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As you pack your bags in preparation for your upcoming Independence Day, your options for how to scoot around your new locale may be one of the biggest costs of your trip.
Since the pandemic, prices of U.S. car rentals have surged. Travelers can expect to pay on average $49-$78 daily for a rental, according to Travellers Worldwide, with weekly rates ranging between $343-$546. That’s not to mention the hidden rental car fees, including add-ons for additional drivers and insurance, as well as incidentals like gas and tolls.
If you’re not planning on venturing too far from your accommodation during the holiday weekend, rideshare options like Lyft and Uber can be an attractive alternative—especially when you pay for your trip with a cash-back credit card to keep costs low.
Top Credit Cards for Lyft or Uber Rideshares
Many rewards cards offer generous earnings on ride-share services, including Lyft and Uber. It’s an easy way to keep travel expenditures low, and you’d be surprised at how much money you’re leaving on the table if you’re not already on the train.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Annual fee: $795 (for existing card members this will take effect the first member anniversary after October 26, 2025)
- Lyft: $10 monthly ride credit after you link your card in the app, through Sept. 2027
- 5 points per dollar on rides through Sept. 30, 2027
- Annual $300 travel credit, which includes ride-hailing services
Why we like it: The built-in Lyft multiplier makes it a must-have for heavy rideshare users. The expensive annual fee means it’s not a card for everyone, but for a frequent traveler, it pays for itself and can rack up over $2,700 in value. Cardholders get an annual $300 credit towards any travel-related purchases, up to $500 credit with The Edit (awarded semiannually), 8 points per dollar on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠, 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked direct, 3 points per dollar on dining worldwide and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases, and access to Chase Sapphire Reserve’s lounge network.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Annual fee: $695 (Terms apply, rates & fees)
- $15 in Uber cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December, totaling $200 per year towards U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats (card must be added in Uber account to receive this benefit). Terms apply.
- 1x point per dollar on general purchases, including rideshares
Why we like it: This is a luxury travel card that pulls all the stops—but you’ll need to be a frequent traveler to get the most out of its steep annual fee. The monthly Uber Cash is a no-brainer for travelers but cardholders can make the most with 5 Membership Rewards® Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel® and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. Other perks include $199 CLEAR® Plus credit, up to $200 in hotel statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express, up to $200 in statement credits towards airline incidental fees each calendar year, as well as up to $155 in statement credits towards Walmart+ annually (rewarded monthly, subject to auto-renewal) and up to $240 annual digital entertainment statement credit for participating entertainment partners. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Annual fee: $395 (rates & fees)
- 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, including Lyft/Uber
- Includes $300 annual credit for travel booked through the Capital One Travel, can be used for other trip expenditures
Why we like it: The Venture X is a balanced travel card with a flat earn rate and is ideal for casual rideshare users who are looking for a mid-tier maintenance travel card. If you’ve been looking for travel perks offered by premium cards but don’t want to pay a high annual fee, this card is a solid choice—using the $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and redeeming the anniversary bonus essentially negates the annual fee.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Annual fee: $95
- Lyft: 5x points through Sept. 2027
- Uber: 2x points on travel
Why we like it: This is a junior version of the Sapphire Reserve that comes without the hefty price tag but still has a strong earn rate. This mid-tier travel card boasts a variety of perks including travel basics like auto rental coverage, trip cancellation and baggage insurance, as well as a slew of nice-to-have benefits like a $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit and a 10% anniversary point boost. High multipliers on travel, including 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases, helps the card to pay for itself in no time.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (Terms apply, rates & fees)
- Rideshare: 3% cash back on transit (includes rideshares)
- Cash back on everyday categories, including 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout
Why we like it: This is a strong everyday cash back card for rides and expenses like groceries at U.S. supermarkets and gas in the U.S., but keep in mind it’s not a travel card. The standout perk on the Blue Cash Preferred is the cash back on groceries at U.S supermarkets with a cap of $6,000 per year, making it a staple for cooks or families. On top of the introductory annual fee and benefits like cash back at Amazon.com and an annual $84 Disney bundle statement credit*, it’s an easy pull for families everywhere.
*Must spend $9.99 or more per month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription to receive monthly $7 statement credit.
Find The Best Credit Cards For Uber Of 2025
Bottom Line
Renting a car can get expensive and may not be worth it for short vacations and trips, especially with additional expenses like insurance and gas. Relying on rideshares to get around a new city or country can be a surprisingly affordable way to budget travel and reduce stress. Pairing your rideshares with a credit card that offers rideshare rewards and cash back can help you save on the cost. So go on and take that trip to San Francisco—with one of these cards, you can skip the BART headache.
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please visit this page.