Though primarily known today for its consumer automobile tires and service centers, the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, founded in 1900, actually predates most car companies, having gotten its start supplying tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of early wheeled transportation. Today, the company operates Firestone Complete Auto Care centers across the country, offering a variety of vehicle maintenance services, including oil changes and brake repairs — and, of course, tires.
Given its long history, Firestone is a popular choice for drivers of all types, and with over 1,700 locations, it's an accessible one, too. For those drivers whose car repair needs exceed the limit of their wallets, the Firestone Credit Card offers special financing and exclusive deals that can help get you back in the race. You'll need to watch out for minimum purchase requirements, however, and may want to pay your bill early to avoid late fees.
Firestone Card Overall Rating: 1.8/5.0
Right off the starting line, it's obvious the primary appeal of the Firestone Credit Card is the financing offer, particularly in light of the fact that the card doesn't offer any kind of cash back, points, or other purchase rewards. And the card's 22.8% APR might be competitive for a store credit card, but it's downright high for an open-loop card that isn't specifically for the subprime market. In other words, unless you're going to use the no-interest offer, don't carry a balance on your Firestone card. It'll get expensive.
While the Firestone Credit Card doesn't offer any purchase rewards, it does advertise that cardholders will receive exclusive monthly Firestone deals and coupons. You also won't pay an annual fee for your card, so it won't cost you anything to leave the account open when you're not actively using the card.
Firestone Credit Card
- APR: 22.8% as of Sep 2023
- Annual Fee: $0
- Rewards: Get special financing on Firestone purchases
The financing offer itself can be a decent deal, as you can get six months interest-free financing on your Firestone purchase, but it does come with some caveats. For starters, it won't apply to every single purchase; your purchase amount needs to be at least $299 for the charge to qualify for the six-month interest-free financing offer.
Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to your Firestone Credit Card financing offer is that you'll need to pay off your entire purchase by the end of the offer period to avoid interest fees. And not just interest fees on the remaining balance — you'll be charged interest for the entire amount. For example, if your initial charge is $500, and you still have $50 left to pay off when your six months expire, you'll be charged interest for the entire $500 amount, not just the $50 you had left to repay.
Approval Requirements & Application
While there isn't a lot of specific information available, some reviewers report being approved for a Firestone Credit Card with low credit scores, even with recent bankruptcies, so the card appears to have flexible credit requirements. You can apply for a Firestone card at any Firestone location, or online through the link below.
Better Cards to Use at Firestone
Given the limitations of the Firestone Credit Card's offerings, it likely won't be a hard deal to beat for many consumers. Indeed, even the most basic rewards credit card offers better cash back, points, or miles than the Firestone card (because, well, anything is better than "none"). If it's the zero-interest financing that's caught your eye, you can also find a number of credit cards offering much more favorable terms, particularly if you have good to excellent credit.
Cash Back
Every time that "Check Engine" light pops on, I know my wallet is about to lose some weigh — an average of $350 worth, according to CarMD. Well, with your trusty cash back card, you can take a bite out of the cost of putting that light out of your misery. Most cash back cards will offer unlimited cash back every purchase, and many cards will also offer bonus cash back in select categories.
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice - now with expanded categories, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- Newly expanded categories based on Bank of America customer feedback! 3% cash back on Gas (to now include Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) Stations) and Online Shopping (to now include Cable, Streaming, Internet and Phone Services).
- If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and no expiration on rewards.
- 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
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0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
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18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
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$0
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Excellent/Good
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Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
0% APR
If the Firestone Credit Card's six-month interest-free financing offer is a Cadillac, your typical open-loop intro 0% APR credit card deal is a spaceship. To begin with, the average intro APR card offer more than doubles the length of your interest-free period, plus you'll be able to use your card anywhere its network (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) is accepted. Best of all? You won't need to meet any minimum spending amounts to put your zero-interest deal into gear.
- Start off strong with 0% Intro APR for 18 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers. A variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% on balance transfers and purchases after the introductory period ends.
