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GM BuyPower Card® review
Last updated:
Strong rewards for GM customers.
- Get this card if you’re a GM customer or you’ll soon be getting a Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC.
- Pick something else if you’re not sure you’ll get a GM vehicle.
- Apply with a good to an excellent credit score of 670 or higher.
Up to 5%
Cash back
$0
Annual fee
0%
Intro purchase APR
for the first 12 months (then 14.4%, 18.4%, 21.4% or 24.4% variable)
670
Recommended credit score
Details
| Product Name | GM BuyPower Card® |
|---|---|
| Card type | Mastercard |
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 14.4%, 18.4%, 21.4% or 24.4% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | 14.4%, 18.4%, 21.4% or 24.4% variable |
| Balance transfer fee | None |
| Cash advance rate | 26.4% variable |
| Cash advance fee | $10 or 3% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater |
| Penalty APR | 30.9% variable |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Interest free period | Up to 25 days |
| Late payment fee | Up to $38 |
| Returned payment fee | Up to $25 |
Expert review
Review by
Kevin Joey Chen
kevin.chen@findercrew.comKevin Joey Chen is a credit cards, banking and investments writer whose work and analysis have appeared on CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Business.com, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com. He's passionate about helping you get your finances in order by expertly navigating cutting-edge financial tools — including credit cards, apps and budgeting software.
Expert review
The GM BuyPower Card® is a $0-annual-fee card with straightforward value: As you spend with your card, you’ll receive earnings you can put toward eligible GM purchases. You’ll get 5% earnings on your first $5,000 in purchases each account year, then 2% earnings.
You can later put these earnings toward the purchase or lease of a new Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC vehicle. Alternatively, you can redeem them for statement credits — up to $250 per calendar year — for eligible GM vehicle care or GM extras.
The card isn’t the best choice if you’re not positive you’ll use your earnings for qualifying GM purchases. It could be worth earning less-powerful rewards with another card if it means getting flexible cash back, points or miles.
However, the GM BuyPower Card® does offer very strong rewards, and it could be the right pick if you already own a GM vehicle or you’re sure you’ll become a GM customer soon.
The GM BuyPower Card® is a $0-annual-fee card with straightforward value: As you spend with your card, you’ll receive earnings you can put toward eligible GM purchases. You’ll get 5% earnings on your first $5 in purchases each account year, then 2% earnings.
You can later put these earnings toward the purchase or lease of a new Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC vehicle. Alternatively, you can redeem them for statement credits — up to $250 per calendar year — for eligible GM vehicle care or GM extras.
The card isn’t the best choice if you’re uncertain you’ll use your earnings for qualifying GM purchases. It could be worth earning less-powerful rewards with another card if it means getting flexible cash back, points or miles.
However, the GM BuyPower Card® does offer very strong rewards, and it could be the right pick if you already own a GM vehicle or you’re sure you’ll become a GM customer soon.
Card benefits
- No annual fee.
The card doesn’t cost anything to own. - Earnings toward eligible GM purchases.
You’ll receive a 5% rewards rate on the first $5,000 in purchases you make each account year. After that, you’ll receive 2% earnings for the rest of your account year. - Get no interest on purchases for a period of time.
Receive 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then 14.4%, 18.4%, 21.4% or 24.4% variable. That’s not a bad deal, but you can find other cards with 15- 18- or 20-month purchase intro APRs. - World Elite Mastercard benefits.
Since this is a World Elite Mastercard, it includes features such as cell phone protection and access to World Elite Concierge. You’ll also find discounts, credits and rewards for services such as Lyft and Boxed. - No balance transfer fees.
This is an unusual benefit, as most credit cards charge balance transfer fees. However, the card doesn’t include an intro APR or grace period for transfers.
What can you use earnings for?
You can redeem earnings in two ways:
- Put them toward a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac — leased or purchased. You must redeem all of your earnings.
- Redeem them for statement credits toward eligible in-dealership purchases of vehicle care and GM extras. You can receive up to $250 in statement credits per calendar year. Be sure to redeem statement credit within 90 days of your purchase.
What are examples of vehicle care and GM extras?
- Certified Service
- Parts and accessories you buy at an authorized GM dealership
- Eligible GM subscription services such as most Connected Services and OnStar plans you purchase, as well as SiriusXM subscriptions
What to watch out for
- Penalty APR.
If you make a late payment, Capital One may raise your APR on all balances to 30.9% variable. - You can’t redeem earnings for cash.
You must use your earnings for eligible GM purchases, as there are no other redemption options. - No signup bonus.
Cobranded cards often have signup bonuses, even if they don’t have annual fees.
How to apply for the GM BuyPower Card®
- Visit the Capital One website and click Apply now.
- Choose your card design and click Continue to my application.
- Complete the application with information such as your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, contact information, employment status, monthly rent or mortgage payment and total annual income.
- Review your information and submit your application.
What credit score do I need?
You’ll have better odds of approval for this card if you apply with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher.
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Bottom line
The GM BuyPower Card® can be a wise pick if you’re a current GM customer or you’ll soon be getting a Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC. If you’re not a current GM customer, consider the likelihood you’ll become one. If you don’t end up joining the GM family, all of your earnings will be unusable.
A card with easily redeemable rewards could be a good alternative, in which case you might want to consider a cashback card or get a card with travel rewards.