Great Card If
- You’re a USAA member.
- You want a 0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening, then a variable regular APR of 11.15% to 25.15% applies. (rates & fees).
- You want a card with $0 annual fees (rates & fees) and no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).
- You need travel protections.
Don’t Get If
- You want a card that earns travel rewards or cash-back rewards.
- You’d prefer a card that comes with a welcome bonus offer.
USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card: Is It Worth It?
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card is a good option for USAA members who are in the market for a credit card with a $0 annual fee and a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks.
This APR offer allows you to move existing debt from another credit card to your USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card to help you pay it off faster, thanks to the 0% interest period, or finance a new large purchase with your card while giving yourself 15 months to pay it off without interest accruing in the interim.
USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card Top Benefits
Here is a full look at all of the benefits you receive from the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card:
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: When you book your rental car with your card and decline the rental company’s auto coverage, you receive USAA auto rental coverage worldwide on rental periods up to 31 days. In your country of residence, this coverage is secondary to any other insurance or coverage available to you.
- Baggage delay reimbursement: If your checked baggage is delayed by 4 or more hours, you can be reimbursed up to $100 a day, for up to 3 days, toward essentials such as clothing or toiletries.
- Cell phone protection: When you charge your monthly cell phone bill to your card, you can be reimbursed up to $500 if your cell phone is stolen or damaged.
- Extended warranty protection: Extend the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of 3 years or less on items purchased with your card by an additional year.
- Purchase security: When you pay for new items with your card, they are covered against theft or damage for the first 90 days from the date of purchase for up to $1,000 per claim and $10,000 per cardholder.
- Travel accident insurance: When you purchase your ticket for air travel, ferry, cruise ship, train, or bus transportation with your card, you can receive coverage for loss of life or limb for up to $500,000.
- Travel and emergency assistance service: If you experience a covered illness or emergency while traveling, you can receive medical and legal referrals, prescription assistance, travel planning, and other services.
- Trip cancellation and interruption: You can receive coverage of up to $1,500 per person for nonrefundable prepaid passenger fares when your travel is interrupted or canceled for a covered reason.
Alternative Cards to the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card
If you’re in the market for a 0% intro APR credit card, then the Wells Fargo Reflect card is compelling, thanks to its massive 0% introductory APR offer. The card offers a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a variable APR of 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% (rates & fees). This gives you 6 more months of an introductory APR period than the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card. Plus, the card has a $0 annual fee (rates & fees) and comes with benefits like cell phone protection.
The Freedom Unlimited card should definitely be on your shortlist of potential credit cards to add to your wallet.
Not only does it match the 15-month 0% intro APR offer of the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card, it also earns rewards for all your daily purchases. With it, you earn 5% back on travel purchases through Chase Travel, 5% back on Lyft rides (through September 30, 2027), 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
And it still comes with great perks like auto rental coverage, trip cancellation insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection, and has a $0 annual fee.