- Lower your interest rate by 2% each year. Automatically be considered for an APR reduction when you pay on time, and spend at least $1000 on your card by your next account anniversary.
- Raise your credit limit. Get an automatic, one-time review for a higher credit limit when you pay on time, and spend $500 in your first six months.
- All for no annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Slate Edge℠ card
- Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more
- Member FDIC
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR on Purchases 18 months
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0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 18 months
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20.49% - 29.24% Variable
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$0
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Good/Excellent
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Travel Rewards
If you're anything like me, you likely put off that scheduled oil change for a few miles, dreading the drudgery of the task. But what if that oil change could help you earn your way to the sandy beach, snow-capped mountain, or black-topped racetrack of your dreams? A great travel rewards card can do just that, giving you points or miles for every purchase that can be redeemed toward airline tickets, hotel stays, and other travel-related expenses.
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee.
- Redeem Miles to pay any part of your monthly bill, including your minimum payment.
- Turn Miles into cash in any amount, any time. Or redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more with no blackout dates. However you redeem, Miles keep the same value. And Miles never expire.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% - 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
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0% Intro APR for 15 months
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17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
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$0
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Excellent/Good
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With a host of limitations (and a goodly number of complaints) the Firestone Credit Card isn't winning any credit card races — in fact, the card doesn't even make the podium. Even those drawn to the card's financing deal can likely find better offers elsewhere. As it stands, the average driver will be better served by an all-around rewards card or one with a more flexible APR offer than they will receive by getting behind the wheel of a Firestone Credit Card.
What Others Say About the Firestone Credit Card
Despite the financing options offered by the Firestone Credit Card, most reviewers seem to recommend hitting the brakes on your application. The majority of reviewers report having issues making payments online, as well as with payments taking a significant amount of time to make it to the finish line. Some reviewers also found the in-store representatives to be less-than-informed about the details of their Firestone card.
Sept. 2016 bought new tires at local Firestone store $264.11. Store manager informed me that if I sign up for a Firestone Credit Card, that I will have 6 months interest-free to pay off the card, so I divided the balance into 6 monthly payments. Little did I know that the balance did not qualify for 6 months interest-free. I have $117.00 in late fees. Firestone did not inform me that a minimum of $299.00 is the minimum that qualifies for 6 months interest free. They subtracted only one late fee. I don't know if the store manager knows this, but the credit card company should have informed me and I could have avoided these late fees. But this company are scammers and they don't care. I am going to pay off balance and never use again unless necessary but will not carry a balance. I even told them that they should inform all Firestone managers/employees that there is a minimum balance for the interest-free option. But again they most likely don't care. They just want scam and take your money, so beware. — ConsumerAffairs.com
”
Approved for $1200 CL, with very low credit score. I've only used it for oil changes, and regular maintenance. Firestone gives certain specials at times when using your Firestone card, (ex: free tire rotation with oil change) Make sure you pay your bill before the due date and before 5 pm or else you'll get slapped with a late fee. — CreditKarma.com
”
I paid my CFNA payment in cash (the only way the Firestone store accepts it) 2 days before the due date and was still hit with late charges. I could understand if it was a payment by check, but once cash has been paid and a receipt issued showing the date 2 days before it's actually due there's no way a customer should be hit with a late charge!!! Who's playing with all this money customers are paying towards their credit card during the time a cash payment is made and actually credited. I can't believe CFNA can't upload payments received at Firestone stores daily. — MeasuredUp.com
”Is the Firestone Card Right for You?
With well over 100 years of automotive expertise under its hood, Firestone has long been a popular provider of vehicle service and repair. But while the company's products and mechanics tend to draw positive responses, the Firestone Credit Card hasn't provided a first-place experience for many cardholders. The vast number of complaints about payment issues alone is worth a closer inspection.
Instead of facing limited financing options and zero rewards, the average driver is better off charging that oil change to their favorite everyday card — and keeping the Firestone Credit Card in their rear-view mirror.
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