Best credit cards for commuters of May 2024

Companies are increasingly requiring in-person work again, at least for part of the week. Whether you're driving to the office or riding the subway, you can benefit from using a credit card that earns rewards for commuting expenses.

In fact, before the pandemic, the average American would spend roughly $2,218 a year, or $185 a month, on gas, according to a sample budget based on the latest spending data available from the location intelligence firm Esri. Public transit costs average $158 a year according to the same budget, but the cost can be much higher if you live in a major metro area.

In New York City, for example, a 30-day unlimited ride MetroCard costs $127 per month, which adds up to $1,524 annually. Add in the cost of a second method of transportation, such as the Long Island Railroad, and you can expect to tack on up to $500 extra per month.

But using the right rewards credit card can help offset some of your daily commute costs and provide added perks, such as roadside assistance.

CNBC Select breaks down the best credit cards for various commuters, so you can choose the one that fits your commute best.

Who's this for? If you want to maximize rewards at gas stations, the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card currently offers the highest rewards rate at 5X points per dollar spent for gas purchases at the pump. Charging the average American's gas spending to this card earns you approximately $111 annually.

This card has no annual fee, so road warriors can maximize their savings. In addition to earning high rewards at gas stations, cardholders also benefit from unlimited 3X points for supermarket purchases, which is great if you want to pick up groceries after work.

PenFed is a credit union, so membership is required to open the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card. Anyone can join by completing a few extra steps: You need to apply, open a savings account with a $5 deposit and maintain a $5 account balance.

Who's this for? Whether you take the subway, train or bus, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express can earn you a strong 3% cash back for transit purchases. This card also offers 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 1% cash back on other purchases.

Beyond cash back, this card comes with money-saving Amex Offers where you can earn a statement credit or additional Amex points at select retailers. These limited-time offers are location-based and additional terms apply.

This card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year (then $95) (see rates and fees), but it can be offset by the cash back you earn and discounts you can get through the Amex Offers.

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers unmatched rewards on Lyft purchases: Earn 10X points on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025.

Now through Dec. 31, 2024, cardholders also get a complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership for up to two years, plus a 50% discount for the third year (membership auto-renews annually). This subscription is worth up to $199 annually and provides perks like free Priority Pickup upgrades, lower prices on certain rides, free ride cancellations, free class bike rides, free Grubhub+ for one year and more.

In addition to Lyft rewards, cardholders also earn a competitive 3X points on dining and travel worldwide and benefit from an annual $300 travel credit, which can cover Lyft expenses. The travel bonus category includes a wide variety of expenses, including many commuting costs, like Uber, taxis, trains and public transit.

The card does come with a steep $550 annual fee, but its many added credits and benefits can help offset the annual cost. For instance, the $300 annual travel credit effectively reduces the annual fee to $250. Cardholders can take advantage of a Priority Pass™ Select membership valued at about $429. They also get a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit of up to $100 every four years.

Who's this for? The Capital One SavorOne Rewards Card is a must-have for those who primarily commute with Uber.

The card offers the highest return on Uber spending: Earn 10% cash back on Uber rides and Uber Eats purchases. On top of that, cardholders get a complimentary Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024. The subscription normally costs $9.99 per month and provides benefits like a $0 delivery fee on eligible Uber Eats orders, 10% off eligible Uber Eats orders and 5% off Uber rides.

It has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. (see rates and fees)

Who's this for? The Platinum Card® from American Express doesn't offer bonus rewards for Uber rides (just 1X point per dollar), but is still one of the best cards for Uber because of the perks it provides.

For starters, cardholders get up to $200 Uber Cash credit annually that can be used on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S. The credit is split into increments of $15 per month, plus a $20 bonus in December. Enrollment required. Terms apply. Benefit renews annually.

Plus, cardholders get automatic Uber VIP status, which matches you with top-rated drivers where available.

Although the card's $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) is high, perks like these could help justify it. The card's long list of benefits also includes extensive airport lounge access, various travel credits, shopping credits, digital entertainment credits and much more.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best commuter credit cards.

To determine which credit cards offer the best value, CNBC Select analyzed popular credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is for the consumer to redeem points.

Select teamed up with location intelligence firm Esri. The company's data development team provided the most up-to-date and comprehensive consumer spending data based on the 2019 Consumer Expenditure Surveys from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can read more about their methodology here.

Esri's data team created a sample annual budget of approximately $22,126 in retail spending. The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). General purchases include items such as housekeeping supplies, clothing, personal care products, prescription drugs and vitamins, and other vehicle expenses.

Select used this budget to estimate how much the average consumer would save over the course of a year, two years and five years, assuming they would attempt to maximize their rewards potential by earning all welcome bonuses offered and using the card for all applicable purchases. All rewards total estimations are net the annual fee.

While the five-year estimates we've included are derived from a budget similar to the average American's spending, you may earn a higher or lower return depending on your shopping habits.

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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card, click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum® Card from American Express, click here.