Best Credit Cards for Emergencies of December 2024

Best credit cards for Emergencies

Anyone can find themselves in a situation where they're in a sudden need of cash. Although you cannot predict when an emergency will arise, what you can do is prepare yourself for such a situation. It’ll still be very unpleasant, but at least easier if you can pay for it right away. Whether your car or an appliance broke down unexpectedly, or you or a loved one is in a medical emergency, a suitable credit card can be your friend during these distressing times.

This article is all about that – the best credit cards for emergencies and how to use them. Keep reading to find the right one for you because you are never safe enough.

Short Review of Best Cards for Emergencies

Who should apply

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

A travel card that can be suitable for emergencies too. It’ll earn you 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase. So, if you must spend a lot in an emergency, at least you’ll earn valuable rewards for it. If you've paid for a trip with your card, you'll get travel accident insurance. In case your card gets stolen or lost, you can call the 24/7 travel assistance service and ask for an emergency replacement or a cash advance. If you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, you'll get 75,000 bonus miles. If you don't like the $95 annual cost that comes with this card, check out its no-annual-fee version – the Capital One VentureOne Rewards.

Read more about Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

One of the most straightforward cards on the market, the QuicksilverOne earns its cardholders an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. It’s available to people with fair credit too, and it comes with a small $39 annual fee.

Read more about Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

American Express® EveryDay®

As soon as you’re approved and authenticated by Amex, you will get your Amex EveryDay® card’s number immediately. You will be then able to use your credit card, although you might not have access to your full credit line until you receive the physical card (within 3 - 5 days after approval). In an emergency, where time is critical, a fast approval process is always helpful. On top of that, you'll be free of paying interest on purchases during the first 15 months after opening the account (a variable APR of 18.24% - 29.24% after). Since this is a rewards card, it’s not only for emergencies. You can use it for example at U.S. supermarkets since it will earn you 2x points for every dollar you spend there (1x points on everything else). Unless you carry a balance, it will cost you nothing to have this no-annual-fee card in your wallet.

Read more about American Express® EveryDay®

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great rewards card that, besides a few bonus categories, has a generous flat rewards rate too. If you get in some trouble during a trip, you can call the card’s travel and emergency assistance services. The APR on purchases for the first 15 months is 0%, which is great because if an unexpected purchase arises during that time, you’ll have some breathing space to pay it off interest-free (20.49% - 29.24% after). As for the rewards, there’s 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% on everything else. By spending $500 in the first 3 months, you’ll also get a $200 sign-up bonus. This card has no annual fee.

Read more about Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Chase Freedom Flex℠

This one is the sister card of Chase Freedom Unlimited®. The difference is that it has a lower flat rate for all purchases – 1%, but it offers 5% in quarterly rotating categories (up to $1,500 spent each quarter). All other features are the same – 15 months 0% APR (20.49% - 29.24% after), $200 sign-up bonus, and no annual fee. So, both can be great for emergencies - it just depends whether you're ready to make an effort on strategic purchasing (quarterly rotating categories – Flex), or you want a simple card with a good flat rate on all purchases (Unlimited).

Read more about Chase Freedom Flex℠

Bank of America Premium Rewards®

For a $95 annual fee cardholders will truly get premium rewards with this card – 2x points at restaurants and on travel (plus 1.5x points on everything else). The 60,000 bonus points, worth $600, can be yours if you spend $4,000 in the first 90 days after opening the account. You can get yourself some small pleasures during your flights with the card's (up to) $100 airline incidental statement credit. This card gets even better if you become a Preferred Rewards member since you'll earn 25% - 75% more points every time you use your card for purchases (up to 3.5x points on travel and dining, and up to 2.62x points on everything else).

Read more about Bank of America Premium Rewards®

Chase Sapphire Preferred®

A travel card that’ll help you sleep better on your trips due to the travel protection it offers. If you pay for a rental car with your card, you’ll be protected against damage and theft on it. Also, you can call Chase’s travel and emergency assistance anytime during your trip. Now, let’s talk rewards – 5x points on travel , 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services, and 1x points on everything else. Plus, an amazing 60,000-point sign-up bonus, which you can get by spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. If you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, they'll have 25% more value (for example, the welcome bonus will be worth $1,250). We believe all this makes the card worth its $95 annual fee.

