17 Things To Do When You Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card [2026]

You’ve waited your 7 to 10 business days after your card approval, and hooray — your Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card has finally arrived in the mail. But don’t start shopping just yet. There are a few things you should know before using the card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of the most valuable starter cards out there for frequent travelers and foodies who love dining out, especially when considering the cost-to-value proposition (it comes with some useful benefits and a low annual fee). However, you’ll want to understand the benefits, perks, limitations, and bonus categories on the card before you start spending in order to maximize your card membership and make sure they outweigh the $95 annual fee.

This guide will walk you through everything you should do when you receive your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Make sure to complete these steps before making a purchase.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Overview

Before we get started, here’s a brief overview of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. If you haven’t yet applied, now is the perfect time to do so.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% 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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, gas, EV charging, vacation homes, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance and emergency evacuation. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation homes (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

1. Activate Your Card

The first thing you should do after getting your card is to activate it. This is a quick and easy process that can be completed by calling the number on the card’s sticker. Alternatively, you can call Chase customer service at 800-432-3117.

You can also activate your Chase Sapphire Preferred card online by logging in to your existing Chase account, if you already have one. If you don’t, you can set up an online account and activate your card online by clicking here.

2. Plan for Meeting Your Minimum Spend Requirement

The current welcome offer for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is:

• Earn 75,000 100,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

I always suggest opening a card when you know a significant expense is coming up, such as a purchase like an engagement ring, a big vacation, or a home renovation.

I also recommend setting a calendar alert to ensure you meet the spending threshold. It’s best to complete the required spending a few days before the 3 months are up. This way, you can ensure that those final purchases post to your statement on time and that you receive your welcome offer points.

3. Sign up for DoorDash Benefits

Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders receive special DoorDash benefits, including a complimentary DashPass membership for at least a year, valued at $120. The membership offers $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees (you must activate your membership by December 31, 2027). You also get a $10 promo each month on nonrestaurant orders like groceries and shopping.

Our best tip for maximizing this benefit is to reach the $12 mark for delivery, as DashPass members receive free delivery on orders of $12 or higher before tax. However, certain larger stores, such as Target, don’t offer free delivery until you reach the $25 mark. If you attempt to use your $10 credit on a delivery order that’s below $12, the taxes and delivery fees will likely outweigh any savings.

Although a perk of your Chase Sapphire Preferred card membership is reduced service fees, you may want to pick up your order instead to avoid paying the service fee altogether.

Hot Tip:

You may still be able to order food with the $10 monthly nonrestaurant credit. Here’s how to use your DoorDash benefits to do so.

4. Use Your Statement Credit for a Hotel Booking in Chase Travel

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a $100 hotel statement credit, which cardholders can use to book hotels in Chase Travel every cardmember year. The only caveat to this benefit is remembering to use it, as no enrollment is required.

To book your hotel, head to Chase Travel and log in to your Chase account. Ensure you select your Chase Sapphire Preferred card, then choose hotels and search for your destination or hotel. Pick your desired hotel, complete the booking information, and click Complete Checkout. You should see the credit posted to your account within a couple of days.

5. Book Travel and Dining

One of the best perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is the bonus points you can earn on travel and dining. The card offers the following:

• 5x points on Chase Travel
• 3x points on vacation homes, such as Airbnb and Vrbo
• 2x points on all other travel
• 3x points on dining (worldwide)

Spending in these bonus categories is an easy way to earn more Chase Ultimate Rewards points, meet your minimum spending requirement, and obtain your welcome offer faster.

6. Add Your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to Your Streaming Accounts

Immediately add your Chase Sapphire Preferred card to your streaming accounts to earn 3x points. This is an easy, passive bonus category that allows you to earn additional points on purchases made each month.

The following streaming services are valid for earning the 3x bonus: Apple Music, Apple TV, Disney+, ESPN+, Fubo TV, Hulu, Max, Netflix, Pandora, Paramount+, Peacock, Showtime, SiriusXM, Sling, Spotify, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and Vudu.

7. Do Your Grocery Shopping Online

You get 3x points for online grocery shopping on your Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but the bonus isn’t valid at Walmart, Target, or any wholesale clubs.

This is an easy way to get extra points for shopping you’d already be doing anyway, because everyone needs groceries.

A hack for maximizing this benefit is to actually go to the grocery store to do your shopping, but check out through the app and pay with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. This triggers the online groceries category, allowing you to earn additional bonus points, even though you’re still shopping in person. Popular grocery stores that have apps are Fry’s, Harris Teeter, HEB, Kroger, Publix, Smith’s Food and Drug, Sprouts, and Whole Foods.

