How to Get TSA PreCheck for Free

TSA PreCheck is a must for frequent travelers because it can help you speed through security lines at the airport. Better yet, you might not even have to pay for it.

Some travel credit cards offer a benefit to get your application fee — or renewal fee — reimbursed. Another strategy is to use points and miles to pay the application fee.

How to get TSA PreCheck for free

Tactic 1: Get a credit card with a TSA PreCheck credit

The best way to get TSA PreCheck for free is by carrying an eligible credit card. Dozens of credit cards reimburse the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee if you use that card to pay upfront. Here's a quick overview of some of these cards.

CREDIT CARDS WITH NO ANNUAL FEE

Three credit cards offer a statement credit for TSA PreCheck application or renewal fee despite charging no annual fee. But, they're lesser-known cards.

• The Arvest Visa Signature® Credit Card reimburses up to $100 for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees. Note that the Arvest Visa Signature® Credit Card is only available to consumers in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

• U.S.-based HSBC Premier checking account holders can hold a HSBC Premier Credit Card for $0 annual fee. One of the card's perks: Up to a $85 statement credit every five years to reimburse TSA PreCheck application fee.

• The Truist Enjoy Travel credit card includes a statement credit for TSA PreCheck application or renewal once every four years.

This high-dollar perk immediately puts cardholders in the green for outsized value from card membership.

CREDIT CARDS WITH AN ANNUAL FEE UNDER $100

Additionally, several travel credit cards offer a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit despite charging less than a $100 annual fee.

Even better, some of these cards currently waive the annual fee for the first year. So, you'll truly pay $0 out-of-pocket to get TSA PreCheck.

Low-annual-fee credit cards with free TSA PreCheck include:

• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: $95.

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: $95.

• IHG® One Rewards Premier Credit Card: $99.

• Capital One Spark Miles for Business: $0 intro for the first year, then $95.

• United℠ Explorer Card: $0 intro for the first year, then $95.

PREMIUM CREDIT CARDS

Not surprisingly, several premium travel cards offer a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee reimbursement as a perk of holding the card.

Premium personal cards that offer this perk include:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: $695. Terms apply.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: $550.

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: $395.

• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: $550. Terms apply.

• United Club℠ Infinite Card: $525.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: $595.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: $650. Terms apply.

Premium business cards that offer TSA PreCheck application fee credits include:

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: $695. Terms apply.

• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: $199.

• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: $250. Terms apply.

• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: $550. Terms apply.

Tactic 2: Use points or miles

A handful of loyalty programs let members redeem their points to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck. Note that these redemption options generally provide a poor value; however, if you're looking to reduce your out-of-pocket cost and don't have a qualifying credit card, these redemptions could make sense for your situation.

United MileagePlus

United flyers can redeem 11,000 MileagePlus miles to cover the cost of TSA PreCheck. For economy redemptions, NerdWallet finds a base value of 1.2 cents per United MileagePlus mile. So, you're giving up around $132 in value to cover the $85 initial application fee or $70 renewal fee.

That's not the best use of your United miles, but it's one of the better redemption options for TSA PreCheck with points and miles.

To get started, visit the United MileagePlus security fees page to sign in and redeem your miles for a redemption code.

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott members need to redeem 25,000 Bonvoy points to get a voucher code for free TSA PreCheck. Due to these points' wide-ranging uses, NerdWallet values Bonvoy points at 0.8 cent each. So, you'd be using $175 worth of points to cover the $85 initial application fee.

» Learn more: Questions to ask before joining a hotel loyalty program

IHG Rewards

IHG Rewards members can redeem 30,000 points to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck.

NerdWallet values IHG Rewards points at 0.8 cent per point, which means you'd be using $210 worth of points to cover the $85 application fee or $70 renewal fee.

» Learn more: Beginner’s guide to points and miles

When to consider Global Entry instead

Most of the credit cards that offer a statement credit for TSA PreCheck will also cover the application fee for Global Entry. So, even though the application fee for Global Entry is $100, it won't cost you anything extra to sign up for Global Entry instead of TSA PreCheck.

So, which one is best for you: TSA PreCheck or Global Entry? In short, it comes down to two factors. If you travel overseas, Global Entry will save you time when reentering the U.S.; plus, it automatically includes TSA PreCheck benefits.

However, there are fewer Global Entry enrollment sites, and interview availability can be harder to find compared with TSA PreCheck.

» Learn more: A guide to travel credit cards for beginners

If you don't want to pay to get or renew TSA PreCheck

For those paying for TSA PreCheck out of pocket, the reduced $70 online renewal fee is great news. However, travelers can sign up or renew TSA PreCheck for nothing out-of-pocket by using the right credit cards or certain loyalty program points and miles.

Just consider which option is best for your situation and whether you should upgrade to Global Entry instead of TSA PreCheck.