Read more about Chase Sapphire Preferred®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

While the Sapphire Preferred® is for those who travel occasionally, the Sapphire Reserve® is for those who travel all the time and are willing to pay a higher annual fee for an excellent travel card like this one. It offers 3x points on dining and travel plus 1x points on everything else. When you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards your points will be worth 50% more. New cardholders can get 60,000 bonus points if they spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. The annual fee is $550, but the $300 travel credit you'll get each year already makes up for a good portion of it.

Read more about Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Citi Double Cash

The Citi Double Cash is a top choice for everyday spending because it has the best flat rate on the market and no annual fee. Cardholders will earn 2% cash back on every purchase, 1% when they buy, and 1% when they pay for it. This card is great if an emergency already occurred and you’re paying it off on a high-interest card. It offers new cardholders 18 months of 0% APR on balance transfers followed by a 19.24% - 29.24% variable.

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Citi Simplicity®

The Citi Simplicity® is a great card to have when you find yourself in urgent need of cash. This card offers a long 0% APR offer (12 months on purchases, 21 months on balance transfers ). Unplanned expenses are annoying enough without having to worry about interest piling up on your card. Another thing you won't have to worry about with this card are fees because it has none - no annual fee and no late fee. You can take the time to deal with the situation and pay the balance off later.

Read more about Citi Simplicity®

Citi Costco Anywhere Visa®

The Costco Anywhere Visa® is very beneficial for Costco fans - it earns them rewards in several popular categories, which they can later redeem at Costco. Gas purchases earn 4% cash back (up to $7,000 annually, 1% after), 3% cash back on dining and travel, 2% at Costco (both physical and online store), and 1% on all other purchases. This card comes with extra protection for you – items you bought with the card will be protected against damage and theft (within 120 days of purchase), plus get an extended warranty. Although it doesn’t have an annual fee, a Costco membership, which costs $60 or $120, is a requirement.

Read more about Citi Costco Anywhere Visa®

Discover Bank Discover it® Cash Back

The Discover it® Cash Back comes with a solid, 15-month long 0% APR offer on balance transfers and purchases (17.24% - 28.24% after). That is a rewards card with quarterly rotating categories which earn you 5% cash back. There are usually common spending bonus categories, like grocery stores, gas, restaurants, wholesale clubs, and others. Purchases outside these categories will earn you 1% cash back, and Discover it will match all the cash back you earned in the first year. There is no annual fee with this card.

Read more about Discover Bank Discover it® Cash Back

Discover Bank Discover it® chrome

All those who are constantly on the road and spend a lot at gas stations should consider Discover it® chrome. It earns 2% cash back on gas up to $1,000 in combined purchases every quarter and 1% on all other purchases. A great thing about this card is the 15-month interest-free period it offers on purchases and balance transfers (17.24% - 28.24% after). Of course, the no-annual-fee part is great too!

Read more about Discover Bank Discover it® chrome

Discover Bank Discover it® Miles

A mile-earning card with a nice intro APR on purchases. You'll get 1.5x miles on all purchases, and Discover it will match them all at the end of the first year. The first 15 months of your membership you'll get to pay off your purchases interest-free, followed by a variable 17.24% - 28.24% APR afterward. This card won’t cost you an annual fee.

Read more about Discover Bank Discover it® Miles

Chase Ink Business Cash®

Chase’s Ink Business Cash® is a great, no-annual-fee card that’ll come in handy to business owners should they encounter any emergencies and difficulties with their business. The 0% intro APR offer on purchases in the first year will help businesses to get on their feet, before the variable 18.49% - 24.49% APR takes place. It earns rewards in business-spending categories – 5% cash back on office supply and telecommunication services (up to $25,000 spent annually), 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $25,000 spent annually), and 1% on everything else.

Read more about Chase Ink Business Cash®

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

This card has deserved its place on this list with the longest intro APR offer – 18 billing cycles. Any emergency expenses you might have during the first 18 months will be interest-free. After that, there’s a variable 18.74% - 29.74% APR. Also, it has cell phone protection if you pay your monthly bill with the card. The annual fee won’t be a problem because there isn’t one!

Read more about U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

How do credit cards for emergencies work?

There isn’t a credit card specifically designed for emergencies, all the credit cards that made our list offer features that can come in handy in the event of an emergency. They work like all other credit cards. Your emergency card can be one you use for everyday purchases (American Express® EveryDay®) or even a travel card (the Chase Sapphire cards). Finally, it can be a card with a great intro APR offer (Citi Simplicity®) that doesn’t have rewards, but it’ll serve you only for emergencies.

