BMWs are expensive to buy and maintain. Still, for many car enthusiasts, the thrill of gripping the wheel, inhaling the leather-tinged new-car smell and zipping around town in a head-turning feat of German engineering makes those monthly payments worth it.
There’s an additional way to show your Beemer loyalty — by using BMW credit cards. The cards are issued by Elan Financial Services, a division of U.S. Bank, and run on the Mastercard network. They include the BMW Credit Card and BMW Motorrad World Mastercard® Credit Card.
While they’re associated with the luxury car brand, the cards' details vary. Here are five things to know about them.
How the cards compare
Annual fee
Introductory offers
Rewards
- 3 points per $1 spent on eligible BMW purchases with the BMW Credit Card.
- 3 points per $1 spent at gas, tollways and EV charging stations.
- 1 point per $1 everywhere else.
- 3 points per $1 spent on eligible BMW Motorrad purchases with the BMW Motorrad World Mastercard® Credit Card.
- 3 points per $1 spent at gas, tollways and EV charging stations.
- 1 point per $1 everywhere else.
1. They earn rewards on more than just BMW-related expenses
The BMW-branded credit cards earn similar rewards rates, including elevated rewards on BMW-related purchases. Additionally, each card has introductory offers for new cardholders.
The rewards are solid, but you can do even better in some categories — without paying a cent. The $0-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph® Card, for example, earns an unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel and transit, gas and EV stations, popular streaming services, and select phone plans.
2. Redemptions are flexible and valuable
Cardholders can redeem points at a value of 1 cent per point for a variety of options, including statement credit, merchandise, gift card rewards and Mastercard-branded prepaid rewards cards.
Points are worth 2x more when you redeem them for BMW-related options like BMW Rewards cards, BMW Lease or finance payment credits and
BMW automatic sweeps. An automatic sweep allows you to set up automatic redemptions toward your loan or lease payments. For example, 5,000 points earns a $100 BMW Rewards Card compared to $50 cash back. Rewards cards can be used to get service, repairs, merchandise and more. This option can add up in savings when your car needs a fix.
Points expire at the end of the calendar quarter that is five years from the quarter in which they were earned.
3. The 0% introductory APR is decent for purchases
As of November 2026, the BMW Credit Card and BMW Motorrad World Mastercard® Credit Card have this welcome offer for new cardholders: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles, and then the ongoing APR of 17.49%-30.49%, Variable. While that’s a decent interest-free window, longer options exist if you need more time.
For instance, the $0-annual-fee Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.74%-28.74% Variable APR. It earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back* on U.S. online retail purchases, and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases up to $6,000 per year for each category (then 1%). Terms apply; see rates and fees.
Or, if you’re willing to go without rewards, an option like the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card can offer a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 17.74%, 24.24%, or 28.49% Variable APR.
4. Better balance transfer options exist
The BMW credit cards provide a balance transfer offer for paying down debt. As of November 2026, the cards charge a balance transfer fee of 5% or $5, whichever is greater.
However, other credit cards can offer a longer interest-free window or a lower fee.
The $0-annual-fee Citi Double Cash® Card, for instance, offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-28.74% Variable APR. It also earns 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay it back. It’s best to avoid putting purchases on the card, though, until you’ve paid off any transferred debt. As of November 2026, the intro balance transfer fee is 3% of the amount transferred or $5 (whichever is greater) for transfers completed within the first four months of account opening; and a 5% fee or $5, whichever is greater, after that.
5. ExtendPay installment plans may offer breathing room
Occasionally, the BMW cards may offer ExtendPay installment plans, which can allow you to finance eligible BMW purchases of $100 or more for a certain timeframe. Plans of six months don't charge any interest or monthly fees, but if you get a longer term there's a monthly fee of up to 1.6% of the original principal amount. The fee is disclosed when you enroll and applies each month that a balance remains on the plan. Note that such plans are offered only from time to time and on eligible BMW purchases.
ExtendPay can be a useful option to have when a 0% introductory APR isn’t on the table, since the installment plan typically costs less than carrying a balance at the card’s regular APR.
Other credit cards from major issuers offer this kind of option with longer installment windows for eligible purchases of a certain amount, but you rarely have control over the types of purchases that are eligible. That’s true here, too, but knowing that BMW purchases may qualify makes it easier to plan ahead for your car-related purchases.
*Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or for other select options.
