Capital One Venture Card Benefits for Active-Duty U.S. Military Members [$2,900+]

If you’re a military service member looking for simplicity in a credit card, the timing of today’s article featuring the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One. could be perfect.

We’ll talk about all the features and benefits of the card, of course, but it’s worth noting at the onset the added value you’ll receive as a result of the Service Members Relief Act (SCRA) and the Military Lending Act (MLA). These acts were passed to help alleviate the financial burden our service members can face.

While the acts apply to a multitude of financial transactions, our focus is on how Capital One applies the laws to the Capital One Venture card — and the resulting benefits for the military member.

Let’s look briefly at the acts and how the benefits of the card can provide bottom-line value, specifically for service members.

How Do the SCRA and MLA Work?

Military service requires commitment, sacrifice, and even financial challenges.

To help alleviate some of those financial challenges, acts were passed that oversaw how credit granted to military members was managed by lenders.

The SCRA was passed in 2003 and applies to credit granted to service members prior to active duty. The MLA, enacted in 2006, applies to credit acquired during active duty.

Initially, financial transactions such as mortgages, car loans, payday loans, and even some student loans, came under the law. In 2017, credit cards were also included.

In brief, here’s how the laws apply to credit cards.

• Interest rates charged on credit cards that were acquired prior to active duty are capped at 6% (SCRA).
• Credit cards acquired during active duty are subject to a 36% interest rate, referred to as the Military Annual Percentage Rate or MAPR (MLA). The MAPR includes all associated credit card fees as well.

How Capital One Applies These Laws

In terms of specifics for Capital One, the company grants military benefits to active-duty service members who qualify and caps interest rates at 4% on personal credit cards acquired prior to active duty.

Capital One does not waive annual fees for credit cards acquired during active-duty military service, only for those acquired while not on active duty. This is an important distinction for service members.

The benefits we’ll be discussing will apply to those cards during your active-duty service and for up to 1 year after.

Bottom Line:

Capital One provides military benefits for credit cards acquired by military members prior to active duty. Interest rates are capped at 4% and credit card fees are waived, including the annual fee.

Waiver of the Annual Fee ($95 Value)

One of the benefits of the Capital One Venture card for active-duty military members is the waiver of the $95 annual fee (rates & fees). The annual fee for a card that was acquired prior to active duty will be waived during your active duty service.

Earning Potential ($2,250 Value)

Earning rewards on your Capital One Venture card can be accomplished in several ways. Here’s how to maximize the earning potential of your card from day 1 after receiving your card.

Welcome Bonus Offer ($1,350 Value)

Immediately after being approved for the Capital One Venture card, you’ll have the opportunity to earn a welcome offer. Welcome offers vary but you can normally count on a bonus worth more than $1,000.

For example, we value Capital One miles at 1.8 cents each, resulting in a 75,000-mile welcome bonus worth $1,350.

For our latest valuation, check out our credit card and miles valuations, which are updated monthly.

Before applying, check for the most recent welcome offer here.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Referral Bonus Opportunities ($360 Value)

Referring friends and family members can help you earn hundreds of dollars worth of Capital One miles each year. For each referral that is approved, you could receive up to 20,000 miles, worth approximately $360.

Spending on the Card ($540 Value)

Spending on your Capital One Venture card is an easy way to earn Capital One miles. The card’s earning structure is also simple and easy to understand. Plus, you’ll always earn at least 2 miles per dollar spent on the card.

Here’s an example of how earnings can add up when spending on the Capital One Venture card:

• 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars via Capital One Travel
  • $2,000 spent = 10,000 miles
• 2x miles on all other travel
  • $4,000 spent = 8,000 miles
• 2x miles for all other purchases
  • $6,000 spent = 12,000 miles

Redemption Options (Value Varies)

The miles earned on your Capital One Venture card are not frequent flyer miles but flexible, redeemable rewards that can be redeemed in a variety of ways.

Here are the options you’ll have at redemption time:

• Redeem miles for travel via Capital One Travel at a value of 1 cent each
• Transfer to airline or hotel partners for award flights or hotel nights (value varies)
• Redeem miles for 1 cent each as a statement credit toward previous travel purchases
• General statement credits, cash, gift cards, Amazon, or PayPal (value varies)

The best value for your miles will be to transfer them to airline partners for award flights. We’ve put together some great suggestions for using your Capital One miles for maximum value.