What to look for in an emergency credit card?

That will depend on your situation and what features can be useful to you. We’ll offer you a list of some things to keep in mind when choosing an emergency credit card.

First things first, if you’re reading this because an emergency just happened to you, and you need an emergency card immediately, consider cards with instant access, like the Amex Everyday. (Also, check out the next section.)

Now, if you only want to add an extra safety layer to your finances, you're probably not in a hurry. Let's start with an annual fee. If you're going for a rewards card that you can also use in an emergency, an annual fee will be okay if you earn enough rewards to justify it. However, we do not recommend paying an annual fee for a card that's just going to sit in your wallet waiting for an unexpected bill and costing you money.

Next, look at the cards’ APR offers and think about how long it’ll take to pay off your emergency costs. Some great cards with long interest-free periods on purchases are Citi Simplicity® (12 months), and the US bank Visa® Platinum (18 billing cycles). If you’re already paying off high-interest emergency debt on another card, those three also have the same offer on balance transfers. In that case, you can also check out the best balance transfer credit cards.

Of course, all intro APR offers eventually end, and the ongoing APR is a very important factor when deciding on an emergency card. If anything happens after the period has ended, it'll be better if the card has a low interest rate.

Otherwise, you can end up in a lot of debt since you didn't even plan that expense in the first place, let alone interest. Although the APR will depend on your creditworthiness, the Discover it credit cards have the lowest starting range – 13.49% - 24.49%. If low interest rates are very important to you, this list of the best low interest credit cards might be what you need.

Another thing to be aware of is your credit limit. That also depends on your credit score - the better it is, the higher the credit limit. Make sure to never max out your credit line but give yourself some space instead. You'll be in a bad position if an unexpected cost arises, and you cannot borrow from your credit line.

Which credit cards Give you instant access?

There are some credit cards that’ll give you instant access as soon as you're approved for the card. For example, Amex cards usually offer instant card numbers once your identity is confirmed. After that, you can use it anywhere where American Express cards are accepted. Some of the Amex credit cards that offer instant access are the following:

• American Express® EveryDay® Credit Card
• American Express® Blue Cash Preferred®
• The Platinum Card® from American Express®
• American Express® Cash Magnet® Card

Another option is co-branded credit cards. The Apple card is probably the best example here because you get access as soon as you're approved. Then, you can add it to your Apple Wallet and use it anywhere where Mastercard is accepted (which is pretty much everywhere). However, some co-branded credit cards, like the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, have temporary cards that can be used only at the brand’s stores. Here are some co-branded credit cards that give instant access:

• Apple Card
• Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
• Bloomingdale’s Credit Card
• Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card

When to use emergency credit cards?

We'd advise you to use your emergency credit card only for a real emergency. Do not use it for a not-so-important purchase you simply cannot afford at the moment. Credit cards have high interest rates, and carrying a balance can be very expensive.

Let’s look at some potential real-life emergency situations and see which card will come in handy for each.

A travel emergency - a bad situation can be a lot worse if it happens to you while on a trip in an unfamiliar environment. You can’t call family or friends to come running and you’ll have to deal with it by yourself. If you travel often, an uncomfortable situation is bound to happen sooner or later. And in that case, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® would have your back. It comes with a variety of travel protections, including emergency evacuation and transportation for you or a close family member (it will cover medical expenses and transportation for up to $100,000).

Trouble while on the road - anyone who drives can find themselves in a situation where they need roadside assistance. If you’re often on the road, consider the United Explorer card. It’s one of the best cards to have in your wallet should you ever run out of fuel, need help with a flat tire, or something like that. The Chase Roadside Assistance that comes with this card offers lockout service, tire changing, standard towing and a few other services.

You need cash immediately - something has happened and you need cash ASAP. A card that offers instant access will be the most useful for such a situation. With the Amex EveryDay you’ll get assigned a credit card number ready for use as soon as you get approved.

An appliance broke down - having an appliance breaking down all of a sudden always comes with a lot of hassle. In most cases, if it is something essential (like a fridge, an oven, a washing machine), it’ll have to be repaired or replaced right away. So, you’ll be facing a big, unplanned cost you cannot postpone. Having a card with an APR offer can be a huge relief and it’ll allow you to finance your purchase interest-free. Let us suggest two cards with great 0% APR offers on purchases (and balance transfers) - the US bank Visa® Platinum (18 months) and the Citi Simplicity® (12 months).