A Complete Guide to Amex Blue Cash Preferred Benefits

One thing that makes American Express credit cards so popular is that they pair top-tier rewards with great perks. For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express benefits are hard to beat if you're looking for a great rewards card for everyday purchases. Take a look at all the included extras as well as the many ways to save with a Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred benefits

While purchase rewards are often the center of attention, they're just part of the many perks that come with a Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. What makes this everyday card one of the best credit cards on the market is that you'll also qualify for a range of benefits that can also help to offset the $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). This includes exclusive discounts and purchase protections. Let's break down the host of Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express benefits offered to all card holders.

Cash back rewards

At the heart of all great cash back cards are the purchase rewards -- and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a lot of them. With this everyday card, you'll earn cash rewards in the following categories:

• 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (capped at $6,000 a year in purchases)
• 6% cash back on select streaming services
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations
• 3% cash back on eligible transit purchases
• 1% cash back on everything else

When it comes to rewards, finding great gas credit cards is fairly easy. But finding one that also rewards you for everyday purchases in three other major categories is not. The U.S. gas and U.S. supermarkets rewards are a strong one-two punch, with the streaming and transit perks the cherry on top for this credit card. Terms apply.

Indeed, in the world of grocery credit cards, it's hard to beat the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express benefits. Taking the spending cap into consideration, the 6% cash back bonus category is good for up to $360 in rewards on supermarket purchases alone. Keep in mind that it only applies to actual U.S. supermarkets -- grocery purchases at big box stores and other retailers not specifically coded as a grocery store won't earn the 6% cash back. Terms apply.

You can redeem your cash back rewards as a statement credit on your Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express account. You'll need to earn at least $25 in cash back rewards to redeem your rewards for a statement credit. (Note that rewards redemptions can't be used to pay your minimum required credit card payment.)

Welcome offer

New cardholders can qualify for a welcome offer worth hundreds in cash back rewards. The size of the bonus can vary, but it's usually better than most of the competition.

At present, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers a welcome bonus of $250 as a statement credit when new cardholders spend $3,000 in their first 6 months. As with other credit cards with a sign-up bonus, you'll need to meet the specified spending requirement on your new card to earn the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express bonus. Terms apply.

Introductory 0% APR

Thanks to the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express benefits, card membership gets you 0% APR on your new purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months after opening your card account. This means you won't pay any interest on your purchases or transferred balances even if you carry a balance from month to month. At the end of the promotional period, the go-to rate is 19.24%-29.99% Variable. Terms apply (see rates and fees).

(Remember that you'll still need to make at least your minimum required payment every month during the introductory APR period.)

Amex Offers

All cardmembers enjoy access to the Amex Offers & Benefits portal, which contains dozens of exclusive discounts and deals with popular retailers. Offers can include purchase discounts and bonus cash back rewards. In most cases, you simply add the offer to your Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and get the deal automatically when you make your purchase. Some deals may require using a specific link to make your purchases. Terms apply.

Equinox+ monthly credit

Equinox+ is a comprehensive fitness app operated by high-end gym brand Equinox. If you've never heard of it, that's not surprising, as their physical locations are limited to major cities. But it may be worth getting to know if you're a cardholder. That's because cardholders receive up to $10 a month in statement credits towards an Equinox+ monthly membership. (Terms apply; enrollment required.)

There are a few caveats, including the need to enroll your card through your Amex account. You'll also need to sign up for the membership through a browser, as app purchases won't count, and be sure to pay with your eligible card. While the credit only covers about a quarter of the membership fee, it's a nice boost for folks who already are -- or would be -- interested in joining.

Return protection

If you need to return an eligible purchase within 90 days of sale, but the seller refuses your return, you may get reimbursed by Amex. Return protection* for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is limited to $300 per item, with a maximum of $1,000 per card per calendar year. The purchase must be made entirely with your Blue Cash Preferred card and within the U.S. or its territories to qualify. Terms apply.

Purchase protection

Enjoy up to 90 days of purchase protection** against accidental damage or theft during a covered event. You'll need to use your Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express to pay for your purchase. Coverage is limited to the amount charged to your card, up to $1,000 per claim, with a max of $50,000 per card per calendar year. In cases of natural disaster, the maximum amount you can get reimbursed per event is $500. Terms apply.

Disney Plus bundle monthly credit

In addition to offering hard-to-beat cash back on your streaming subscriptions, this card also has another way to save: a monthly credit for The Disney Bundle (that's the one with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+). You can get a $7 statement credit each month you spend $9.99 or more on the top-tier Disney+ bundle. That's up to $84 a year in credits. (Terms apply; enrollment required.) The only caveat is that you need to enroll in the benefit to earn the credit. You can do this through your Benefit Dashboard, and you only have to enroll once.

Extended warranty coverage

Covered purchases made with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express can qualify for an extra year on the existing manufacturer's warranty***. The original warranty must be for five years or less. And the additional year only extends the warranty’s original terms and conditions. This extended warranty coverage applies only to the amount charged to your card, with a maximum of $10,000 per item and $50,000 per card per calendar year. Terms apply.

Plan It®

With Plan It®, you can turn large purchases into easy-to-manage payment plans so you can pay off your purchase over time. You can select up to 10 purchases of $100 or more to bundle into a single pay-over-time plan when setting a plan online. If you use the app, you can only set a plan for a single purchase.

You'll be offered options to curate the plan that works best for you, with monthly payments included in your minimum payment amount every billing cycle. The monthly fee is fixed and you won't be charged interest, though there will be a plan fee (a fixed finance charge) for each plan. You can have as many as 10 active plans. Plan It® purchases will earn the same rewards as your regular purchases. Terms apply (see rates and fees).

Amex Auto Purchasing program access

American Express cardmembers can take advantage of a partnership with TrueCar to purchase new or used vehicles. You can receive a Guaranteed Savings Certificate good at participating retailers to save thousands on your vehicle. Plus, participating dealerships will accept your Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express for at least $2,000 of the purchase price Some accept your card for the entire purchase amount. Terms apply.

Secondary car rental insurance

With Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express benefits, eligible car rentals can qualify for secondary rental insurance**** for covered damage or theft. You'll need to decline the rental agency's insurance and pay for the full rental with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express to qualify. Vehicle type restrictions and coverage limits will apply. Terms apply.

American Express Experiences

Skip the line with access to participating ticket presales and exclusive members-only events. Tickets must be purchased with your qualifying card. Standard service fees may apply. Terms apply.

Global Assist Hotline

You can use the Global Assist***** Hotline from home to gather important information about your destination. When you're 100 miles or more from home, the Hotline can connect you with a representative who can help you with medical, legal, financial, or select emergency coordination services. While the Global Assist Hotline is free for cardmembers, you'll be responsible for any third-party costs you incur.

Final thoughts

Although many folks choose their new credit cards based on things like rewards and fees, that's not all your trusty American Express card has to offer. The many Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express benefits we've listed here can add a lot of value to your life, even if it's just some peace of mind. So, when comparing credit cards, consider the extra card member benefits, too. They could be well worth the time it takes to discover them.

If you're interested in learning more about this card, click below to read our full review. Or head to our guide: Best American Express Credit Cards

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