Bottom Line:

You can earn Capital One miles quickly by qualifying for the welcome offer, referring friends and family, and spending on the Capital One Venture card. At redemption time, you’ll have several options, including redeeming miles via Capital One Travel, transferring to airline/hotel partners for greater potential value, and receiving a statement credit, gift cards, or shopping with select retailers.

Travel Protections (Value of $200+)

Travel protections can provide assistance should something go wrong during your trip. Travel benefits can make your trip more comfortable and/or save you money.

Let’s review the travel protections and benefits you’ll find on the Capital One Venture card and the potential value you could receive.

Car Rental Insurance ($200 Value)

Use your Capital One Venture card to reserve and pay for your entire car rental, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and receive protection for damage and theft of the rental car. Coverage is secondary within your country of residence, but primary when renting abroad. Terms do apply and some countries are specifically excluded.

CDW/LDW coverage can cost ~$20 per day. If you were to rent a vehicle just 10 days a year, you could save approximately $200.

Lost or Damaged Luggage (Value Varies)

Reimbursement for the actual cost of repairing or replacing your checked or carry-on luggage and personal property contained therein that is lost or damaged.

Travel Benefits (Value of $340)

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Fee Reimbursement ($120 Value)

Pay for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application or renewal fee with your card and receive a statement credit for the amount of the fee, up to $120, once every 4 years.

No Foreign Transaction Fees ($30 Value)

If you spend a lot abroad, foreign transaction fees can add up. Not so with the Capital One Venture card, as the card does not charge these fees (rates & fees). This benefit can be especially important for military members and their families.

Typically, foreign transaction fees are 3% of the total transaction. If you were to spend $1,000, you would be saving $30.

Capital One Lifestyle Collection Hotel Benefits ($50 Value)

Use your Capital One Venture card to book your stay with the Lifestyle Collection and receive elite-style benefits. Benefits include an upgraded room, when available, an experience credit of up to $50, complimentary Wi-Fi, and early check-in/late checkout when available.

Book your hotel stay via Capital One Travel and earn 5x miles or redeem your miles, at a value of 1 cent each, to pay for your stay.

Capital One and Plaza Premium Lounge Access ($90 Value)

Each year, you’ll receive 2 one-time lounge access passes you can use to visit a Capital One Lounge or Plaza Premium Lounge. Additional visits are $45 each.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Rental Car Program Status ($25 Value)

Receive a 1-car level upgrade, expedited vehicle pickup where available, and 25% additional Gold Plus Rewards Points with the complimentary Hertz Gold Plus Five Star status that comes with your card.

Master RoadAssist ($25 Value)

Take advantage of 24-hour toll-free assistance to help with services like towing, gas delivery, jumpstarts, and tire changes. Customer is responsible for any and all costs incurred.

Bottom Line:

The Capital One Venture card comes with several useful travel protections and benefits including car rental insurance, reimbursement for lost or damaged luggage, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement, no foreign transaction fees, hotel benefits, lounge passes, Hertz status, and Master RoadAssist.

Shopping Protections and Benefits ($100 Value)

Purchase Assurance and Extended Warranty Protection ($50 Value)

Purchase assurance, also known as purchase protection, covers eligible items purchased with your card for up to 90 days from the purchase date, for damage or theft, up to $500 per claim.

Extended Warranty covers eligible items that have manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less for 1 additional year.

Capital One Offers and Capital One Shopping ($50 Value)

Log in to your online card account and select Capital One Offers from retail and service providers, make the required purchase, and receive a statement credit. Capital One Shopping is a browser extension that automatically searches for coupons and price comparisons when you’re shopping online.

Hot Tip:

You do not need to be a Capital One cardholder to utilize the Capital One Shopping browser extension.

Qualification for Amex Military Benefits

It should now be apparent that the Capital One Venture card has the potential to add value for an active-duty service member.

