ReviewsGoodyear Credit Card Review: High Fees and Few Benefits
Card Review
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Goodyear may be an excellent place to shop for tires, but its credit card is a less-than-stellar choice. What few perks the card offers are unlikely to beat the benefits offered by typical rewards or cash back cards and are more than outweighed by the Goodyear Credit Card’s stunningly high interest rate.
ALSO READ: CardCruncher’s Complete Guide to Improving Your Credit Score
Goodyear Credit Card Review
Here’s what you absolutely must know about the Goodyear Credit Card.
- Annual Fee: None
- APR: 29.99%
- Sign-Up Bonus: Mail-in rebate if you purchase at least four tires by June 30, 2018. The rebate ranges from $40 to $200 based on the type of tires you buy and whether you use the Goodyear Credit Card to pay for them.
- Benefits:
- 6 months of no interest on purchases of $250 or more
- $5 off the price of an oil change when paying with a Goodyear Credit Card at participating stores
- Free tire rotation at participating stores
- Discounts on tire purchases and installation
- Limited-time offers and rebates for cardholders
- Minimum Payment: The larger of $27 or 1% of the balance
- Other Fees:
- $27 late fee
- Cash advance fee equal to 5% of the cash advance, minimum $10
- Other Details: The card can only be used at Goodyear stores or on goodyear.com.
Why to Apply for the Goodyear Credit Card
If any of the following would benefit you, you might want to fill out the Goodyear Credit Card app.
You won’t accrue interest for the first six months on large purchases: Make a purchase of $250 or more at any participating store or on Goodyear.com, and you’ll get six months’ interest-free on that purchase. Like many special financing offers, though, this one uses the deferred interest approach. That means that if you have even a $1 balance left from the qualifying purchase after the six months, you’ll be required to pay interest on the entire amount of the purchase.
If you’re absolutely sure that you can pay off the entire purchase within six months, this may be a good deal; if not, you may end up paying through the nose on your “interest-free” purchase.
You’ll earn discounts on tire purchases and services: Having a Goodyear Credit Card entitles you to discounts on tire purchases and installation and oil changes. You can even get free tire rotations at participating Goodyear stores. If you have a lot of tires to buy or multiple vehicles that need services, the discounts could potentially add up enough to make this card worthwhile.
Goodyear Credit Card: Drawbacks and Downsides
Take these issues into account before signing up for the Goodyear Credit Card.
Carrying a balance is expensive: The single biggest drawback with this card is, of course, the heart-stoppingly high APR. If you can keep up your Goodyear Credit Card payments well enough to pay off your balance in full every month, no sweat. If you frequently carry balances over from month to month, though, the nearly 30% interest rate can quickly balloon your balance beyond your control.
You can only use the card on Goodyear purchases: As a store card, the Goodyear Credit Card can only be used at Goodyear stores or on goodyear.com.
Goodyear Credit Card Alternatives
If you’re interested in a card that offers equivalent benefits but fewer drawbacks, try one of these.
If you’re looking for a credit card that doesn’t require a great credit score, try the Capital One Platinum Credit Card. This card has no annual fee and if you make your first five monthly payments on time, your credit limit will go up. Its APR is still high at 30.74% (Variable), but it’s somewhat more forgiving than the Goodyear Credit Card if you carry a balance. You won’t earn any rewards, but making regular on-time payments can help raise your credit score.
Find the right card that fits your lifestyle.
If you’re looking for rewards, try the Credit One Bank Platinum Visa. You can get 1% cash back rewards on eligible purchases and access to the Visa Discounts program. It accepts all credit types and the maximum APR is 25.49%. You could end up paying an annual fee of up to $99, but this may be waived if your credit score is high enough. Like the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, the Credit One Bank Platinum Visa reports to the three credit bureaus and can help to raise your score over time.
Bottom Line: Should You Apply for the Goodyear Credit Card?
Unless you plan to make a large number of major purchases at Goodyear (and pay them off in less than six months), this card isn’t a great choice. Most people will be much better off with your typical rewards or cash back card, which can be used pretty much anywhere and will end up granting a higher reward.
