new card requirement without buying anything you would not have bought anyway. If you have a card with a bonus to unlock, switching your insurance autopay to it is one of the easiest moves there is. See meeting minimum spend.

Check the fine print

A few caveats. Not every insurer is fee-free, some, particularly smaller or health insurers, add a surcharge, so confirm before you switch. Make sure the charge codes as a regular purchase rather than a cash equivalent, and as always, pay it off in full so interest does not eat the rewards. No card specifically bonuses insurance, so a flat 2 percent card or your welcome-bonus card is the right choice. See paying big bills with a card.

Frequently asked questions

Can you pay car insurance with a credit card?
Yes, most major auto insurers accept credit cards, and many charge no fee, so you keep the full rewards. A full six-month or annual premium paid by card is an easy, fee-free way to earn points or hit a welcome-bonus minimum. Confirm your insurer does not add a surcharge first.
Is it worth paying insurance with a credit card?
Usually yes, because most insurers do not charge a fee, so you earn rewards on money you were spending anyway. It is especially worthwhile for clearing a welcome-bonus minimum spend. Just confirm there is no surcharge and pay the balance in full.

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Bryce Casson

Bryce Casson, Founder of Cardocrat. Every card is ranked by what it actually returns, with all points valued at a flat 1 cent and offers verified against issuer sources. About the author.