![Firestone Credit Card Review ([current_year])](https://www.cardrates.com/images/uploads/2017/11/firestone-cover.png?width=415&height=216 "Firestone Credit Card Review ([current_year])")
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 Jul 2019
- 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.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.99% – 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
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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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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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0% Intro APR Period 18 months on Balance Transfers
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13.99% – 23.99% (Variable)
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$0
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Excellent, Good
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Additional Disclosure: Citi 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.
- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 14.99% - 23.74%.
- No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
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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 15 months
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0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months
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14.99% - 23.74% 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.
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $600 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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N/A
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15.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
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$95
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Excellent, Good
|
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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