8. Fill Up Your Gas Tank or Charge Your Car

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns 3x points at gas stations and EV charging stations, so each time you head to the pump or the charger, use your card for your purchase.

You can easily rack up a lot of points by prioritizing using your Chase Sapphire Preferred card on gas and/or EV charging purchases — they are common expenses, and you may be doing it quite often.

9. Activate Your Apple TV Subscription

You get a year of complimentary Apple TV with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. But you have to be quick about when you activate this benefit. The deadline is December 31, 2026, so be sure to activate it when you get your card or set a reminder to do so before the end of the year, so you don’t miss out on the great entertainment this streaming service offers.

10. Understand the Temporary Bonus Categories

If you’ve been thinking about getting a Peloton bike or using Lyft, now’s the time, because these businesses are offering temporary bonuses.

For Peloton purchases of $150 or more, you earn 5x points through December 31, 2027. And through September 30, 2027, you get 5x points on Lyft rides.

11. Note Your Renewal Date

Mark your calendar for your card renewal date, as that is when you know your annual fee will hit.

12. Add Authorized Users

It costs nothing extra to add authorized users to your Chase Sapphire Preferred card account. Their spending counts toward your minimum spend requirement, and they get to utilize all the bonus categories available. Authorized users get their own set of DoorDash benefits, as well as travel protections when booking travel with the card.

13. Understand Your Travel and Purchase Protections

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card (and any authorized user cards) come with a useful set of travel and purchase protections, which include the following:

• Auto rental coverage: If you decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver (CDW), you receive primary coverage, which provides up to $60,000 in reimbursement for theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles. You must charge the entire rental cost to your card to get this benefit.
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: If you need to cancel or cut your trip short for severe weather or illness, you could be reimbursed for up to $10,000 per traveler and $20,000 for the trip for prepaid, nonrefundable costs.
• Trip delay reimbursement: If you experience common carrier delays of more than 12 hours (or have to stay overnight), this benefit covers expenses such as meals and accommodations (up to $500 per traveler).
• Travel accident insurance: Get up to $500,000 in accidental death or dismemberment coverage if you pay for transportation with your card (flights, buses, trains, or cruises).
• Lost luggage reimbursement: Receive up to $3,000 per traveler for the replacement or repair of checked or carry-on luggage that is damaged, stolen, or lost.
• Baggage delay insurance: Receive up to $100 per day for up to 5 days for essential purchases if your baggage is delayed for more than 6 hours.
• Travel and emergency assistance: Receive complimentary legal and medical referrals, as well as other emergency and travel assistance services, should you encounter problems while traveling.
• Roadside assistance: Call the service provider and get roadside assistance during an emergency (service fees will be billed to your card).
• Emergency evacuation and transportation: If you are more than 100 miles from home on a trip and suffer an injury or become ill, requiring emergency evacuation, you may be covered for up to $100,000 in medical services and transportation.
• Purchase protections: Fraud protection, zero-liability protection, fraud alerts, 120-day purchase protection for up to $500 per item for damage or theft, extended warranty protection of up to 4 years, and enhanced security for chip purchases.

Just make sure to pay for your travel expenses and purchases with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card to receive the protections.

14. Make a Plan To Use Your Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Credit

If you don’t already have Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS, now is the time to get one of them since you receive an up to $120 application fee credit when you pay with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. This benefit is valid every 4 years, which coincides with renewal time for these programs.

If you already have, for example, Global Entry, and your renewal is years away, consider paying for a family member or friend’s application fee with your card to receive the credit. Or, for another example, if you have TSA PreCheck but want to travel overseas and enjoy the less-stressful return home with Global Entry (it includes TSA PreCheck), pay your application fee with your card to receive the credit.

15. Stay Alert for Chase’s Transfer Bonuses

The ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners is one of the top perks of this card. And even more beneficial? Transferring when Chase offers transfer bonuses. Check your account regularly to stay on top of transfer bonuses, which will allow you to maximize your points even further.

Hot Tip:

Maximize your Chase Ultimate Rewards by using our transfer partner calculator tool.

16. Download the Chase App

Download the Chase mobile app, which makes tasks like paying your bill, checking your rewards balance, and tracking your spending easy.

17. Shop Chase Offers

Use Chase Offers to get top discounts and offers. Check your account weekly to find your refreshed Chase Offers. Don’t forget to enroll in each deal you want to use and add it to your card using the small blue plus sign before you shop.

Final Thoughts

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a lot of value for a low annual fee, but you can only take advantage of the benefits if you understand them first. Be sure to follow the steps in this post when you first receive your card to maximize its perks and earn a lot of points.