Capital One does a thorough job of defining who qualifies for military benefits. You could receive benefits if you fall into any of these categories:

• Active-duty Army, Air Force (including Space Force), Marines, and Coast Guard, including reserves
• A reserve or full-time Army of Navy National Guard member who is on active duty
• A commissioned officer of NOAA or the Public Health Service on active duty
• U.S. citizens who are active-duty members of an allied nation’s military
• Qualifying spouses and eligible dependants of the active-duty service member

Military benefits for those listed above will apply to Capital One cards acquired prior to active-duty service. If you’re not on active duty, you may consider applying for a Capital One card. Here’s how to do that.

How To Apply for the Capital One Card

You may be approved for the Capital One Venture card with a credit score as low as 670 but we recommend a credit score of 700 or better to increase your chances.

If you want to find out your chances for approval without actually submitting an application for a Capital One credit card, use the risk-free CardMatch tool (the simplest option) or Capital One’s preapproval tool (which requires more information). Selecting either option will not result in a hard inquiry on your credit. The tools simply give you examples of cards for which you are most likely to be approved.

You’ll also want to check the Department of Defense database via the SCRA/MLA website to be sure your accurate current status is reflected in your record. This is the source Capital One uses to validate your status. If your spouse or eligible dependent is applying for a card, use the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) database to check their status.

Hot Tip:

There is no charge to add authorized users to your Capital One Venture card. Consider adding an authorized user prior to your active-duty deployment for assistance with managing payments and other transactions at your request.

How To Request Military Member Benefits

If you’ve acquired a Capital One credit card prior to active duty, you can request SCRA/MLA benefits during active duty by accessing your account online or contacting Capital One via mail, by fax, or in person.

Online

If you are a qualifying service member with a Capital One credit card, you can apply for Capital One military benefits online. If you’re applying for spouse or dependent benefits, you must apply via mail, fax, or in person at a local Capital One branch.

By Mail

You can request your benefits by mail by including a copy of your active-duty orders on official letterhead, your name, Social Security number, your active-duty start date, and the branch of service you are in. Mail this information to Capital One at this address:

Capital One, Attention SCRA Request, P.O. Box 30285, Salt Lake City, UT, 84130-0285

By Fax

You can fax your request for benefits, along with the supporting documentation as listed above, to 866-516-4023.

In Person

To apply in person, bring your ID and supporting documents to a Capital One banking branch.

Regardless of how you apply, you can expect to receive a reply within 2 credit card billing cycles.

Hot Tip:

You can request Capital One SCRA/MLA military benefits for up to 1 year after leaving active-duty service. Capital One military benefits can be applied retroactively.

Additional Recommended Capital One Cards for Active Military

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Because of its premium travel benefits and higher annual fee (that is waived during active-duty military service), the Capital One Venture X card*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One. can deliver great value for a military member.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Why We Like the Card for Active-Duty Military

• Waiver of the $395 annual fee during active-duty service (rates & fees)
• Up to $300 annual credit for travel purchased via Capital One Travel
• Complimentary worldwide lounge access with Priority Pass Select membership
• Cell phone protection

Once again, remember that the card cannot be acquired during active-duty service to qualify for Capital One military benefits.

To learn more about the Capital One Venture X card and its benefits for military members, check out our in-depth article.

Hot Tip:

If you prefer a no-annual-fee Capital One credit card during active-duty service, the Capital One VentureOne Credit Card*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One. has many of the same benefits as the Capital One Venture card but earns 1.25x miles per dollar on every purchase versus 2x miles (rates & fees).

Final Thoughts

While many major credit card issuers, including Chase and American Express, do not charge credit card fees for active-duty military members for cards acquired after September 2017, Capital One only waives fees for cards acquired outside of active-duty service.

For this reason, it can be more difficult to take advantage of military benefits with Capital One, although still advantageous if you qualify.

The benefit of having the Capital One Venture card is that the low annual fee, consistent earnings, and flexible redemption options make it a keeper beyond active-duty service.

For more on the best premium credit card options for active-duty military members, you’ll want to access our article highlighting cards that offer the best benefits available.

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For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa^® or Mastercard^® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Enrollment required through Capital One website or mobile app. Upon enrollment, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024.  Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier.  Additional terms apply.